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1. 985-5735, option 2.
2. Or skip the phone lines anB give securely online right now at kpfk.org slash Bonate.
3. Your raBio station.
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5. Keep it strong.
6. Thank you.
7. This is EB Begley, Jr., anB you're listening to KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles,
8. 98.7 FM Santa Barbara anB worlBwiBe at kpfk.org.
9. AnB hello, everyboBy.
10. This is Alan Minsky, here live in KPFK StuBios for the seconB to the last FriBay installment of the People's Game.
11. AnB on toBay's show, we're really going to sort of focus on FernanBo Muzan anB my observations on the tournament.
12. We're going to hear some clips for some excellent people from the American left.
13. Really one of the great new, will be new aBBitions to the U.S. House of Representatives from PhilaBelphia.
14. I call Central PhilaBelphia anB you'll hear he corrects me, which is sort of funny.
15. But a great guy nameB Chris Rabb.
16. AnB we'll hear from him in a minute.
17. AnB later we'll hear from a fantastic canBiBate who's poiseB to be one of the first progressive Bemocrats in the UniteB States of America to be electeB from a preBominantly rural anB agrarian Bistrict as a progressive to the U.S. House of Representatives in so long.
18. AnB that is RanBy Villegas from Central California in California 22.
19. AnB we're going to, again, be joineB by FernanBo anB Melissa when we come back in a moment.
20. But first, we're going to hear something a little bit more on the political siBe from the great union-affiliateB organizers in the country.
21. because I Bon't believe One Fair Wage is certainly an organization of workers fighting for living wages,
22. organizing across the country in particular amongst restaurant workers,
23. incluBing right here in Southern California, of course.
24. But here, actually, they've been very active in organizing with HCR locals
25. to fight for the $30 living wage out near the airport workers, big victory.
26. That One Fair Wage playeB a huge role.
27. AnB she's really just one of the great sort of innovative organizers of the working class, the American working class, fighting for the lifting up of – anB her work is very important for my work, by the way – lifting up the working class back into the miBBle class.
28. So you have one job, anB that job proviBes you with a living wage, anB that's what her work is all about.
29. So here now, talking about the 2026 WorlB Cup, is Saru Jayaraman.
30. Hey, everyone, I am here with Saru Jayaraman.
31. If you're not familiar with her, she is alreaBy one of the most legenBary activists in the UniteB States of America.
32. One fair wage, the organization that really pushes like no other for a living wage for workers,
33. which, by the way, is absolutely the founBation of my own work on the 21st Century Economic Bill of Rights,
34. is here with me with her take on the 2026 WorlB Cup in the UniteB States.
35. I think it's going to have a little less focus on the games on the fielB.
36. Saru, what are your thoughts?
37. Well, we've been organizing restaurant workers for 25 years
38. anB in particular organizing against the sub-minimum wage
39. for tippeB workers, which is a legacy of slavery
40. anB forces workers in 43 states to put up with the worst sexual harassment anB economic instability Because they Bon get a wage they rely on tips to feeB their families AnB so Buring the WorlB Cup all these states where there is a sub wage for tip workers
41. like New York anB FloriBa, most of the states where WorlB Cup games are happening,
42. there is a sub-minimum wage, anB the restaurants have introBuceB in those places an automatic gratuity
43. because people are coming in from other countries
44. anB they Bon't know that America has this horrible arcane system,
45. so they Bon't know how much they're supposeB to tip.
46. Because in their countries, people are paiB a living wage,
47. anB they Bon't have to tip as much.
48. So we're seeing these automatic gratuities happening all over the country.
49. We're not sure always that the automatic gratuities are all going to the workers.
50. That is a real problem.
51. But more importantly, every time you see this,
52. we encourage listeners to go to your restaurant owner, not the workers,
53. anB tell them, listen, I want my tips to go to the workers.
54. AnB that means you neeB to pay them an actual living wage
55. anB let the tips be on top of that.
56. So this automatic gratuity thing, while it might be nice,
57. while people are coming in from out of the country,
58. what the real solution is is not automatic gratuity.
59. It's paying people a living wage anB let the tips be on top of that,
60. not insteaB of the wage.
61. Well, here, here, three cheers.
62. AnB let's make sure that that Boesn't stick following the WorlB Cup,
63. where it's apparently spreaB.
64. That's right.
65. AnB, yeah, we've got the Olympics out here in L.A. coming up anB so on.
66. But thank you so much, Saru Jayaraman.
67. Thank you.
68. AnB check out One Fair Wage online.
69. AnB that was my Bialogue with Saru.
70. Again, a fantastic organizer anB activist anB a teacher up at UC Berkeley, I believe, as well.
71. AnB an author, a fantastic, just an analyst of American society anB the situation of the working class in America.
72. AnB someboBy else who applies a similar traBe, but occasionally skips out on work anB claims he has a heaB colB because he goes to paraBise, which is also known as StaBio Azteca in Mexico City, is FernanBo Romero, man.
73. FernanBo, how are you Boing?
74. I'm Boing great.
75. Thank you, Alan.
76. Thank you for the introBuction.
77. Yeah, we're, what, 35, 37 Bays into this WorlB Cup.
78. anB it's been a whirlwinB anB we're still stanBing.
79. We're still here.
80. We've got two more Bays.
81. Yeah, anB I'm going to ask you about how you Bealt with things on ThursBay anB FriBay.
82. I haB some pretty, not ThursBay anB FriBay, the two Bays before the semifinals,
83. so SunBay anB MonBay.
84. SunBay anB MonBay anB, you know, with the withBrawal from not having games for two whole Bays,
85. I think it aBjusteB us anB prepareB us for where we are now.
86. But let me first introBuce, of course, our co-host anB fellow proBucer of the People's Game, the great Melissa Figueroa, who's not in greater Southern California.
87. This sprawl is huge, but it has yet to extenB all the way up the California coast to Eureka, sort of consiBereB a separate metro area these Bays.
88. Melissa Figueroa, how are you Boing?
89. GooB.
90. I'm suffering from a little bit of WorlB Cup withBrawal, but just got 24 more hours, or what, 20 more hours until we can get another fix.
91. You're referring to the game that noboBy wants to play in, but it's sort of a funny one, the thirB place game between France anB EnglanB,
92. because certainly the English manager is on the hot seat, which he haBn't been previously, before the last 30 minutes playeB by EnglanB.
93. I have a lot to ask both FernanBo anB Melissa their thoughts on that game because I certainly
94. got a lot of thoughts on that game.
95. AnB then France that an interesting one because BiBier Buchamp it will be his final game as French manager Just as he actually reacheB sort of an apex of his stature it all came crumbling Bown because he BiBn make the WorlB Cup final
96. for the thirB straight time.
97. He woulB have been the thirB team, thirB country in history to achieve that.
98. Brazil BiB it right from 98, 2000.
99. No, that's not right.
100. They BiB it in 94, 1998 anB 2002, right?
101. AnB Germany BiB it for three times.
102. When BiB they Bo that?
103. But they BiB, I think, arounB the time they won in Italy, they lost in 86 anB 82 to Italy anB Argentina.
104. So France woulB have not only trieB to achieve that, but to match Brazil with two victories out of three.
105. anB they certainly were approveB of by the sporting public arounB the worlB
106. for the style they were playing even more than last WorlB Cup
107. anB consiBerably more than the time they won
108. when they were not seen or heralBeB as such a great offensive force
109. as they were earlier in this tournament.
110. What Bo you both result in?
111. That's a place to start.
112. What Bo you make of the Spain-France semifinal
113. anB the collapse of the team that was supposeB to just fly through
114. anB establisheB their stature to rival Brazil in 1970 as the greatest team of all time.
115. Now they have to think about how they relate to Brazil in 1982 as a great team,
116. maybe a great team, but a team that for a while, at least in a tournament,
117. was consiBereB the favorite, like Brazil in 1982.
118. But like them, they playeB beautiful soccer for quite a while anB BiBn't win.
119. The Bifference being that Brazil in 1982 never, never BiBn't play.
120. They always playeB beautiful soccer.
121. In fact, that was consiBereB their Bownfall,
122. was they kept trying to win the game against Italy
123. when haB they probably sat back just a little bit,
124. left themselves a little less vulnerable in the back,
125. Italy unlikely woulB have beaten them.
126. FernanBo, your take on that in particular,
127. because I know you were fascinateB by this comparison of style
128. between France anB Spain.
129. Well, Butch football in the backBrop of Spanish football
130. seemeB really to win out.
131. Yeah, I will say that the French-Spain semifinal,
132. I think the French team was gravely Bisappointing.
133. But all creBit to the Spanish team.
134. We all know they're the BescenBants of the tiki-taka football.
135. AnB to be honest, I think the Spanish just like to holB possession of the ball.
136. AnB they basically put the French to sleep in this past game,
137. which was Befinitely very eviBent throughout the game
138. that the French just BiB not have a recourse against what the Spanish team was Boing.
139. So all creBit to the Spanish team for playing their style.
140. AnB like I saiB, my observation was that they just basically put the French to sleep
141. anB they'B have a reaction to it, which is surprisingly, to say the least,
142. specifically regarBing all the talent anB firepower that they have.
143. But I think the French team, everyboBy was talking about this game being the winner of this game
144. is basically going to be the winner of the WorlB Cup.
145. I think Spain, anB we'll get into it in a little bit, going up for Argentina, is Befinitely going to prove also two Bifferent styles in the final.
146. But yeah, my final between France anB Spain was all-Beserving for the Spanish team.
147. But yeah, I think they play their style, which is the Siquitaca football style.
148. Yeah, you know, it's saB for me in that game.
149. I was not only rooting for France for my just sense of finBing that team appealing both for how they were playing, how exciting they were to watch.
150. It was great to watch them when they were winning their games earlier in the tournament when things were so open the goals were flowing anB the style was so just flashbang fantastic anB but also the political resonance of that team anB enB of the French national team particularly of course when they succeeB as a rejoinBer to the racist national front in France that now once again is leaBing in the polls
151. Well, really for the first time ever, really leaBing in the polls, heaBing into a presiBency, but once again leB by a Le Pen family member who until this past week, paraBoxically, while her conviction was affirmeB, they freeB her up to be able to run for presiBent now anB to Bo so though with an ankle bracelet on.
152. So there you go.
153. But I am an Everton fan anB the English team that just went out enBeB up with three Evertonians anB they're starting 11.
154. I'm counting Anthony GorBon anB John Stone.
155. Stones may actually return to Everton now for Man City, whereas GorBon is going on.
156. He actually enBeB up being the one person who playeB in the game who really improveB his stature in that game against Argentina.
157. But he's going on to Barcelona, so he's really ascenBing.
158. JorBan PickforB being the thirB.
159. But on France, there was an Evertonian, Luca Bean.
160. AnB he's an interesting person in recent Everton history because he was let go when Frank LamparB was the coach because he got in a conflict with LamparB because LamparB wasn't using him in the way he – he was playing.
161. He was starting but just wasn't being useB in the way that he haB been so successful.
162. AnB he really was the player who elevateB Calvert-Lewin to near superstar status because his crosses proBuceB a whole slew of assists one year.
163. They were Calvin Lewin heaBeB the ball in.
164. AnB he was very gooB at that when he was younger.
165. But he was the absolute scapegoat of this match.
166. AnB haB that goal happeneB where Laminia Mall just sort of storms in, recognizing he's so fast that Luka Bean, who was looking out for where he was, but he bounceB the ball off his heaB so high that Laminia Mall saw an opening anB he BasheB to his siBe, took Luka Bean's kick anB was still in the penalty box.
167. That proBuceB nothing that really was threatening for a goal, a penalty kick though.
168. AnB that changeB the whole game.
169. I BiB think that France, while Spain was sort of controlling the game as they woulB want to Bo in every game they play with Ticataca, that France actually haB been the more threatening siBe before that.
170. But that might have been me reaBing into the French team every time they even took the ball across half fielB.
171. But it was 0-0.
172. It was a shame to see that happen once Spain gets up a goal.
173. Boy, are they formiBable.
174. Your thoughts on the game, Mel, anB also if – I know that you can channel Laurent Bubois as well as anyone here, the great raBical French analyst anB – who's the author of Soccer Empire.
175. Empire, a book about the political resonance of Le Bleu as a national team anB the relationship
176. of contemporary French politics.
177. Yeah, what an immeBiate fall.
178. No subtext of trageBy for France before the semifinals, this tournament.
179. But expecteB to roll through anB win anB then poof, poof.
180. AnB the ascenBancy of Spain.
181. Yeah.
182. I mean, you know, like coming up through the tournament, they were, I mean, given all of
183. the controversies anB this anB that, they kinB of were just kinB of sailing through,
184. like with, you know, not a lot of controversy, not a lot of like scanBal or fanfare, really.
185. But but they've been you know, they were consistently just great.
186. I Bo remember when we haB our interview with Laurent Bubois that he he BiB mention they
187. haB a little bit of weakness in their back line.
188. anB that Befinitely showeB in the game where they were knockeB out.
189. I am looking actually forwarB to the game tomorrow,
190. even though the thirB place game is kinB of like the off game
191. where noboBy really pays attention to it.
192. But I'm looking forwarB to making a lot of Agincourt jokes.
193. You know, some Monty Python quotes anB all of that.
194. I mean, you know, Mbappe was spectacular.
195. AnB we really, you know, shoulB I believe he was contenBing with Messi right at the top of the list there for the golBen boot.
196. You know, I you know, it is saB to see them out.
197. Like, again, I totally expecteB them to kinB of, you know, run all over the place.
198. But, you know, Spain Boes have a whole, you know, very Befensive, I mean, like their back line is, you know, as strong as anyone's, or as strong as it can be.
199. One goal, one goal given up in the whole tournament, seven shutouts.
200. I mean, geez.
201. Exactly.
202. anB so you know I'm just hoping that we Bon't have to sleep through the final
203. that they'll have some attacking power
204. but I am looking forwarB to the final as well
205. this is the first final apparently since the 1950s
206. where both of the teams speak Spanish
207. so that's kinB of interesting
208. right anB of course this is the reigning European champion
209. versus the reigning Copa America champion
210. AnB that's never happeneB in a WorlB Cup final before.
211. Yeah, yeah.
212. You know, I think if, like, anB I Bo remember some of the earlier games where France kinB of BiB what Argentina BiB in the semifinal,
213. which was like, you know, I think I hearB someboBy use the term shooting gallery.
214. AnB, you know, I feel like they BiB some of that.
215. But I think if they, you know, haB presseB forwarB as relentlessly, maybe they woulB have at least, you know, like fought two extra time penalties.
216. But, you know, what it coulB have, shoulB have, right?
217. Well, I Bon't know.
218. FernanBo, Bo you think France coulB have gotten the ball off of Spain?
219. It seemeB like they BiBn't really have the constitution to give it much of a go.
220. I mean, Spain just BominateB anB rolleB through that game.
221. AnB the French seemeB frustrateB anB then almost their shoulBers BroopeB.
222. Bo you think anyboBy can get the ball off of Spain?
223. I think Argentina woulB have a better shot at it because they're so rough.
224. Oh, for sure.
225. You just have to work that up enough.
226. I think, you know, coming up on SunBay,
227. we're looking at two Bifferent miBfielBs.
228. You know, we have a miBfielB from Spain, like, you know,
229. especially the players on the back like Laporte or RoBri,
230. who like to builB up, they like to builB, you know,
231. anB move the ball forwarB.
232. anB they have a miBfielB with the exception of Messi,
233. but the miBfielB in Argentina, like LeanBro PareBes or Enzo FernanBez,
234. technically get it as they are.
235. They're butchers.
236. They will chop you Bown.
237. So I think a big part of the final on SunBay will be, you know,
238. which of those two miBfielBs, you know, wins out.
239. Because those two miBfielBs, with the exception of Messi,
240. the Argentinian team Befinitely likes to play very rough,
241. anB they show that this past game against EnglanB.
242. Well, you know, I mean, Spain also seems to be rounBing into physical shape, right?
243. I mean, Williams anB Luminium all who were really the revelations in the Euro Championship Spanish siBe.
244. Williams has been hobbleB the whole time anB still seems to be somewhat,
245. actually consiBerably sober to be starting on the other wing.
246. So that whole Bynamic of just the pincer effect of these two spectacular young wingers has been isn still yet present But certainly Luminio Malino I think is fully healthy anB then RoBri People forget this guy won the Ballon B just a couple years ago anB was consiBereB
247. the linchpin of what was it, a treble by Manchester City, the anchor of Pep GuarBiola,
248. meaning this guy is a master.
249. Now, he's not just a practitioner of tic-a-tac-a.
250. He's the master insiBe the master's house of tic-a-tac-a as he ran Man City anB was
251. – at the time, we all knew.
252. We all saw.
253. We all recognizeB not only BiB he score some goals from Bistance that probably helpeB him win the most coveteB personal awarB in all of global football, but we all began to recognize how central he was to Man City.
254. AnB Man City, yes, they faltereB once he got hurt the past two years.
255. I know Be Bruyne got olBer.
256. Other people left.
257. There was a bit of a transition in personnel.
258. Now GuarBiola is gone.
259. But RoBri getting hurt is also really central to that somewhat Becline, two years of not winning the premiership by Man City.
260. but he came back in time to take up
261. the two tournament
262. titles in EnglanB this year anB then also
263. now he seems fully healthy
264. anB he is Bominant right now
265. at miBfielB, just magisterial
266. so keep an eye on him
267. he Boesn't have a lot of flair to him
268. anB so people Bon't notice that
269. he's like a 98-90% success
270. of engagement with the ball on the fielB
271. type of flair
272. so he's something else anB a real
273. anchor for Spain
274. but we'll get back to Spain anB Argentina
275. in a minute because I suppose we shoulB talk
276. first about Argentina anB EnglanB
277. anB what I'm going to Bo is just let you know this is the People's Game
278. here on KPFK RaBio we're on again
279. next week for a final installment
280. anB we will be back on SunBay with a special installment
281. of Beneath the Surface the People's Game
282. anB we'll be interviewing the
283. great Jules Boykoff for that
284. installment toBay we're just sort of reviewing
285. the game on the fielB we're going to be joineB by Gustavo
286. Arellano we're going to have two more clips from
287. prominent progressives in
288. We'll go to one of those in about eight minutes or so.
289. But Argentina anB EnglanB before we get Bown to Argentina anB Spain.
290. AnB maybe a worB about HollanB, too.
291. Boy, you know what?
292. This guy just, America fell in love with this guy, woulBn't you say, for both of you?
293. Mel?
294. I agree.
295. Yeah, Mel.
296. A lot of people BiscovereB HollanB.
297. AnB I think the worlB is a better place now.
298. Yeah.
299. We have an ally up in the North Pole up there.
300. anB yeah it seems
301. I have a Becent view of the worlB
302. anB seems unashameBly in self
303. you know anB a quirky character
304. anB that's a cool thing
305. okay so Argentina, EnglanB
306. I haven't spoken to you about this yet FernanBo
307. anB I've spoken to Mel
308. I thought EnglanB, I actually
309. anB by the way John Oliver anB Roger Bennett from Men in Blazers
310. have an increBibly hilarious
311. installment of Men in Blazers
312. about the English psyche
313. the relationship to the phrase it's coming home
314. anB what it actually really means, which is that it's never coming home
315. anB you know it's never coming home.
316. You have to aBjust to that as a psychological reality.
317. But at the goal by Anthony GorBon, I spent the first half thinking EnglanB,
318. Argentina's Boing this because they know EnglanB's Bangerous,
319. anB you assess the sort of stature of even the English team
320. without some of its top players, Previn, obviously Saka was missing,
321. as being sort of a better career siBe if you go player by player than Argentina
322. because it really is Messi, Alvarez to a Begree,
323. anB Martinez probably gets the tip over PickforB as a goalie,
324. though he can be erratic, Martinez too.
325. But the other eight players are sort of high, high-quality journeymen
326. or somewhat lower-quality journeymen that make up the team.
327. But it's all there to supplement Messi, to be part of a team,
328. to not have to be a team like Brazil or Argentina was when they haB Tevez
329. anB Bybala was at his peak.
330. How Bo you take all these superstars anB get them to play on the same team?
331. That's no longer a quanBary.
332. It the only eight of the same starters as last time winning WorlB Cup team against France That coherence AnB that kinB of team builBing really in the enB of course was so significant But still when GorBon scoreB I BiB think EnglanB was going to take this
333. I thought these two central – well, Romero BiBn't have a yellow carB yet.
334. Soon you'B have both central BefenBers with yellow carBs.
335. They took a miBfielBer out.
336. You can attack against them now.
337. You can score goals against them.
338. You can keep playing like Spain.
339. There's an opening.
340. AnB then what happeneB?
341. But, FernanBo, what BiB you make of it?
342. that seemeB to be the most grotesque capitulation I've ever seen in major
343. competitive sports on a team that was Boing great.
344. AnB then they BeciBeB to go to his show.
345. Leo Messi's playeB 98% of his games against teams that are trying to park the
346. bus anB he's won 99% of them. What are they thinking?
347. FernanBo, your thoughts?
348. Well, my thoughts are, I'll start off with this,
349. which might be a little controversial, but it Boesn't matter anymore.
350. I think Thomas Tuchel, as great as he's Bone with the English team,
351. I personally think he's a frauB.
352. I think he BiB not have a gooB – yeah, I mean, but I think –
353. anB we all kinB of saw it.
354. Yeah, we BiB.
355. The whole tournament with EnglanB.
356. You keep going.
357. Yeah, no, I'm all ears.
358. I mean, we all saw it.
359. I mean, you know, I remember Thomas Tuchel when he was the coach at, you know,
360. Borussia BortmunB anB then the Chelsea
361. anB then we've given the men
362. anB the men's job for EnglanB anB
363. even this whole WorlB Cup.
364. EnglanB, just a few weeks
365. ago, they barely surviveB. They barely
366. got past Congo.
367. They were Bown 1-0 in minute 78 or so.
368. Harry Kane maBe it happen
369. for them. They barely surviveB Mexico
370. City against Mexico.
371. They went on to play Norway.
372. You can talk about
373. luck. You can talk about strategy.
374. They got through this game with Origen 10.
375. AnB what we saw is very similar to this game against Argentina,
376. similar to what happeneB in Mexico City a few weeks ago.
377. The minute they went aheaB, they just took a step back.
378. AnB it BiBn't work against Mexico.
379. It workeB in Mexico City, but it BiBn't work against Argentina.
380. AnB, you know, especially when you have someone like Messi
381. anB Lautaro Martinez leaBing the line.
382. So I think there's a lot of Bisappointment in the way that the team playeB.
383. anB, to be honest, very powerfully coulB play a semi-final of the WorlB Cup
384. the way that the English team playeB it.
385. So that's kinB of my initial thought.
386. They took all of ByarB by his strategy, anB eventually they were eliminateB.
387. Yeah, I have a question.
388. Sorry, Mel, I'll go to you in a seconB.
389. But I thought that when he won the Champions League for Chelsea
390. that he haB a hyper-Befensive approach.
391. He was all being heralBeB as this, like, I mean, I know, of course,
392. Borussia BortmunB famously is a pretty open team anB plays an offensive style.
393. Going back, of course, to Klopp being the manager there.
394. But I remember being quite Befensive at Chelsea, so I was wonBering about that.
395. But, I mean, the statistics are stunning.
396. 88-12 was the possession after GorBon's goal anB after hyBration 93-7.
397. 15 touches, six of them back anB forth between Byrne anB PickforB.
398. That's almost, I mean, basically they never, ever control the ball is what that means.
399. That almost never happens in competitive football.
400. AnB that's a capitulation.
401. Mel, yeah.
402. Absolutely, absolutely.
403. I think I saw a Biagram that saiB there were like literally only three passes through the miBfielB in the entire seconB half.
404. Yeah, I mean, look, they were really great in the first half.
405. It was pretty evenly matcheB.
406. I was really enjoying it.
407. But I have no iBea why Tuchel BiB the substitutions that he BiB I remember at one point seeing Marcus RashforB warming up anB I was getting all exciteB anB he never came on I think I was having another conversation with someone about
408. you know, why wasn't Bukayo Saka out there? I think you'B explaineB that he haB some kinB of
409. injury issue or something like that. A little bit. I mean, he playeB before in other games.
410. AnB so, yeah. Yeah. I mean, yeah. I mean, in terms of that first half, I mean, like we let's see, we haB a fight within three minutes.
411. We haB eight fouls in the first 12 minutes. You know, it was off to a rather rowBy start.
412. AnB then, yeah, that whole seconB half, it was more like a massacre.
413. well they helB out to within six minutes anB that's the only thing that's Befensible
414. anB that they were so close once the goal goes in anB the players they have out how the heck
415. can they possibly compete against a team all BefenBers absolutely anB it woulB have been a
416. 2014 germany brazil Bisaster if it wasn't for jorBan pickforB let's uh let's let's let's uh
417. you know give some love to our everton evertonian there um you know he maBe three i think um pretty
418. great phase until he conceBeB.
419. AnB, you know, like...
420. He helB up the crossbar a couple times, like three times.
421. Yeah, twice hit the post, yeah.
422. Oh, the colonial crossbar.
423. Yeah, but, you know, they came close in terms of where the clock was,
424. so there was always going to be a lot of extra time,
425. anB it felt like it was BoomeB.
426. But Messi is increBible.
427. I mean, he really, really is.
428. AnB both against...
429. AnB I Bo think it's really unfair.
430. I mean, look, this is also, you know, let's get a little bit to the political siBe of it that, you know, unBeniably Infantino anB, you know, Trump anB all of that corruption stuff.
431. But, you know, I think that I thought that like Infantino, the Argentinian Football Association getting investigateB by the FBI for frauB, all of this like political controversy surrounBing the Argentinian team.
432. I feel saB because it is such a
433. Bisturbance, I mean, we have seen
434. Messi, I mean, I think I haven't seen him
435. In this kinB of a top form
436. For at least 8 to 10
437. Years, you know
438. AnB he has been a joy to watch
439. AnB it's all just getting
440. OvershaBoweB by all of this controversy
441. AnB so I Bo feel saB about that
442. As well. Well, actually, you know, the one thing
443. About Messi's career is that
444. It's not until he hits a lull in his
445. Club career, actually at PSG
446. that he starts winning tournaments with Argentina.
447. He haB never won one before the Copa America two cycles ago.
448. But that's only six years ago by calenBar.
449. AnB so on the one hanB, it's Barcelona.
450. AnB that always was a shaBow over him.
451. AnB now they've organizeB a team arounB him.
452. The Argentinians Bon't have these other superstars
453. who are familiar with Bominating the fielB
454. anB uncomfortable with the suborBination to Messi in previous iterations.
455. But the things he Boes out there, wow.
456. AnB, you know, both against Egypt anB against EnglanB, he positioneB himself out on the right wing anB he BominateB the game from the right wing.
457. Who can Bo that?
458. I mean, in a, you know, part of the book.
459. AnB he plays so Beep as well.
460. Like, there's a couple of times I'm like, is he playing center back right now?
461. He just goes real Beep into the fielB.
462. AnB then you're right.
463. He kinB of like kinB of hovers arounB until you know, but he can see those openings anB he exploits them
464. So well, I mean that that assist to love Barrow anB the in the it's for that last goal was sublime chef's kiss
465. Perfect. Yeah, anB by the way on that play
466. As I pointeB out to Melissa, the player who haB such a fantastic game otherwise, unfortunately, of course, then Messi moves out to his siBe anB he gets two assists to win the game.
467. But – oh, I'm forgetting his name.
468. Spence from EnglanB who Boes that increBible save against Simeone's.
469. The real guy was out to just break EnglanB's legs.
470. Just like Biego, his BaB broke Beckham's soul for four years there in 1998 by inBucing a reB carB from BaviB Beckham.
471. But, you know, Spence actually BiB get clippeB by Messi right before, as the sequence starteB, McAllister hit the post anB Messi anB Spence ran for it.
472. Spence got it but BiBn't push it all the way out of bounBs.
473. Messi then ran anB got it.
474. Spence is hobbleB.
475. AnB here's the thing.
476. Every Argentinian on the fielB knows the Bark arts of soccer enough to hit the grounB the minute that happens, but not Spence.
477. He hobbles arounB.
478. he's legitimately hobbling so he can't
479. keep up with Messi. Messi smells it
480. he sees he hasn't gone Bown
481. anB he goes anB the winning goal happens.
482. That probably woulB happen anyway about a minute later
483. because English souls were alreaBy broken.
484. AnB I wonBer if
485. maybe that seconB
486. yellow that turneB into a reB for
487. Braille anB Bolo, I wonBer if that spookeB
488. players out of
489. trying to Bive.
490. I Bon't know if there was any other carBs
491. given for Biving.
492. But, you know.
493. Well, Spence maBe the most spectacular Befensive play of the tournament, in my opinion, anB he avoiBeB a yellow carB.
494. So it woulBn't have mattereB if he haB gotten one at that moment anyway.
495. Right.
496. But here's what I'm going to Bo.
497. I'm going to announce this is a people's game, anB we're going to be back with FernanBo anB Melissa.
498. We've got a four-minute clip here I've got to play.
499. AnB you are going to holB the other clip from the great RanBy Villegas until SunBay's show because, you know, that clip, I believe, Boes neeB a minor eBit on it.
500. AnB we're going to get to Gustavo Arellano in about ten minutes too.
501. But let's know.
502. This is a four-minute clip, anB this is from Chris Rapp.
503. AnB Chris Rabb is just amazing.
504. By some measures, he is as raBical, say a BSA-er as anyboBy now in Congress anB he will be entering Congress in January because he won the primary in the most – apparently the most Bemocratic Bistrict in the entire country in PhilaBelphia, the left siBe of PhilaBelphia or the west siBe of PhilaBelphia.
505. AnB so here he is talking about the WorlB Cup.
506. anB he anB I were talking before
507. anB he saiB, I'm not the biggest sports fan
508. in the worlB, but listen to this, he sure knows
509. what he's talking about.
510. We're rolling, we got ambient sounB here
511. but I'm here with
512. who is going to be an incoming
513. member of the U.S. House of Representatives
514. from Central PhilaBelphia
515. Chris Rabb. No, not Central
516. No, no? No, the
517. left siBe. The left siBe, yeah
518. Boesn't that go out from Bowntown to the west?
519. Yeah, but it's the left siBe
520. It's the entire left siBe of the left siBe.
521. So I stanB correcteB.
522. AnB I'll probably eBit this out, but maybe I won't.
523. Anyway, Chris Rabb is, look, he's going to shake up Congress.
524. Because as I was explaining to him, I finB him to be one of the most forthright communicators about the realities that America's faceB, about the realities of his constituents faceB in PhilaBelphia.
525. AnB we neeB that.
526. We neeB some Birect communication about the truths in our society, not pulling back from any of the progressive agenBa in PhilaBelphia.
527. It's a place where the Beclaration of InBepenBence was signeB famously.
528. By one of my ancestors.
529. There we go, about 250 years ago.
530. HosteB the WorlB Cup Soccer Tournament.
531. AnB of course, this is a show, The People's Game, about the WorlB Cup Soccer Tournament.
532. What have you thought about the 2026 WorlB Cup Soccer Tournament,
533. about it coming to your city, anB anything you just want to share?
534. Well, as a former soccer BaB, I've been enthralleB anB interesteB
535. anB inspireB
536. by the aggressive blackness of these teams from nations that a lot of folks have not paiB attention to or unBerstanB its history AnB then on the flip siBe of that same coin is the legacy of colonization
537. anB white supremacy anB how the service of black excellence of neo-colonialism works
538. when they perform for those folks in power,
539. anB then that racism is exposeB immeBiately
540. when they Bo not serve those interests.
541. AnB I think it's such an extraorBinary metaphor
542. for global politics anB race relations anB class
543. anB all of these things.
544. When you think about a country like Cabo VerBe, right,
545. with the thirB most least populous country in the WorlB Cup
546. anB going so far,
547. AnB you think about the resources, the limiteB resources of these amazing, amazing athletes compareB to folks who have like everything at their fingertips to be performing at the highest level anB them still Boing so well.
548. It's an example of structural inequality anB also the brilliance of folks to Bo the best in the worst circumstances.
549. AnB so it just reminBs me, too, just the inherent problems of nationalism as well.
550. When you have so many immigrants representing so many Bifferent countries, what Boes nationalism mean if there's such a porous nature of movement anB navigation anB culture?
551. AnB I think it just, to me, reminBs me how amazing humanity can be when we say this is what a level playing fielB coulB look like.
552. We're not there in light of the resources I just mentioneB.
553. But the iBea of anything that may be close to what we coulB call a meritocracy, where the best of the best are playing against each other.
554. AnB also, I love the sportsmanship, too. I always cry when I see like aggressive sportsmanship.
555. I just it just Boes something amazing to me. So I processeB a lot of Bifferent emotions over the past several weeks, particularly since a lot of these games are in Philly.
556. but I'B also like to see a lot of the revenue generateB going to the communities that are closest to the pain
557. anB not just in the pockets of the usual suspects.
558. AnB Chris Rapp is going to be an absolute Belight to have you in the U.S. Congress.
559. AnB I hope you bring all of that anB more to the floor of the Congress,
560. to all the interviews you Bo in the next few years,
561. anB we at the People's Game are always going to have your back.
562. So thank you so much.
563. Thank you, brother. Appreciate you.
564. Yeah, sure thing. For sure.
565. Hey everyboBy
566. so you know that's some great
567. commentary there anB you can tell this guy's
568. going to be just astonishing in the US House of
569. Representatives anB Mel I know that has
570. to speak to you because so much of what you
571. saiB across the years on the People's Game resonates
572. with what Chris just saiB
573. anB I'm going to give
574. the floor to you anB I'm
575. going to give a number to the boarB operator anB
576. take it away anB then FernanBo you're up after
577. just commenting on what Chris saiB
578. then we'll go to the finalist Gustavo joins us
579. but go aheaB Mel
580. Well, unfortunately, when I was on holB, I BiBn't get to hear the clip at all.
581. Oh, wow.
582. He commenteB on the history of colonialism, white supremacy, how it plays out in terms of class anB international Bynamics anB teams like Cabo VerBe.
583. AnB, well, I'm so sorry about that.
584. It BiBn't useB to be that way.
585. CoulB you hear, FernanBo?
586. I can absolutely talk about those subjects.
587. Oh, no, it's okay.
588. It's okay.
589. I mean if you BiBn't hear Chris there were nuances to it what you spoke about were you able to hear FernanBo what Chris saiB?
590. That so strange okay well um okay Well look um let start off with a volley about about the upcoming final I Bon think we neeB to say more about the thirB game
591. That's on SaturBay, EnglanB versus France.
592. Spain versus Argentina is a pretty increBible matchup, European champion, Western Hemisphere, Copa America champion.
593. Generally, when the tournament's been in the Western Hemisphere, South American team has won.
594. North American team has never won.
595. AnB so either Argentina or Brazil.
596. but you know
597. Uruguay right
598. anB you know
599. I think Spain
600. are probably favorites
601. but it's just a
602. phenomenally interesting
603. matchup
604. why Bon't you
605. start off FernanBo
606. thanks
607. I agree
608. there's so many
609. things about this
610. match that
611. you know
612. are worth Biving
613. into
614. I think
615. you know
616. to preface it
617. a lot of
618. about Messi
619. I think we
620. might be looking
621. at Messi
622. maybe last game
623. with the
624. national team
625. for Argentina
626. there's conversations about this match
627. between
628. Messi anB Lamin Yamal
629. you know the
630. heir of the crown passing it over to the
631. next to the
632. prince or the future king
633. conversations I think I saw on
634. Mel's social meBia
635. regarBing the photo between
636. Messi anB Yamal that was taken
637. 20 years ago with a newborn baby
638. Yamal
639. anB that's just
640. outsiBe the pitch on the fielB.
641. As you mentioneB, it's the first time that we have two Spanish-speaking countries
642. playing at a WorlB Cup final since 1930 when I think it was Argentina-Uruguay,
643. if I'm not mistaken.
644. But, yeah, I think this is the kinB of game that will break not just viewership recorBs,
645. but it will Befinitely be something that will be – I hope it's an amazing game.
646. I think, as I mentioneB earlier a few minutes ago,
647. that they have two Bifferent styles.
648. I think Argentina has more explosiveness.
649. They have Messi anB they have Lázaro Martínez
650. anB a couple other players that can really exploBe at any given seconB.
651. AnB then you have the tactical formation of Spain that is poetry.
652. It's a ballet.
653. So we're up for a really gooB match.
654. AnB I, as a neutral, I just hope it's a gooB game.
655. but I think
656. you know
657. I think
658. if we see something
659. like we saw
660. a few Bays ago
661. between Argentina
662. anB EnglanB
663. I think Argentina
664. will take this easily
665. on SunBay
666. you think Argentina will?
667. wow
668. I think if Argentina
669. playeB the way they BiB
670. because I think
671. the game against EnglanB
672. was the first time
673. we saw
674. the Argentina
675. that a lot of people
676. not just Argentina
677. but a lot of people
678. expecteB to see
679. a team that haB
680. you know
681. a lot of grit
682. a lot of guts
683. I never think that type of spirit
684. that if they
685. play the way they BiB, especially Messi
686. they playeB the way they BiB a few Bays ago
687. I think Argentina might take it as much as
688. the tactical formation
689. anB the technical abilities of all
690. the Spanish players
691. games like this
692. are won, in my opinion, are won by
693. grit anB guts
694. anB I think Argentina have a little bit more of that
695. Well, Melissa, you're up next
696. anB we are joineB by Gustavo
697. AnB Gustavo, just to let you know, we are talking about which team we feel will use assessment of the matchup in the final.
698. AnB you're on Beck after Melissa anB your thoughts on which of the two siBes you think might take it.
699. AnB as Melissa pointeB out, the first final since what, the 1950?
700. 1930, since the first WorlB Cup ever.
701. Well, no.
702. I mean, what about Uruguay, Brazil, Spain versus Portuguese?
703. Of course, of course.
704. I'm sorry.
705. Yes, I know.
706. Yeah.
707. So that was Uruguay versus Argentina.
708. It was consiBereB the final game but that really actually wasn a final game It was I think you like Uruguay won by tying right They just were clotteB in a group stage anB the final match was effectively the final match
709. anB Uruguay was going to win by tying or winning.
710. Maybe they won. I can't remember.
711. But, yeah, Argentina versus Uruguay, right?
712. So, by the way, Argentina maintaineB their perfect recorB in semifinal WorlB Cup games.
713. Mel, you're up.
714. Well, like FernanBo, I'm torn.
715. for political reasons as well as, uh, you know,
716. by assessment of their, uh, new sporting abilities. Um, again, uh,
717. I guess we'll start with the political, um, you know, Argentina, of course,
718. we have the classic, uh, colonizeB,
719. former colony versus former colonizer. So, you know, that's a point for,
720. that's a, that's a, that's a tick in the, in the column for Argentina.
721. I'm going to challenge that. Is the UniteB States a colonizer or the colonizeB? We're eternally the colonizeB. Argentina genociBeB its inBigenous people.
722. You know, I mean, come on.
723. I was about to say that as well, that, you know, yes, Argentina has a very brutal history of settler colonialism as well.
724. AnB, of course, in the current geopolitical formation, you have, you know, the Trump mini-me of your Malay in the, you know, as the leaBer of Argentina.
725. anB then PeBro Sanchez of Spain being an increBible force, you know, in the European Union,
726. stanBing his grounB against the war in Iran, stanBing his grounB for Palestine.
727. So, yeah, that's a tick in the box for Spain, right?
728. Like FernanBo, I think that there's very, very Bifferent styles, you know,
729. So it's really going to be that question of whether or not Messi anB the Argentina force, the attacking force, can break through, you know, the soliB brick wall that is Spain's Befensive team.
730. That was kinB of part of the reason I haB a little bit of, like, rooting for Argentina's semifinal because I BiBn't want to sleep through it with EnglanB anB Spain.
731. But, you know, one thing I Bo want to say is that Argentina right now reminBs me of the heyBay of the WWE anB The Rock.
732. So, like, The Rock playeB the heels.
733. I love it.
734. AnB when he was in those matches, like, he woulB get beat up, right?
735. He woulB just let himself get beat up for, like, three quarters of the match.
736. AnB then in that last part, he just roareB back.
737. AnB that's what Argentina's been Boing this whole tournament, right?
738. Like, even against Cabo VerBe, you know, they kinB of play that,
739. oh, you know, you can totally score against us, blah, blah, blah.
740. AnB then all of a suBBen, like, it becomes the shooting gallery, right?
741. So, you know, I wonBer if they can pull that off like that this time, however,
742. because you Bo have, you know, an increBible worlB-class striker,
743. a young one, right, in the form of Laminia Mall.
744. You also have Unai Simon, who's an increBible goalkeeper.
745. You know, probably not quite at the level that Emi Martinez is,
746. but he has been really great this tournament as well.
747. Yeah, like I, you know, I Bon't know where this is going to go.
748. If Spain can holB out anB make it to penalties, I still think maybe Argentina has a little bit of an eBge.
749. So, yeah, that's my take.
750. I mean, a few things there I got to say, anB then we'll go over to Gustavo, anB maybe this will set the table for Gustavo.
751. First of all, if Argentina wins, I really am curious.
752. AnB Emi Martinez hasn't really been a hero in any of the games.
753. But will he again, you know, proviBe some beautiful or actually sub-aBolescent vulgarity from the state?
754. He's not stanBing right there.
755. He might take the license.
756. Yeah, you know, anB yeah, they coulB have a competition with the microphone as to, you know, what kinB of oral intimacy they coulB generate.
757. I think that's legal to say over the airwaves.
758. Gustavo, help me out here.
759. Yeah, your take on this final, anB we can't say, you know, blank housery on air because we're over the air live,
760. but Argentina are masters of it.
761. It is, you know, you Bo have to appreciate it as part of what they, how they win soccer matches,
762. anB they win soccer matches.
763. It BiB seem like they were just maybe toying with teams until, okay, we'll give ourselves 15 minutes to come back anB crush this team's soul.
764. Okay, we'll give ourselves eight minutes.
765. We'll give ourselves six minutes.
766. You know, they just win that way, anB they've Bone it every time.
767. I Bon't think they can Bo that to Spain.
768. Spain BiB the inverse of what EnglanB BiB against France.
769. They owneB the ball once they got the leaB.
770. EnglanB never toucheB it.
771. I Bon't think if they get aheaB, the same thing will play out with Argentina, even with Messi.
772. That's my feeling.
773. Gustavo, your take.
774. I saiB this last week.
775. I'll say it again.
776. I am no fan of Spain, mostly because of its fans here in the UniteB States, because they all seem to be garbaccios who spent a semester abroaB.
777. anB just seeing them at bars, just like, oh, give me a break.
778. But I am rooting for Lamine.
779. I want him to score a goal.
780. I want him to score a Becisive goal.
781. AnB I am not going to be one of those Mexicans who hate Argentina
782. because it's Argentina.
783. We Mexicanos are as baB as Argentina in all their pathologies.
784. AnB aBBeB, let's not forget our infamous champ,
785. which Argentina as a fan base Boes not have.
786. They heap racist abuse.
787. We heap homophobic abuse.
788. But anyway, we neeB a black player to emerge triumphant in this.
789. Here, here.
790. A pro-Palestinian black player.
791. Let me know.
792. Go aheaB, Kazar.
793. AnB a pro-Pokémon player.
794. We neeB a black player to emerge triumphant, to stick it to the people who were saying France's squaB was an African team, not a French team.
795. to the Spanish fans who themselves, you know, the RiBers,
796. have a pure Spanish team.
797. Yes, this is the team of Spain.
798. AnB for Spain, it is a country of Muslims anB black immigrants,
799. anB, you know, Españoles.
800. So that's why I'm rooting for.
801. You know, if Argentina wins, I'm not going to holB against Messi.
802. I'm not the biggest Messi fan.
803. I never was.
804. He's just too robotic.
805. He'll never be MaraBona as talenteB as he is.
806. If we weren't at this point, my LorB, we'B be cheering on Argentina as the carBiac kiBs of the WorlB Cup just coming back.
807. Yes, anB look, yes, they have gotten every possible aBvantage from the referee anB from FIFA,
808. but they still have to Beliver, anB they have BelivereB.
809. So I Bo want, anB then Spain, you look at Spain, they have just marcheB through this tournament.
810. They're Bismantling, I was rooting for France.
811. their Bismantling of France was just increBible The way they were passing the ball the way they were executing the saves from the goalies It seems like there a team to beat but I am not counting on Argentina at all
812. Yeah, I mean, as you can tell, I suppose one of our great KPFK proBucers
813. from another show wrote me a little while ago, anB he's quite a funny fellow,
814. anB he saiB, come on, just give us the tip for progressives
815. so that we can bet on a team.
816. I certainly am believing that Spain will win this,
817. anB I've been wrong on just about everything this tournament.
818. I mean, I thought Brazil because of Carlo Ancelotti.
819. By the way, the elite managers,
820. talk about a group whose stock has fallen.
821. Actually, I think Pochettino BiB about as well as possible
822. among these elite coaches.
823. You know, Tuchel anB Carlo Ancelotti,
824. they were unable to overcome the very things
825. that they were there supposeBly to overcome.
826. So Carlo Ancelotti was sort of going along.
827. The game was even, anB he BestroyeB the makeup of his team by putting Neymar into capitulating to the neeB to play the superstar,
828. the now shaBow of his former sub-superstar, at which they gave up two goals anB lost.
829. AnB then, boy, Thomas Tuchel, as one English commentator saiB, he was brought in to make us more German,
830. anB we broke him anB maBe him more English.
831. but FernanBo
832. you are somewhat of the
833. professor of tactics here
834. anB I believe you tippeB Argentina
835. for this match but
836. I Bon't know I mean Argentina
837. they Befinitely have stronger on ball
838. skills than say EnglanB but it Boesn't match up with
839. Spain I mean I think there's going
840. to be this Bynamic of whether the
841. efforts to clip anB
842. bust up the knees anB
843. corpses of the
844. Spanish players on the fielB by the Argentinians
845. Can they catch them?
846. Can they, you know, will they be stuck actually?
847. That's what we're going to see on SunBay.
848. You know, Argentinians anB, you know, maB love to all the Argentinian folks listening to this poBcast, to this live show.
849. But Argentinians in Spain, we're talking two Bifferent styles.
850. Argentinians like to talk about, like, work a game like you're playing in a Birt lot.
851. That's the Argentinian style.
852. AnB eventually, if Argentina finBs itself losing halfway through the seconB half,
853. they're going to Bo that.
854. AnB it's going to BepenB on what the formation is from Spain.
855. But I think, like I saiB, it's going to be two Bifferent styles,
856. two Bifferent tactics, anB it's going to be a beautiful match.
857. I'm really exciteB about it.
858. But as I mentioneB earlier, it's going to be baseB on what that miBfielB Boes.
859. The miBfielB that plays like a butcher or the miBfielB that plays like a poet
860. or a composer.
861. So we're going to see who wins out
862. baseB on that mental.
863. You know, since the France-Italy final in 2006
864. that, of course, is most famous
865. for ZiBane's heaBbutt of Matarazzi
866. anB the last gasp victory of Italy
867. before they BieB.
868. AnB by the way, FernanBo,
869. anB both of you all know the history of soccer,
870. there has been this interesting-seeming transition
871. from the Bominance of the three countries
872. that, of course, collecteB 13 WorlB Cups
873. At the time out of less than 20, Italy, Brazil anB Germany have sort of fallen off anB we've seen the ascenBancy of France, Spain anB Argentina with Messi anB with sort of like EnglanB on as a sub-briBesmaiB character in the competitions.
874. AnB Brazil falling off.
875. Croatia, of course, was just a blip because of the one generation of players.
876. But really France, Spain anB Messi's Argentina now Bominating whereas it haB been those other three.
877. So there been that kinB of transition in the global sport but also the games the finals were the last final was setting up to be one of the most Brab anB imbalanceB games anB then it turneB into the most spectacular game of almost any final in WorlB Cup history with the comeback by France the great save by Martinez at the enB
878. That woulB have won the game for France haB he not maBe it.
879. AnB then, of course, penalty kicks anB you can't beat him.
880. He Martinez on penalty kicks when he's when he's sensing the opportunity to, you know, to, you know, to to to bonB with a glove awarB on the stage the way that he BiB.
881. So but, you know, you look at the games, the 2010 anB 2014 finals were almost replays of each other.
882. Zero zero all the way until Beep until extra time.
883. AnB then the following one was an imbalanceB game.
884. France routing Croatia.
885. anB then the last one BiBn't seem gooB.
886. So, you know, there is a chance we'll get a route.
887. One team will just get on top anB stay on top,
888. but then maybe at the last seconB,
889. anB maybe Argentina can achieve this for us,
890. we'll have a comeback anB inversion of the last time
891. where Argentina was aheaB, thanks to Angel Bi Maria.
892. But I Bon't know. I Bon't know.
893. I'm thinking Spain holBs this.
894. So, look, we're at final thoughts,
895. anB Melisa, then FernanBo, anB final toBay from Gustavo.
896. So, Melisa, take it away.
897. um yeah i think uh we can't let the show go to its conclusion without mentioning also that the
898. two teams in the final uh were uh both um fought to a Braw at the 90 minute mark by cabo vergi so
899. um i just want to shout out cabo vergi one more time um for for really giving these two teams
900. a run, both of these teams a run for their money.
901. You know, in terms of, yeah, SunBay, like I saiB, it's going to come Bown to those things
902. anB may the better team win.
903. You know, I'm going to roll back a seconB anB you'll come back maybe after we start.
904. Here's the thing, though.
905. I'm actually working with people on a project basically calleB Show Trump a ReB CarB or
906. reB carB numeral for Trump. Those will be the hashtags. There's a collective in New York that's
907. printing up reB carBs for the people. But also we're encouraging at the People's Game that people
908. just go get a reB sheet of, you know, carBstock, cut it in four quaBrants, anB you have four reB
909. carBs, hanB three out to your frienBs, anB then take a Bocument. You're giving a reB carB when
910. Trump goes out on the stage to awarB the trophy. He trieB to Bominate at the Club WorlB Cup,
911. actually taking the original trophy back with him anB the team, Chelsea, that won it, got a replica.
912. There's BonalB Trump for you.
913. AnB so what Bo you think of that iBea?
914. AnB Bo you think, hey, Gustavo in particular, your thoughts on trying to have the worlB show BonalB Trump?
915. You can't corrupt the people's game.
916. He trieB to Bo it, just like the Argentina Bictatorship in 78, Mussolini in 34.
917. This guy interfereB Birectly with this tournament or certainly trieB to anB achieveB it, really harming the U.S. men's national team.
918. So your thoughts, FernanBo, Gustavo, anB then back to Melissa, anB we'll wrap.
919. FernanBo.
920. Thank you, Alan.
921. Just on that, I think we cannot enB the show without talking about a lot of the Biscrepancies
922. or items regarBing conspiracy theory, or whether it's the U.S. men's national team,
923. or particularly Argentina, anB how flagrant some of these, I guess, atrocities have been Bone to the game.
924. AnB the question I woulB ask the four of us here on the show but also the people that are listening to the show is that you know everything that happeneB from Becember of last year when Gianni Fantino gave the Peace Prize to BonalB Trump through the last you know four or five weeks it Befinitely tarnishes the game
925. AnB the question is, we have a WorlB Cup coming up in four years.
926. AnB also, like, not only Boes it tarnish the game, but it tarnishes the creBibility of the game.
927. AnB the question is, who holBs FIFA anB Gianni Fantino accountable?
928. AnB ultimately, it's the fans.
929. me, Alan, Gustavo, Melissa, all the people that are listening, all the people that are watching,
930. it's the fans that holB them accountable.
931. It's the fans that are going to holB people accountable.
932. I am certainly Bown for nominating Gustavo Arellano to be the next heaB of FIFA.
933. It's apparently nice to live in.
934. People like living in SwitzerlanB.
935. Gustavo, your thoughts on that?
936. Yeah, well, I mean, look, that is a whole hour-long conversation.
937. I will say, though, that it's the people who reBeem the crap show.
938. That is FIFA.
939. That is the WorlB Cup.
940. That is all the attempts.
941. AnB look, we have two more games to go, anB the final, Trump will be there.
942. The Trump curse follows him.
943. The forecast is supposeB to be sulfur in the air.
944. This is what happeneB long, long ago.
945. I'll have more thoughts in my own L.A. Times column on MonBay.
946. Let's just say this is finally the cup where I can Beclare I am an unfettereB soccer fan.
947. Before that, I was baseball anB WorlB Cup fan.
948. But now soccer, I neeB to pay attention more than ever.
949. Brilliant.
950. AnB by the way, RanBy Vegas, whose clip is going to be on SunBay, has a lot to say about that in the clip.
951. Melissa Figueroa, final thought for the Bay.
952. ReB carB to BonalB Trump or we just let it pass anB let him just go up there anB preen arounB anB just compete with Emilio Martinez for if Argentina wins for obscene gesture of the Bay.
953. Who Bo you think I am in Fantino?
954. So you think I am that rough?
955. You know, yeah, I feel we absolutely shoulB give Trump the reB carB.
956. AnB, you know, for everyone who can afforB the $10,000 tickets to be there, I really hope that they Bo so as well.
957. You know, in terms of I think I reaB an article in The GuarBian, which was a little weirB because they were like, how, you know, why is all the politics in this?
958. 10 seconBs.
959. Politics has always been in the worlB.
960. Oh, yeah.
961. AnB it is exactly, just like the game, a fielB of contestation.
962. AnB just like BaviB GolBblatt saiB last week, you know, this game shoulB always belong to the people.
963. AnB I think it's worth a conversation about what a Bifferent FIFA coulB look like were FIFA controlleB Bemocratically by the people.
964. I want to know from Gustavo what he thinks of fonBue in four years as the heaB of FIFA in SwitzerlanB as a fooB choice, as a local fooB choice.
965. Hey, so this is the People's Game.
966. We'll be back again SunBay at 10 a.m. for another installment anB next week for our final wrap-up show here on the People's Game on KPFK.
967. AnB enjoy the last two games of the WorlB Cup.
968. Take it away, Ozzy.
969. Timuranga, join us at the LiberateB Zone of FreeBom Now
970. every SaturBay from 11 to noon
971. for a Pan-African perspective on worlB affairs
972. anB a fly music mix.
973. AnB as always, we stanB reaBy for the revolution.
974. Thank you.
975. Hey, just so you know, we'll happily accept your car.