- 9 hours ago
StarSports' T. Rahul with football pundits S. Saktesh and T. Avineshwaran talk about the qualification drama, Messi's historic milestone, Mbappe's emergence and the knockout clashes everyone is talking about.
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00:04Welcome back to the Stars Podcast, your home for everything football, this World Cup.
00:09I'm Rahul.
00:10The group stage is almost done and we know who's moving on.
00:14With us today, we have Avi and Saktish.
00:16Hi guys.
00:17We're back.
00:18How are you feeling?
00:19Your debut?
00:20We'll see how it goes.
00:23Yeah.
00:24So, okay.
00:24So, let's start off with the headline news today.
00:27Argentina, United States, Germany, Mexico, South Africa, France and Norway.
00:33All are through to the round of 32.
00:35So, Saktish and Avi, any surprises in those names or just the expected names?
00:40I think one big surprise and a good surprise is South Africa going through.
00:44But it came at the cost of sending South Korea, possibly not into the knockout stages.
00:51But yeah, to see South Africa going is a big one.
00:54Argentina, no surprises for me.
00:56One notable is, I think, Mexico.
00:59A perfect record.
01:00Yeah.
01:01Germany, maybe underestimated them.
01:03But those are some surprising names, some expected ones.
01:08What about for you, Avi?
01:09For me, it was South Africa.
01:10Because when I watched them in the first game, I felt like they were not there yet.
01:15But they improved game by game.
01:17And again, South Korea, this is my take.
01:20I believe the South Koreans underestimated the might of the South Africans.
01:25Why I'm saying so is because I think since the beginning of the tournament, I've been telling
01:30my friends that Bafana, Bafana should not be underestimated because they have talented players in their squad.
01:35And they've also got several premiership players.
01:38Premiership players, players who play in the South African league, so are really talented.
01:41And today, when I watch the game, players, like, I have to get their names right.
01:45I want to make sure that I don't get it wrong.
01:48Tapelo Maseko, who now plays in Cyprus, who used to play in South Africa.
01:53He's a very young player.
01:54Yeah, 22 years old.
01:55And another guy, who's only 21, his name is Rele Bohile Mofoking.
02:00He is the playmaker.
02:01And why I like the way, I mean, I've been watching his games in the premiership, he's usually skillful.
02:05But against South Korea, he was direct.
02:08He immediately looked for channels, passes and all that.
02:11He wasn't holding the ball too long.
02:12And I believe that shows his maturity in terms of how he sees the tactical system.
02:17And South Korea, honestly speaking, I was disappointed because they have the talent, they have the players, they have the
02:24might, they have the playing style.
02:26But some of the decision making was suspect.
02:29And I also kind of questioned Hong Myung Goh's tactics.
02:32This is his second time in South Korea.
02:33So usually, if you come for the second time, you would have learned your lesson.
02:36But he did not.
02:37I think they played a pretty good game against South Africa.
02:40But you can play a good game, but you need to be clinical as well.
02:43You need to know your decision making in the final third has to be better.
02:46At least South Africa were much more clinical compared to them?
02:48Yes, they were.
02:49In the first half, they played good attacking football.
02:51And second half, the moment they scored the goal, they knew what was going to come.
02:55And they defended very well.
02:56So it showed their maturity in terms of tactics.
02:58Whereas, in South Korea's case, I felt like the final third, efficiency was lacking.
03:04For example, Son Heung-min came in the second half.
03:07Everybody was critical with the fact that he wasn't starting.
03:09But I felt the second half entrance was right for him because the first two games he didn't perform.
03:14But when he came in, he's ambidextrous.
03:18He can use his right feet, left feet.
03:20But in that game, I do not know why he kept cutting towards his left, taking left-footed shots.
03:26When he could actually turn to the right and take shots as well.
03:30So, I felt like that wasn't the Son that I knew.
03:33That kind of thing.
03:34So, that was critical of that.
03:35But I want to talk about South Africa, actually.
03:37So, in terms of their tactical maturity, they are really good under Hugo Pross.
03:41And, yeah, the other teams is expected.
03:44No way in the next stage.
03:46I mean, no surprises.
03:47There are players like Haaland, Odegaard and so on.
03:49France, you know, Olyse Mbappe and their other talents as well.
03:52That game would be a very interesting one to watch, upcoming Norway against France.
03:56Yes, yeah.
03:56That is one to watch.
03:58But do you think they'll go all out?
04:00Because they're already qualified.
04:01Do you think they will?
04:03I think it'll be more of a...
04:05You're fighting for bragging rights, perhaps.
04:08Most probably, you'll see the second stringers playing.
04:11Maybe, to get some minutes on the pitch.
04:15Yeah, it's more of load management.
04:17Yeah.
04:17But they could also take it as, you know, to send a strong message.
04:21Correct.
04:22You never know.
04:23They want to talk to the group.
04:24But because of the run of 32 permutations, it's a bit different.
04:28Yeah.
04:29Right?
04:30You will have runners-up playing against runners-up.
04:32Usually, it's the group winners playing against runners-up, but now it's totally different.
04:35And then you have your best third-placing teams to come in as well.
04:38It's something to get used to, I guess.
04:40Yes, even I'm struggling with it.
04:41We'll talk about it later.
04:42Yeah, we'll talk about it.
04:44So, other than those teams, any other teams that are looking particularly dangerous heading into the knockouts?
04:50Germany.
04:51For me, Argentina.
04:53Definitely, Argentina.
04:54Germany as well.
04:56I think they were a bit underrated from the start of the tournament.
04:59But, yeah, performance is there.
05:02Argentina is definitely one to look at.
05:05It's not enough to talk about Messi.
05:07I feel like you can have three episodes of just Messi and Messi and Messi.
05:11But, yeah.
05:12I mean, Argentina putting Messi aside, the way they have performed as a team, I think it's been amazing.
05:18You have the attackers, defenders, midfielders putting in really good shifts in terms of pressing.
05:23And one player that has captured my attention is, sorry, not one, two players actually.
05:29They have had quite, I would say, mediocre seasons with their respective clubs.
05:34Alexis McAllister, Enzo Ferdinand, both these players were putting in amazing shifts.
05:40And I was really impressed with them because they kept the team ticking with their work, their passes, their movement
05:46and so on.
05:47And players like Messi, people always complain that, you know, why is he walking?
05:50Why is he not doing that?
05:52He's able to do it because he knows the other ten will be working hard for him.
05:57I think in comparison, Ronaldo is doing a lot more walking than perhaps.
06:00Oh my God.
06:02It's true.
06:02I mean, he's playing great though, but I think he's walking more if you compare.
06:07And as for Germany, the game against Ivericos, I felt Ivericos should have won that game.
06:13They did very well.
06:14But Germany, if you watch them in tournaments, you realise that they rely on this killer mentality.
06:22So, for example, they knew they were behind 1-0 and they brought in Denis Sundar.
06:29The game changed.
06:31I think it's the mindset, it's the mentality.
06:33It's always been that German efficiency or precision or something like that.
06:37So, you're beginning to see those elements already.
06:40So, yeah.
06:41Okay.
06:41Let's circle back to Argentina and the big main man there, Lionel Messi.
06:46The man has broken the all-time World Cup top squad record.
06:50Okay.
06:50And I think, Saktish, you have a lot of opinions on this.
06:53So, I'll let you elaborate on this.
06:56I mean, I'm all for it.
06:57It's great to see Messi doing what he's doing.
06:59I think what he's showing is there really isn't an off switch for Messi, in my opinion.
07:06You think he shows signs that he might be slowing down, but then he proves you wrong.
07:12Yeah.
07:13Keep watching him because there's still a lot to come from Messi.
07:16And it's his last one.
07:19You know, it's his last one, but he's still performing like it's his second or third one.
07:24But some journalists have actually said it might not be his last one because he told some of them,
07:28I'm still feeling strong.
07:29Who knows?
07:30Who knows?
07:31Because you compare it.
07:32Like the next top scorer is now Mbappe.
07:35Who's also, you know.
07:36And he's 29.
07:38Mbappe is only 27.
07:3927.
07:39So, that's easily another two, three World Cups.
07:42Maybe more for him.
07:45But, yeah, the records are there to be broken.
07:48And I didn't think it would be in our lifetime to watch it happen, to get broken.
07:53And it will also probably be in our lifetime to watch it be broken again in, who knows,
07:58in 10 years by Mbappe.
08:00Mbappe has that potential to be...
08:02I'd be looking forward to that.
08:03To me, he's already a World Cup great because he's won the tournament before.
08:07He's got the top scorer's award.
08:08And now he's got 16 goals, if I'm not mistaken.
08:11He's two behind Messi.
08:12Two behind Messi.
08:13So, 16 goals.
08:14Yeah, 16 goals.
08:15So, the next World Cup, I'm very sure that he can break the record if Messi does not play.
08:19And I believe he will not play because it's four years.
08:21He'll be 40-something.
08:22So, I'm sure he would realise that.
08:24But never discredited, I guess.
08:25That's true.
08:26I mean, never know.
08:27Not impossible.
08:28Not impossible.
08:29Yeah.
08:29But, yeah, Mbappe is on his way towards that.
08:32And, yeah, Messi...
08:36People talk about his goals, his assists and so on.
08:39But it's that the way he plays the game.
08:42It's so simple.
08:44He uses his left foot all the time.
08:47But why defenders can't take it away from him?
08:49It's the natural ability that makes him the best, in my opinion.
08:54I think, yeah, if you...
08:55In the first episode, I did allude that he's the greatest of all time.
08:58I know people will be disputing that.
09:00But it's each to their own luck.
09:02He makes it look effortless for a reason.
09:03Yeah, he makes it look effortless.
09:04So, yeah, against the game that they won, 2-0, the way he performed,
09:10he missed the penalty and then yet he scored two goals.
09:12So, I thought that shows his resilience and mindset.
09:15Yeah.
09:16Do you think that was on purpose?
09:17Because he didn't want the record-breaking goal to be a penalty?
09:20Pressure, I guess.
09:21Because my friend actually told me that before he took the penalty,
09:25the keeper had a conversation with him and he just did like that.
09:28And some people started, you know, creating some kind of theory.
09:31But I believe that maybe there was a psycho battle there.
09:34Because after he missed the penalty, the keeper actually reacted in front of his face.
09:38So, I think it's pressure.
09:39But I highly doubt it was on purpose.
09:41Yeah, it was.
09:41I don't think at this stage, any player would...
09:44Yeah.
09:44You wouldn't want to take such a risk.
09:45They don't ask how, they ask how many.
09:47So, it's not how you got the goal.
09:49It's how many goals you have.
09:50Correct, correct, correct.
09:51And yeah, I mean, after he missed the penalty, you can see that he was a bit shaky.
09:55His passes were a bit wavered.
09:57His movement was a bit suspect.
09:59But once he got that goal, then...
10:01But I would like to believe that he did it on purpose, knowing if it's messy,
10:04him like, yes, okay, I'll miss this Oscar later.
10:06If that was his mentality, oh, chills.
10:09Yeah.
10:10You mentioned Mbappe earlier and you used the word great.
10:13Is it too early to classify him as that?
10:17Or do you think he's already reached that status?
10:18Not yet.
10:20I think he has what it takes to be the greatest of all time as well.
10:23If he keeps his mindset, he keeps his performance.
10:26If he wins the Champions League, Real Madrid, perfect.
10:29Because he has collected all the trophies in the world.
10:31Has he won the Euros?
10:32Not yet.
10:33No.
10:33Yeah, he still has a chance to win the Euros as well.
10:35So, if he wins all these tournaments, then yes, he's going to be in that conversation.
10:40So, and he has been consistent for so many years.
10:43He has been playing since he was 17 years old.
10:45Yeah, one of the best strikers I've watched in a while.
10:48And he has what it takes to be a great.
10:51Maybe the reason why he's not in that full conversation is because there is still Messi
10:56and Ronaldo in this scene.
10:56Yeah, you still have Messi and Ronaldo.
10:58It's kind of like tennis where, you know, Djokovic is there but you have Federer and Nadal.
11:01Once they leave, then they get to shine a bit more.
11:03Correct.
11:04Perhaps that's what you might see with Mbappe and…
11:07Because you had Messi, Ronaldo and now you have Mbappe, Haaland.
11:10Yeah.
11:11That's being always compact, right?
11:13And in terms of that comparison, I think Mbappe is way more astute than Haaland.
11:18Yeah.
11:19Haaland is a goal-scoring machine.
11:21Whereas Mbappe has won the trophies, has been a huge influence for the national team.
11:26Whereas Haaland is, you know, beginning to stamp his mark.
11:29But in Norway itself, you have other players that are quite good as well.
11:33So, yeah, in that sense, Mbappe is on his way towards that if he keeps his consistency there.
11:41He deserves to be in that conversation.
11:43In a conversation of greats, I don't think you can leave out Ronaldo because he's also breaking some records now.
11:48Like 6-6 World Cups.
11:50Yeah, and he's got two goals against Uzbekistan.
11:52One thing I want to say, when he's got the first goal, the reaction from the players, from the fans
11:59and from him, I felt it.
12:01Like, you know, you could see he wanted it.
12:04Actually, yeah, exactly.
12:05He really wanted it and everybody was like so happy for him.
12:07The reaction, the players, you know, surrounding him.
12:09You could see his emotions and I felt like, you know, it's a moment where you have a struggle in
12:14life.
12:15Long struggle, something good comes and you feel like screaming, shouting.
12:19That was the moment.
12:20And, you know, any human would want that kind of emotion to happen in their lives.
12:25You know, whenever they're going for some kind of, I mean, whenever they have a struggle.
12:29So, to see that is beautiful.
12:30And then that goal was amazing because the way he moved to get the ball, his awareness was perfect.
12:38And the second goal, the way he finished it, the finesse was amazing.
12:42So, yeah, he's…
12:44I know we just need to enjoy these two magnificent plays in the form of Messi and Ronaldo.
12:49The way they're performing.
12:50Ronaldo's mindset to be the best.
12:52And Messi is like saying, let my natural ability show the world that this is what football is all about.
12:58But, you know, these are amazing narratives that we'll never get bored of.
13:02Yeah.
13:03I think it was like a 10-game drought he had.
13:06Like, no goals in the World Cup and Euros.
13:08Yes.
13:08Something actually.
13:10So, let's move on to the next topic.
13:12Not everyone's dreams have survived though.
13:15Belgium, Turkey, Senegal, Tunisia, South Korea.
13:19Five nations who maybe have not met our expectations.
13:23They have been a bit so-so this tournament.
13:27Do you all have any opinions on that?
13:29My biggest disappointment is South Korea, definitely.
13:32Hits close to home.
13:35Senegal also I think was a bit of a shocker.
13:39Senegal, I am not surprised.
13:41You know why?
13:42Because a lot of internal issues are ongoing at the moment.
13:45And apparently players are not happy with their hotel arrangements.
13:51For any elite level team, you need to have the best arrangements.
13:55Apparently that was not done.
13:56They didn't get the bonuses from the African Cup of Nations apparently.
13:59So, players are unhappy.
14:03But that's the thing.
14:04To some extent, when it comes to this, it's more of what happens on the pitch.
14:08But I think, on the pitch, they were just slightly, to me, slightly under what they would usually perform as.
14:16Correct.
14:17That inconsistency was there.
14:19It was obvious, yeah.
14:20So, seeing them and their journey is disappointing.
14:23But it's part of the game.
14:26Tunisia, disappointing as well.
14:28But hey, first run, good performance.
14:32Do you think we're putting a bit too much pressure on these teams?
14:34Are we expecting too much of them?
14:36Nothing wrong with expecting much from them.
14:38It is the World Cup.
14:39You should expect teams to pull off upsets, stunners and all that.
14:45So, yeah.
14:47Being out, it's one of those things.
14:49Just go back, look at it, what went wrong.
14:52Expectations will always be there.
14:53I don't deny.
14:54But you have to be realistic also.
14:56In Tunisia's case, again, before the tournament started,
15:00there were moments that players were not happy with the coach that they had.
15:05Then after that, when they played against Sweden, when they lost 5-1,
15:07that's when they decided, okay, we're going to sack him and we'll bring in Hever Reynard.
15:11Hever Reynard, to me, is one of the best coaches in terms of getting the best out of place.
15:15So, if it was done early, I think Tunisia would have had a better chance.
15:18You can't expect someone to just come in and change them immediately.
15:22Especially for the World Cup.
15:23Exactly.
15:23So, that's one.
15:24Uzbekistan is a disappointment for me because I've watched them play in a lot of Asian tournaments.
15:29And they're tactically organised.
15:32They know how to frustrate teams.
15:33And they have attackers that can change a game.
15:36But this time, I felt like, especially against Portugal, they weren't themselves at all.
15:40They made a lot of rash challenges.
15:42There were lots of space.
15:44And then, I don't know.
15:46So, with the pressure of facing Portugal, is that down to the coach?
15:49Exactly.
15:50I was about to come there.
15:51Because they had a set coach in the form of Timo Kapadze.
15:54But because they're going to the World Cup, they decided to hire Fabio Kanawaro.
15:57Why?
15:59What was the reasoning behind it?
16:00Do you think Fabio Kanawaro could have changed their fortunes in the World Cup?
16:04I don't think so.
16:05Timo Kapadze knows all these players, in and out.
16:08And you let him go.
16:10Why?
16:11That's my question.
16:12I mean, the players worked hard and so on.
16:14But if you work hard, but the tactics are not working well, you're going to lose.
16:19That was the case with Uzbek, actually.
16:22You know, I felt like the tactics were a bit wayward.
16:25And a place that, who are supposed to shine.
16:29Like Eldor Shomaradov, Abuzbek-Vaizu Laev, Abdukhadeh Kusunov.
16:33They're supposed to have a good tournament and raise their values.
16:36But they were made to feel like, what else can we do to help this team?
16:41You know, that kind of stuff.
16:43But do you think, like, because the tournament was expanded to 48 teams, does that have an
16:46effect on them as well?
16:47Like, more games, more teams that probably wouldn't be in the World Cup if there wasn't
16:5248 teams?
16:53I don't think so.
16:54I don't, yeah.
16:56More teams, I mean, they're still playing three matches in a group.
16:59Exactly, yeah.
17:00But the quality of a...
17:02I mean, if a team goes all the way to the final, they play one extra game compared to
17:06the other additions, seven matches.
17:08Yeah.
17:08Yeah.
17:08So...
17:09Look at quality.
17:10If you're a good team in the World Cup, you've made it to most World Cups.
17:15More teams...
17:15I mean, it's Uzbekistan's debut.
17:16It's better for you, I guess.
17:17Yeah.
17:17And it is Uzbekistan's debut as well.
17:20So a lot of people have felt like, it's okay, let's debut.
17:22But they have the potential.
17:23They have the quality.
17:25Maybe it comes with, because we've been very familiar with their game, playing against,
17:29you know, teams here and we just want them to do good.
17:32Yeah, even South Korea as well, right?
17:33Yeah, we just want them to do good.
17:35We expect more out of them because we know they can perform.
17:37They have that ability.
17:38You know, that kind of stuff.
17:40Okay.
17:40So let's look forward now, right?
17:43We've got some huge fixtures coming up in the round of 32.
17:46For now, we have Japan versus Sweden, Norway versus France, Uruguay versus Spain, Colombia
17:51versus Portugal.
17:52Portugal, a lot of games that I think will be quite interesting.
17:56So anything that catches your eye?
17:58I think Japan versus Sweden will be an interesting one because in that group, they are, I think,
18:01equal on points.
18:02Yeah.
18:03And they're second and third.
18:05So there's a lot to fight for that group.
18:06I think both teams just need a point to get to the next round.
18:10I think that would be the conversation in the tracing rooms or trading and so on.
18:16But if it was me, I think Japan will go all out.
18:19I'm a Sweden supporter and I hope Sweden can actually attune for their previous defeat.
18:25I mean, they played well.
18:26It's just that Netherlands was clinical.
18:28So I think Sweden now needs to work on the defence to be even better.
18:32But Japan, I don't know.
18:34They are knife-like at the moment in terms of the way they play and so on.
18:37So it's going to be a tough battle.
18:38Japan are doing well even without a few players who are not there.
18:41Yes, star players.
18:43So they are honestly a very big surprise.
18:46But for all the right reasons.
18:48Oh, no.
18:48For me, it wasn't a surprise.
18:49I will be honest with you because they have got a lot of players now.
18:53They've got depth actually in the Japanese national football team.
18:57So for them to perform in this way, to surprise teams from, let's say,
19:02styler nations is not a surprise at all.
19:05Because they have played several friendly matches against big teams.
19:08They've beaten Brazil.
19:09They've beaten Colombia.
19:10So they have the potential.
19:12And they also have a coach that is quite dynamic.
19:17Dynamic in the sense that he sets a team base on the team he's facing.
19:21So in that sense, they have a very good coach also.
19:25So I'm not surprised to be honest with how they're performing.
19:27If they lose against Sweden, that will be a shock actually.
19:30That is my take.
19:32I think Norway-France would be a good game as well.
19:34That would be a good game as well.
19:35Nothing to lose in that game.
19:37Mbappe versus Haaland.
19:38Yeah.
19:38I think it's just more of a bragging rights kind of a game.
19:42Portugal, I think, have a very important game coming up.
19:45Colombia will not be easy.
19:47Easy in that one.
19:48Yeah.
19:48They have got a good team as well.
19:51Very mobile, very dynamic.
19:53I think they will look to frustrate Portugal.
19:56Yeah.
19:56Because Portugal will be confident that, you know, after beating Uzbekistan 5-0,
20:00they will be like, our football can produce the goods.
20:03But Colombia will be like, no, let us stifle your football to ensure that,
20:06you know, you don't get a favorable result.
20:08Yeah.
20:09That would be a tie to watch as well.
20:11Okay.
20:11So we have a resident pundit with us here today.
20:14I mean, do you have any predictions for us?
20:17Or...
20:17You?
20:18How about we do this?
20:19You pick one.
20:21Yeah, sure.
20:21No problem.
20:22And then we can succeed.
20:24Sweden versus Japan, 2-2.
20:27Okay.
20:29So I'll go Sweden-Japan as well.
20:30Then I think, oof, I would like it to be a 3-2.
20:34Japan.
20:35Okay.
20:35Japan.
20:36Okay.
20:37So he's going against you, basically.
20:39It's okay.
20:39I'm just going for Japan.
20:41All right.
20:42So on to our last topic for today.
20:44We have to address the elephant in the room.
20:46The hydration break.
20:47Like, it is, it's been booed.
20:50It's been all over social media.
20:52It's disrupting the flow of games.
20:56So what do we think about it?
20:57Like, do we have any positives to take away from it?
21:00Or is it just all negative?
21:01I think it's disruptive depending who you ask and who scores after the hydration break.
21:06But I think it's disruptive to all, right?
21:07Because the players lose momentum.
21:09They don't get to go on.
21:11Exactly.
21:12I mean, there are two sets of the coin.
21:13It's meant for ad breaks.
21:15We know that.
21:15There's no point hiding the fact that it's meant for ad breaks.
21:18We have basically made a two-half game into four quarters, which sounds very American to me.
21:23I think the American broadcast even calls it that.
21:25Like, it's a time-out.
21:26Yeah, they don't understand half-times.
21:28So it's fine.
21:29But on the pitch, you can complain all you want, but it's part of the game.
21:33You've got no choice but to go with it.
21:36Those, I feel like, yeah, tactical change.
21:38That's a good time for tactical changes because it introduces a new thing in the game
21:42where you have a break in between.
21:45But if someone concedes after a hydration break, they'll be like, oh, it's a complete waste of time.
21:49But if someone scores, they will probably not say anything about it.
21:52So for me, it's a new thing in the game.
21:56But do I want to see it in the long run?
21:59Probably not.
22:00Probably not.
22:01I think even players are conflicted as well.
22:03Because Virgil van Dijk actually mentioned that it's not even odd.
22:07Why do you need a hydration break?
22:08That's his rationale.
22:09And then Kilian Mbappe says that you should see, there are two sides of the coin, right?
22:17One, if you're losing, that hydration break will actually break that momentum and help us...
22:24What's the word?
22:26Help us regroup again.
22:28Yeah, reset.
22:29Reset.
22:30And all that.
22:31And if they are losing, then that would be helpful as well.
22:34But also there is this argument where if people are saying that players are already playing like 50, 60 matches
22:41a season.
22:42So coming into the World Cup, the intensity is always high.
22:47The amount of distances produced are crazy.
22:51Like players are clocking 13, 14 kilometers per match and so on.
22:54Last time it's just 11 or 10 kilometers.
22:56But now it's way higher.
22:57So the hydration break helps them to like settle down a bit, take their water, take their fluids, you know,
23:04recover and so on.
23:05So my concern right now is it will be introduced to the other leagues as well, right?
23:12Because delays will start saying that, hey, I think I need this break because it's going to help us get...
23:16I mean, we can recover our body and so on.
23:19That few minutes of rest will actually be helpful, that kind of thing.
23:22So it's one to...
23:24Right now, the verdict is out there with the booze and so on.
23:28Because fans want the game to just flow, continue and so on.
23:32But we never know.
23:33It might be introduced to the other leagues because players will start saying that, hey, we are playing this amount
23:36of games.
23:37I think we need that short amount of break and so on.
23:39Because football right now is pacey, it's fast.
23:42In the past, it wasn't like that.
23:44You can slow down, you can pass around.
23:46But this time around, it's more like coaches like go, go, go, go, go with that kind of thing.
23:49But I think it also raises another question of doing the hydration break then at a time.
23:54Because you have to add minutes there.
23:56And if you don't add minutes there, I think it's fine for if you have games in the summer, it
24:01makes sense.
24:02But if you have a hydration break in the middle of winter...
24:05For me, it's not a hydration break.
24:06I phrase it, stop the watch.
24:07Stop the watch.
24:08Stop the watch.
24:09Like bring it down to 60 minutes.
24:10Exactly, yeah.
24:11Stop the watch.
24:12Just stop the watch.
24:14Or they have added sometime in injury time as well.
24:18I've seen games getting about 6-7 minutes now.
24:21That kind of stuff.
24:22And also, referees in this tournament, I have to give them flowers.
24:25They keep the game slowing.
24:28So even if a player is down injured, they just ask them, are you really injured?
24:32If not, no.
24:33Play.
24:33Just keep playing.
24:34So in that sense, they're helping the game flow a bit better with this hydration break.
24:40And I think it's also part of commercialization, advertisements and so on.
24:43Because the game now wants more money.
24:45We are paying millions for players.
24:48Right?
24:48And these teams will be like, hey, we need to enhance our business.
24:53How are we going to get money if you won $50 million per season?
24:58Where are you going to get the money from?
24:59Sponsorship and so on.
25:00So there will be that argument as well.
25:02So I think whoever is governing the game, the stakeholders and so on, have to sit down and discuss.
25:08And in this case, players also have to come and talk about it.
25:10Because they are the assets of this game.
25:13Do you think it's just a case of getting used to it?
25:15Like how the five subs rule came in and it took a bit of getting used to?
25:19Maybe.
25:19Yeah.
25:20Could be that.
25:21Yeah.
25:21Could be that as well.
25:22So if I gave you all, like both of you the choice.
25:24Like you had the choice to either keep it, ditch it or maybe tweak it and improve it.
25:29What would you do?
25:30Circumstantial.
25:31Have it for summers, not for winters.
25:33Use it for what it's actually called a hydration break.
25:41Use it.
25:42Just go back to the usual.
25:43Players run to the side of the pitch, chug a water, throw the bottle back.
25:46Not hard.
25:48Ah, yeah.
25:48That's what the hydration breaks were, right?
25:50Yeah.
25:52I think that's all we have for today.
25:54So that was episode five of the SaaS podcast.
25:57The knockouts begin and we'll be right here covering it in our next episode.
26:01Thank you and see you soon.
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