ワールドカップの概要
Welcome to Kevin's English Room Podcast.
Hello.
Hello, guys.
Hello.
So, there is this big topic that we need to talk about in the football world.
Oh, shit.
Is it we? Is it we?
Yeah, we need to...
Do you have to talk about it, or just...
Is it we?
We need to talk about it.
We? Okay, I'm involved in this.
Yes, we need to discuss about it.
All right, let me... I'm open, though.
I'm open, though. Let me... Let's hear it.
Is it on?
Yeah.
Yeah, it's on.
So, as you know, we will have the FIFA World Cup next year.
Yes, in America.
In America, yes.
I am aware, yes.
Yes, yes, yes.
I'm excited for that, actually.
Yeah, yeah.
Japan's doing a good job, right?
Right, right, right, right.
And Japan's national team has already qualified.
Okay.
We already know that we're going to join the tournament, the World Cup.
All right, yeah.
And a few days ago, we had a chusenkai for the kumiawase.
Oh, like who's going to fight which country?
Yes.
Yes.
And I just want to know your opinion of the group and the countries that we're in together.
I see, I see.
So, there are 16 countries.
There are 48, I guess.
48 countries?
Countries.
Okay.
So, from this tournament, from this World Cup, the regulations are kind of changed.
We used to have 32 countries.
In World Cup.
But now they expand into 48, I guess.
48?
Okay.
And so, I guess we have until A, B, C, D.
I don't know.
But in every group, we have four countries in a group.
And we fight each other.
Okay.
And two of them go to the tournament, like a knockout stage.
Okay.
So, there's going to be groups.
And then within the group, there's going to be one single country as a winner.
Yeah.
And then all the winners of each group will battle.
Kind of like that.
Yes, yes.
Okay, okay, okay.
And two countries can go to the next stage.
Not only the first winner.
Oh, so there's going to be two countries for every country?
Every group.
Yes, yes.
And also, we have a potential of, if we end up as a third in a group,
depending on the scores we get, you may be qualified and go to the next stage.
I see.
So, two from each group, they automatically go to the next stage.
Got it.
And third from several parts can go to the next stage.
Got it.
So, wait.
How many countries are there in each group?
Four.
Four.
Yes.
Got it.
So, out of the four, you want at least to be first or second.
Yeah, that's secured.
You're secured.
Third is you're a little bit nervous.
You're not sure.
You have to look at other plays and see if you can go in or not.
Yes, exactly.
And fourth, you're done.
You have no possibility.
I understand.
Yeah.
Got it.
And you want to talk about the group that Japan's in.
Yes.
All right.
So, are you expecting me to already know the countries that are in the group?
You don't?
I'm sorry, I don't.
Oh, okay.
Yeah.
I mean, I was gonna.
I was just a little bit busy.
You know, I was just, you know.
I was gonna though.
Of course.
Okay.
I'm excited for the FIFA World Cup next year.
Of course, yeah.
Japan's doing a really good job.
Yes, yes, yes.
They defeated Brazil, didn't they?
Yes.
It was a great victory.
We're very strong.
Yeah.
Very strong.
Yeah.
So.
Go on.
Yeah.
Go, I'm sorry, go.
So, this is the...
Yeah, it's better, I guess.
日本のグループF
Okay, the group A, B, C, D.
Yes, yes, yes.
And Japan is...
Okay.
In group F.
Group F.
So, it's Japan.
Orlando.
Yes.
Tunisia.
Yeah.
And this is, we're not sure yet.
They're doing a qualification tournament still.
Got it.
So, the fourth one is Albania or Poland or Sweden or Ukraine.
ワールドカップのグループ分け
Yes.
So, what do I think about this?
Yeah.
Well, Japan could be the first, right?
No?
Japan could be first, no?
Yeah.
Don't you think?
Yeah.
I mean, the FIFA rank, there's the FIFA rank, right?
Yes, yes.
I mean, isn't Japan the highest out of all these countries?
Orlando is, I guess, the highest.
They're strong.
Okay.
But it's okay though, right?
Japan could still be second.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So, you're confident of qualifying to the knockout round?
Yeah, I mean, because, right?
I mean, the best thing to look at is the FIFA ranking.
And I think, according to the FIFA rank, I mean, Tunisia, I don't know.
I've never seen them very high.
And Albania, Poland, Sweden, Ukraine.
I don't know about Sweden though.
Yeah.
I don't know about Sweden.
Is Sweden high?
No.
Not that high?
No, I guess it's not that very, very high.
Right, nothing to be alarmed about, no?
But they're strong.
Okay, okay.
But not like Japan's strong, no?
So, let's see.
This is the FIFA ranking.
Yeah, they're strong.
Japan, 19th.
19th, okay.
Oh, Ukraine.
Ukraine's 27th.
Well, that's pretty high.
Yeah.
Sweden, 40th.
Wow, so, okay.
Tunisia's 43rd.
Tunisia's 43rd.
So, I guess, Ukraine is the highest out of the four possibilities.
Yeah.
But still lower than Japan.
Yeah, right, right, right.
But it's just a FIFA ranking.
It's just, okay, sure, sure.
Of course, of course.
Yeah.
Of course.
You know, teams evolve.
Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah.
But I don't know how this is a huge problem for Japan.
You think it's pretty, we're in a good group.
Yeah, I mean, when you first brought up this conversation, I thought, I was expecting countries
like Brazil or, I don't know.
Spain.
Yes, Spain.
Those countries be in the same group.
And I was like, oh, we could be done in the first round.
I see.
I mean, I don't know.
With all due respect, I don't think Japan's not in a very bad position here.
Yeah.
Great to hear that.
Yeah.
What do you, what's on your mind?
What do you think?
To me, it's not bad.
Okay.
But it's not very, very good.
Really?
Yeah.
So Netherlands is a very strong team.
Holland, they've got star players.
Like who?
Yeah, Virgil van Dijk.
Please continue.
Yeah.
De Ligt, Van der Ven, Memphis Dupuy, Frankie de Jong.
Please, I'm sorry.
Cody Gakpo.
Yes.
Xavi Simons.
They're all good players.
Yeah.
Okay, I mean, I've never heard of them, I'm sorry, but like, but I'm sure, I'm sure.
It's like, I'm sure they're very good players.
Yeah, it's like, I don't know.
I mean, I'm sure people all over the world have never heard of Mitoma.
But we're crazy for it.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
It's like, you know Mitoma is in the club, a very good club.
Chelsea.
I'm sorry, no.
Brighton.
Right, I guess, yeah.
I went to see that, yeah.
I went to see it, yes.
Brighton, right?
Yes, yes.
Mitoma sometimes plays, now he's injured.
Sometimes plays, he's kind of, he scores a goal.
But I would say like a kind of joker card.
Oh, okay.
Of the Brighton club right now.
I see, I see.
And there are like central, like hardcore players from Netherlands.
Or like Endo Wataru, he plays in Liverpool, the captain of Japan national team.
Yeah.
He is in Liverpool.
But captain of that Liverpool club is a Netherland guy.
Oh, okay, I see.
The strength of that club is Netherland guy.
Oh, so there's a lot of great players from there.
Yeah.
So we think, I was thinking like we have Kubo, we have Mitoma, we have Dovan, everybody.
来年のワールドカップの展望
But in their teams, Netherland has many players in those clubs.
I see.
So they're strong.
Right, but it's just one country that's stronger than Japan.
Japan could be in the second place and that's just as great as the first, right?
True, true.
Exactly the same qualification as the first and second, right?
No?
First has a little bit of a better advantage if it comes to a close tie and a higher play, maybe?
It's like if you pass in a first position in the group, in the next knockout tournament,
you will face the second strongest from the other groups.
I see.
And if you pass this group in a second rank, then you will face the strongest team from other groups.
I see.
So I guess it's better.
Yeah.
Okay, okay, okay, makes sense.
Sure, sure.
But we already knocked down Spain, Germany, Brazil.
Never before seen in a row.
Yeah.
I'm very positive.
I'm very, you know, optimistic towards the battle here.
When is the battle gonna happen?
Next year.
Next year.
Okay, so when the FIFA actually starts.
Okay.
The World Cup starts.
I don't know when exactly.
June.
Okay, I see.
Yeah, I mean, I'm okay.
You're okay?
Like, I'm okay with this.
You're okay with this?
Okay.
I think I'm, yeah, I'm confident.
You're confident about Japan?
You're calm?
Not relaxing?
I mean...
Oh, good, good, good.
Yeah.
Well, actually, Tunisia, they've never lost in a qualification, African qualification.
Okay.
Tournament.
They are the strongest team in Africa.
In Africa, though, right?
Yeah.
But you're okay?
Their FIFA rank is lower, right?
Yeah, yeah.
But look, Japan this year is unbelievably strong.
Right, right.
So I think we're gonna be okay.
Yeah, we've got many good players.
A lot of good players.
Yes, yes.
By the way, is Mitoma gonna be in the play?
I believe so.
Okay.
But he's injured now.
So he's got to recover first.
We'll see how his body is.
Yeah.
And, you know, like a year ago or two years ago, we thought the Japan national team was so strong.
Yeah.
We've got Mitoma, we've got Tomiyasu, we've got Endo, we've got Kubo, we've got everyone.
But, you know, it's the next year.
All right.
The World Cup is next year.
Yeah.
Maybe injured.
Yeah.
Or maybe they're aging.
Yeah.
They're gonna, you know, start to perform lower.
Yeah.
That's possible.
And like a year ago, Mitoma was like one of the best dribbler in the world.
But right now it's like, well, yeah, he's a good player.
But in the world, yeah.
Okay.
Okay.
So it's like the situation is kind of like changing now.
I see.
I see.
So we need everybody in a best fit.
Yeah.
Including Mitoma, everybody.
They're very talented.
They're very good players.
I see.
Yeah.
But, you know, it's okay because that means there's gonna be other players
that are not shining right now, be shining next year.
I see.
Yeah.
I'm sure the coach, Mr. Moriyasu, does a very good job analyzing the players.
Okay.
So I'm pretty confident on the match next year.
Yeah.
Good.
If you say so, we're safe.
I think we're okay.
Good.
I think we're okay.
Great.
Great.
I have faith.
I have faith in you.
Good.
All right.
Let's see.
What's your prediction?
Um, my prediction.
Yeah.
End up in, I don't know.
The first place, second place, third place, fourth place?
Yeah.
In a whole world.
In the whole world?
Oh, you're talking about the whole tournament.
Yeah.
You're talking about first place and the whole.
Yeah.
Maybe, you know, in a group.
Group is gonna be second.
ワールドカップの期待
That's my, group is gonna be second.
Okay.
Okay.
But.
Next to Netherland.
Yes.
Okay.
Okay.
But, it's gonna be a miracle.
You know, the second tier.
Yeah.
You know, you face the first place.
Right.
They're gonna defeat it.
Oh, okay.
You know, by one gap.
By one.
Oh, nice, nice.
One zero?
One nil?
I don't know.
It could be two.
Two one?
Two one or something.
I don't know.
But it's one, right?
And then.
Yeah.
We're gonna do it again.
And then.
Okay.
We've never been top four, have we?
No, no.
We're gonna go into the top four.
We're gonna see that view.
Good.
The top four.
Oh, nice, nice.
I don't know about after that.
Four, at least.
But, best ever.
Yeah.
Being the best was fucking unbelievable, right?
Yeah.
So.
Awkward.
Can't wait.
Yeah, can't wait.
I'm very excited.
Can't wait.
Very excited.
All right.
Thanks for listening, guys.
Thank you.
Goodbye.
