WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:10.440 Welcome everyone to Post Media's World Cup coverage here. I am joined by JJ Adams and 00:10.440 --> 00:15.720 Patrick Johnson who will be covering the World Cup for us here in Vancouver. Gentlemen, let's 00:15.720 --> 00:23.680 start with Canada. We know there's big questions about Alfonso Davies but JJ, before we'll 00:23.680 --> 00:28.240 talk about him later in the impact that he could potentially have if he can get healthy, 00:28.240 --> 00:31.200 even without Davies, what are you expecting from Canada this tournament? 00:31.200 --> 00:36.920 Well, Jesse Marsh has already said, he said the identity isn't going to change even if Fonsi 00:36.920 --> 00:46.200 isn't around. So I don't think, you know, as much as we are the host country and we are rallying 00:46.200 --> 00:55.160 around Canada, I'm not entirely 100% sure we will see them in a knockout round match at DC Place, 00:55.160 --> 01:01.360 just historically. I know I'm going to get the daggers, I'm going to get people, you know, 01:01.360 --> 01:09.400 leaving nasty messages on this video but I'm not sure we're going to see Canada in the knockout 01:09.400 --> 01:17.840 round at DC Place, maybe in the knockout round but I don't think at DC Place. PJ, what do you have to add? 01:17.840 --> 01:22.760 Yes, I say, not taking the win the pool. I mean, it's hardly a group of death, right? No. 01:22.760 --> 01:26.680 So Patrick, what are you expecting from Canada? 01:26.680 --> 01:31.760 I'm expecting bigger things than JJ, that's for sure. Jesus Louise. JJ, you picking the finished 01:31.760 --> 01:35.000 third? What are we doing here? They're going to go to Foxbro? Like, oh my God. 01:35.000 --> 01:39.840 You know, the lucky guy in the group, Qatar is a monster. 01:39.984 --> 01:46.484 No, I'm kidding. I'm kidding. I'm kidding. I just I just look at how the the groups lines up for them 01:46.484 --> 01:52.444 Right like the home the big home game like listen boss great good for Bosnia knocked off Italy my god Italy what the hell? 01:52.444 --> 01:57.784 But but seriously no like Canada's it sets up for them the home game in Toronto opened it all up 01:57.784 --> 02:03.744 Home game here against Qatar home game here against Switzerland listen Switzerland should not be underrated 02:03.744 --> 02:08.004 We all know this but it's setting up for a top-to-finish. That's for sure 02:08.004 --> 02:13.704 And obviously if they win the group they get to stay here, and they don't go anywhere like that that is what they want 02:13.704 --> 02:16.304 win the group 02:16.304 --> 02:17.784 You got to win the group 02:17.784 --> 02:22.504 There's no doubt about it and and obviously all the questions about injuries and what have you like yeah 02:22.504 --> 02:24.824 Like it is a team that is under pressure 02:24.824 --> 02:32.224 And and I found it interesting that they decided to do their pre-serve first week pre tournament in the US 02:32.944 --> 02:38.684 And not in Canada and avoiding a bit of a big show as an unveiling I buy over me 02:38.684 --> 02:41.164 I would have been like let's get right at this yeah 02:41.164 --> 02:45.244 I mean shouldn't you get a climatized to the hoopla the whole like you're playing home? 02:45.244 --> 02:49.244 You're a home team like that to me that's how I would have done it, but anyway, this is what they're doing 02:49.244 --> 02:52.684 They're gonna face 02:52.684 --> 03:00.044 That hot weather that they're never gonna play in because the because the only outdoor stadium that they might end up is in is in 03:00.324 --> 03:06.344 New England and that's only if they everything goes wrong so you're you're ruling them out of the final in New York 03:06.344 --> 03:11.984 Already then I am ruling out of the final New York. I'm gonna be honest. I don't think they're gonna go quite that far without us being cynical 03:11.984 --> 03:14.744 you know the 03:14.744 --> 03:19.984 Play that role of the cynical journalists who who are you hopeful of J? 03:19.984 --> 03:22.669 for the Canadian team outside of Davies. 03:22.669 --> 03:25.629 I mean, he's obviously the class of the team. 03:25.629 --> 03:28.429 We all know that and however much he'll be included, 03:28.429 --> 03:29.989 we'll see, but other than him, 03:29.989 --> 03:32.109 who do you feel are Canada's most important players 03:32.109 --> 03:34.029 if they are going to advance? 03:34.029 --> 03:36.989 - Well, I think, you know, all eyes on Jonathan David, 03:36.989 --> 03:40.989 of course, you know, this is a chance for him to, 03:40.989 --> 03:45.989 you know, really establish himself as that world class 03:45.989 --> 03:48.909 striker, you know, he wasn't in, when he was in France, 03:48.909 --> 03:50.669 not so much now. 03:50.669 --> 03:52.589 I think this is a chance for him to come back out 03:52.589 --> 03:55.109 and prove that he is that top level striker. 03:55.109 --> 04:00.109 I think he's crucial for Canada's hopes of advancing, 04:00.109 --> 04:01.309 winning the group. 04:01.309 --> 04:04.349 I think, you know, Canada historically has not scored 04:04.349 --> 04:07.029 very many goals at the World Cup. 04:07.029 --> 04:09.709 And that needs to change if they want to have success. 04:09.709 --> 04:12.949 I mean, that's like the Madden kind of saying there, 04:12.949 --> 04:14.469 you know, that there is a touchdown 04:14.469 --> 04:16.069 when the catch is the ball and the end is up. 04:16.069 --> 04:19.109 If you don't score, you don't win. 04:19.109 --> 04:21.149 Canada needs to score. 04:21.149 --> 04:26.069 You know, and the other person I really want to see, 04:26.069 --> 04:29.709 and you know, this is just a homerame, is Ali Ahmed. 04:29.709 --> 04:32.869 You know, we saw him in Vancouver. 04:32.869 --> 04:34.509 We saw what he went over to England 04:34.509 --> 04:38.549 and had great success proving that he is, 04:38.549 --> 04:39.829 you know, a top tier player. 04:39.829 --> 04:41.989 I'd love to see him come in here 04:41.989 --> 04:43.829 and just absolutely ball out. 04:44.709 --> 04:46.789 I think he's a very skilled player. 04:46.789 --> 04:48.429 He can't score as we've seen in England. 04:48.429 --> 04:53.509 So I think he's another, you know, possibly unsung hero, 04:53.509 --> 04:54.909 possibly for this team. 04:54.909 --> 04:59.749 Patrick, I feel like they don't have Pat, 04:59.749 --> 05:00.589 they don't have Pat. 05:00.589 --> 05:08.114 have captain's sweatpants and goal anymore. You know, and if typically as JJ has highlighted, 05:08.114 --> 05:14.914 Canada's struggled to score goals, but if you look at the peaks of like going back decades when 05:14.914 --> 05:18.434 Canada has done well, they've always had a rock at the center of defense and they've had a good 05:18.434 --> 05:24.354 goal. You talk about people like Jason DeVos or certainly Paul Dolan or Craig Forrest. How do 05:24.354 --> 05:28.994 you see Canada's defense lining up in this tournament? Well, I mean, there is the question 05:28.994 --> 05:31.554 of defense. I mean, there's also the question of midfield. Like, you know, 05:31.554 --> 05:39.394 look at how important Stephen Yostaki was going to be, right? Like, the fact that we can talk all 05:39.394 --> 05:42.274 we want about who's going to score and we can talk about all we want, who's going to line up in 05:42.274 --> 05:47.394 defense. Because of course, obviously, there are injury questions there. I just want to see how 05:47.394 --> 05:51.554 is the midfield going to be run because like, you know, you lose, I mean, obviously, we're now, 05:51.554 --> 05:55.714 we're now well past the Tiba Hutchinson era, but like think about how important he was for that team. 05:57.874 --> 06:01.314 You know, managing all that is going to be a huge question. I've got huge, I mean, 06:01.314 --> 06:05.634 can can Bumbito get back, right? Like he's supposed to be getting back to fitness right now. 06:05.634 --> 06:10.754 Is he going to be ready to go? You know, like, can we make all these things work? Ralph Prizo. I mean, 06:10.754 --> 06:14.754 we love Ralph Prizo. Great local story. I don't think he's the answer, but you never know, right? 06:14.754 --> 06:22.194 It is the real concern. I mean, the one A and one B, I think for me is how do you run that central 06:22.194 --> 06:26.914 midfield and then, okay, are you healthy at all at all at all in the back? And then we can talk about 06:26.914 --> 06:33.874 those goals. Health. So JJ, you have covered Alfonso Davies since the start of the tour or since 06:33.874 --> 06:39.794 the start of his career. What percentage do you put on him actually making an impact? 06:39.940 --> 06:44.580 on in this tournament and how do you think he's going to be deployed if he can get back? 06:44.580 --> 06:51.380 Well, we're not going to see him for a while. We definitely won't see him for the first few games. 06:51.380 --> 06:59.220 But when he comes back, there's not another player on Canada like him, right? When he's in top form, 06:59.220 --> 07:06.980 he is an absolute cheetah. He is, you know, obviously, we saw him growing up. We saw what he 07:06.980 --> 07:15.940 turned into. If we get that version of Fonzie, then it makes Canada a much more dangerous team. 07:15.940 --> 07:26.980 Will he come back? I think we talked about this before with his injuries and who is to blame. 07:26.980 --> 07:32.660 Is it Canada's fault? Is it Bayern's fault? Is it the player's fault? I don't think it's the player's 07:32.660 --> 07:42.900 fault. But, you know, I'm very curious to see, you know, what his sort of relationship is with 07:42.900 --> 07:52.740 the Canadian team and how Bayern views him with the Canadian team. But I digress. For how he fits 07:52.740 --> 07:58.740 in with his team and makes an impact, I mean, it can't be overstated how important a player 07:58.740 --> 08:05.940 is to the team. So I think him coming back, you know, could be the difference of them finishing 08:05.940 --> 08:12.260 either second or maybe first in the group. You know, he is that that X factor that could 08:12.260 --> 08:19.220 push him over the edge, though I still think probably second in the group. Patch. Well, let's 08:19.925 --> 08:23.765 Let's wrap up with that guys. Give me a prediction of how you think Canada will do 08:23.765 --> 08:31.205 Where they'll finish and then give me one other prediction of anything from the tournament. It can be what happens with the US 08:31.205 --> 08:38.085 It can be who wins the tournament. It can be what happens to England. Whatever just give me one prediction about Canada and one prediction about 08:38.085 --> 08:40.325 the rest of the tournament 08:40.325 --> 08:42.325 PJ you go first. Oh my god 08:42.325 --> 08:45.845 Well, I think Canada's gonna win the group. I know I think if they've said that already 08:46.565 --> 08:50.725 I think I'm gonna win the group, you know decent chance of winning their first knockout round match 08:50.725 --> 08:54.165 Just given that you're playing a third place team 08:54.165 --> 08:58.245 The rest I mean it's gonna be interesting 08:58.245 --> 09:00.885 especially when you think about 09:00.885 --> 09:05.445 I mean, obviously teams are grouped into regions, but just the fact that there's teams having to go up and down 09:05.445 --> 09:08.645 the coast for instance, you know like 09:08.645 --> 09:16.085 You look at Germany, right like Germany's playing or across, you know, Germany's playing in Houston and Toronto 09:16.645 --> 09:18.645 and New York 09:18.645 --> 09:22.885 I I they have a relatively easy group. I suppose but like 09:22.885 --> 09:29.765 Like there's gonna be some real surprises in this one. You look at group F like group F. Holland Japan Sweden Tunisia 09:29.765 --> 09:32.165 Like that's gonna be there's your group of death right there 09:32.165 --> 09:34.005 um 09:34.005 --> 09:35.285 I 09:35.285 --> 09:39.845 There's gonna be some really challenging stuff Paul. You want me to give a prediction on England is that what you're asking? 09:39.845 --> 09:44.005 No, you can give a prediction on anyone. I think we all know what's gonna happen in England 09:44.245 --> 09:47.925 They scrape through the group stage and then they go on a panel in the group. They'll finish for 09:47.925 --> 09:51.445 No, no, they'll go through. In a spectacular fashion. They'll get through with a 09:51.445 --> 09:57.845 Probably three nil nil or one one draws and then they'll lose on penalties. Yeah, that's just what happens 09:57.845 --> 10:00.885 Run around for 90 minutes 10:00.885 --> 10:05.270 and lose on penalties at singlin's game plan. Yeah, no, it's it's there's so few like honestly 10:05.270 --> 10:09.670 like there's so few pools that are intriguing. Although we got a good group look at group G. 10:09.670 --> 10:13.670 I think group G is gonna be interesting with Iran, Egypt and Belgium. Like there is something there. 10:13.670 --> 10:19.190 And and not through those teams playing in Vancouver. Yeah. Yeah. That's what I mean. Like 10:19.190 --> 10:23.190 that that to me is one of the more exciting groups to watch. I mean, I'm looking forward. 10:23.190 --> 10:27.990 I'm really looking forward to to see in New Zealand, Belgium, see in New Zealand, Egypt. Like I think 10:27.990 --> 10:34.630 those are gonna be fun some fun games. Do I have a hot take here? No, I don't think I do. I think 10:34.630 --> 10:41.750 other than the fact that, you know, could the US drop to Paraguay? I don't know. I wonder about that 10:41.750 --> 10:50.150 one. Are you guys, are you guys Cubas, you know, right in the show? No, I it's it's it's it's an 10:50.150 --> 10:56.070 interesting World Cup. It's gonna be wide open. The way the travel is going to work is going to be 10:56.070 --> 11:00.790 such a factor. And like to come back to the Jesse March thing, we need to be ready for hot weather. 11:00.790 --> 11:05.190 Like great. But like if there's a team and you're ready for hot weather, I mean, I do wonder about 11:05.190 --> 11:10.790 Germany having to handle going to all these different places. You know, Ivory Coast, Ivory 11:10.790 --> 11:16.630 Coast plays twice in Philly and once in Toronto, right? Like they don't have to travel as much. I 11:16.630 --> 11:20.550 do find myself wondering if Ivory Coast could pull something off in Group E and upset Germany. 11:21.590 --> 11:28.310 JJ, first Canada and the rest of the world. Like I said, I see them probably coming in 11:28.310 --> 11:35.510 second in this group if they if they play well. That's just my my gut feeling at the way, 11:35.510 --> 11:39.750 you know, the group was Bosnia wins the group. 11:39.895 --> 11:46.935 I would I wouldn't I'm leaning actually more towards Switzerland actually winning the group 11:46.935 --> 11:47.935 okay 11:47.935 --> 12:00.215 and hot take and I say this as a passport carrying American they're not getting out of 12:00.215 --> 12:06.295 the group stage there's gonna implode Canada will have the the greatest sense of Shad and 12:06.295 --> 12:14.415 Freud you will ever see as we watch the American fan base just disintegrate into chaos it's 12:14.415 --> 12:20.495 gonna be wonderful and Patrick you actually brought this point up before something is 12:20.495 --> 12:27.015 gonna happen with Iran off the field there's gonna be something that happens with either 12:27.015 --> 12:32.495 fans or you know certain presidents holding a team hostage something is gonna happen mark 12:32.495 --> 12:39.375 my words and it's gonna be a story and maybe that peace prize that somebody got might has 12:39.375 --> 12:45.775 to get taken away too too many too many sites and too many teams for something like that 12:45.775 --> 12:51.295 not to happen I am one thing I'm curious about in this tournament is who the breakout stars 12:51.295 --> 12:57.095 will be because there's an over reliance in my opinion on like how Lionel Messi is still 12:57.095 --> 13:00.815 the biggest star in the tournament like there were questions at the last World Cup where 13:00.815 --> 13:04.895 there was on his last legs and they happen to win it and obviously you've got France 13:04.895 --> 13:11.575 and Bapé but there seems to be an over reliance on some of the older names we'll see Mosala 13:11.575 --> 13:16.855 here in Vancouver clearly had a terrible season he's still in amazing shape but had 13:16.855 --> 13:19.895 terrible club season in the EPL. But 13:19.895 --> 13:22.680 There seems to be an over-reliance on some of the older stars. 13:22.680 --> 13:26.080 We'll see if there are some young players like some of the Barcelona star kids 13:26.080 --> 13:28.280 who can emerge for for Spain. 13:28.280 --> 13:30.980 But they're in terms of sort of household names. 13:30.980 --> 13:33.120 People are still talking about Ronaldo and Messi. 13:33.120 --> 13:38.020 And I think it's time for someone else to step in and really use this stage 13:38.020 --> 13:44.020 to announce their burst onto the onto the scene as the the next elite level player. 13:44.020 --> 13:49.620 So how can you say Messi is on his he plays in the biggest league in the world? 13:49.620 --> 13:51.920 According to Americans, the biggest league in the world. 13:51.920 --> 13:53.680 So he's he's at the pinnacle of his game. 13:53.680 --> 13:55.980 I don't know. I don't know what you're saying, Chappy. 13:55.980 --> 13:57.380 No stadium issues down there. 13:57.380 --> 13:58.880 Let's say that. 13:58.880 --> 14:01.680 So we better wrap this up. 14:01.680 --> 14:02.880 Thanks. Yeah. 14:02.880 --> 14:04.720 Yeah. Thanks, you guys. 14:04.720 --> 14:06.720 Thank you all for watching and listening. 14:06.720 --> 14:10.480 You can get great coverage on all the work on all the post media sites 14:10.480 --> 14:13.220 starting now and going through the World Cup. 14:13.220 --> 14:15.580 So we hope you follow our journey along along the way. 14:15.580 --> 14:18.180 And yeah, let's hope Canada gets it done. 14:18.520 --> 14:21.000 Please send any hate to my email at P. 14:21.000 --> 14:23.620 Johnston@postmedia.com. 14:23.620 --> 14:25.020 That is where you can send it. 14:25.020 --> 14:25.720 Thank you very much.