We speak to Fernando Romero in Mexico City about one of the most eventful 24 hours in recent Mexican history, in which AMLO and the left celebrated a the glorious victory on Sunday night, but El Tri fell to Brazil on Monday morning. Fernando was at the Zocalo for both monumental events. Also, Alan explains the roots of his affection for this year’s Belgium side that won today’s second match in spectacular style!
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We review the reducto ad absurdum demise of Tiki-Taka, as Spain sleepwalk out of 2018 World Cup; though we wonder if some secret potions play a part the rise of the Russians. Also, we celebrate one brilliant result for Mexico (AMLO!) and hope for another tomorrow. Then KPFK’s DJ Nnamdi and Miguel Parades share their reflections on the African teams, El Tri, and the glories of La Copa Mundial 2018.
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Fittingly, the game’s two transcendent superstars of the past decade, Lionel Messi & Cristiano Ronaldo, bow out on the same day. France & Uruguay advance; and we celebrate the spectacular two goal performance of 19 year-old Kylian Mbappe with Hanson’s teen-smash M’Bop.
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It’s the first day off during the 2018 World Cup and time to reflect on the tournament so far and the games ahead. First off, Brazilian DJ Sergio Mielniczenko stops by to reflect on this year’s national team the role soccer plays on the politics and collective psyche of Brazil. Then Bob Edelman returns to discuss the political subtexts of this year’s world cup with fellow Sovietologist Suzi Weissman; and then Bob and Alan assess the 16 remaining teams and the eight match-ups to be played over the next four, guaranteed-to-be enthralling, days.
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The Group Stage has ended: 16 teams remain, 16 are heading home. Sadly, Senegal goes out…for accumulating more yellow cards than Japan! …and with their exit, the dreams of Africa are deferred once again. We question the justice of this system, and also feature two guests who traveled to Moscow for the opening of the tournament: Esteban Zul (aka The Ambassador of Aztlan) and Bob Edelman, author of Spartak Moscow: A History of the People’s Team in the Workers State.
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There’s a battle outside waging with both horrible news (from the Supreme Court) and a glorious result (from NYC). Meanwhile, the world’s greatest spectacle rolls on with El Tri surviving, in spite of a wretched performance against Sweden, thanks to their Los Angeles neighbors, the Koreans, who won the day, eliminating the defending champions Germany. It’s a world full of drama and struggle; a time for solidarity & soccer! Alan Minsky speaks with Meleiza Figueroa & Fernando Romero about the day’s events.
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Alan Minsky talks with author Laurent Dubois and Philosopher Achille Mbembe about today’s action, in particular the dramatic match between Nigeria and Argentina; but also about the tournament in general and how global futbol speaks to, and reflects, some of the most important social and political issues of our time.
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A dramatic day of 21st century Futbol, as Spain and Portugal had their fates decided in the final moments by the new VAR technology. But one team continued to glide through the tournament undefeated and (somehow) below the radar screen, Uruguay. Alan checks in with Lazar Treschan, The People’s Game Uruguay correspondent from 2010 and 2014, to get his take on this year’s La Celeste.
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32 down, 32 to go. We’ve reached a halfway point of sorts, even though it’s only day 11. 50% of the matches have been played in World Cup 2018; with each team having one more game left in the group stage, eight teams know it will be there last while six are already guaranteed another. Meleiza and Alan look forward to tomorrow’s four matches, and backwards at today’s three games through the lens of our troubling political times that sees a rise of ethno-nationalism in Europe; at the very time that diverse sides filled the children of immigrants are prospering on the pitch.
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It’s Day 10, and the competition is heating up! In this podcast, Alan and Meleiza recap the last two days of group play, including: Brazil’s journey back on its feet against Costa Rica’s Ticos; Nigeria’s fairytale upset of Iceland; the political drama of Kosovar Muslim refugees scoring the winning goals for Switzerland against Serbia; Belgium and Mexico continuing their winning runs; and the last-minute thrills as Germany prevails against Sweden.
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