World Cup Semifinal Preview, ESPN QB Rankings Outrage & Pacman's New Golf Gear | Politely Raw
Welcome back to Politely Raw with your hosts Pacman Jones and Drew Butler! This week, the guys are joined by soccer expert Matty Lawrence to preview the epic heavyweight matchups in the World Cup semifinals.
The crew starts with the highly anticipated France vs. Spain clash, debating whether Spain is truly Kylian Mbappé's "Kryptonite" and if the 27-year-old French superstar can eventually surpass Lionel Messi's historic World Cup goal record. Matty breaks down Spain's impenetrable defense led by Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte, and Rodri, while Drew and Pacman look ahead to the legendary, deep-rooted rivalry between England and Argentina—dating back to the Falklands War and Diego Maradona's infamous 1986 "Hand of God" goal. They also discuss why 23-year-old Jude Bellingham is flying under the radar despite his incredible play.
Then, the guys address the fallout of the US Men's National Team's exit. They debate whether Mauricio Pochettino should stay on as manager and if Christian Pulisic was unfairly singled out following his controversial "rest" comments and subsequent stress fracture diagnosis.
Next, Pacman and Drew react with absolute outrage to ESPN's newly released Top 10 NFL Quarterbacks list. Voted on by anonymous league executives, the guys explain why putting Josh Allen at No. 1 over Patrick Mahomes is an absolute joke, and call out the massive disrespect of Jalen Hurts being completely left off the list while unproven names make the cut.
Finally, they preview the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, locking in their golf picks for Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, and Pacman’s close homie Sam Burns. Plus, Pacman unboxes a beautiful new set of custom black-on-black PXG golf clubs and reminisces about his wild night on stage with 50 Cent in Miami!
Timestamps
00:00 - Episode intro: Pacman and Drew hype up the star power and incredible stadium atmospheres as we head into the World Cup semifinals.
01:02 - World Cup Semifinal Preview: Soccer analyst Matty Lawrence joins the show.
03:37 - France vs. Spain: Analyzing the historic matchup and whether Spain's recent tournament wins make them Mbappé's Kryptonite.
04:48 - The Next GOAT?: Comparing 27-year-old Kylian Mbappé's career trajectory to a 39-year-old Lionel Messi.
06:25 - Tactical Breakdown: How Spain's defense, anchored by Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte, and Rodri, plans to contain France's dynamic offense.
10:19 - Golden Boot Watch: Assessing Mbappé's chances to lock up the top-scorer crown as France chases a final.
10:59 - England vs. Argentina: Matty breaks down the historic, emotionally charged geopolitical rivalry and the legend of Maradona’s 1986 "Hand of God."
11:37 - Underappreciated Greatness: Why England's 23-year-old sensation Jude Bellingham is flying under the radar.
12:59 - Semifinal Predictions: Drew and Matty debate if England can find a way past Messi to secure a spot in the New York final.
18:38 - USMNT Post-Mortem: Debating if Mauricio Pochettino should remain head coach of the US national team through Copa América.
20:43 - The Pulisic Defense: Were fans and media too harsh on Christian Pulisic after his "rest" comments were followed by a stress fracture diagnosis?
25:17 - NFL QB Rankings Outrage: Pacman and Drew react to ESPN's highly controversial Top 10 Quarterbacks list.
25:40 - Josh Allen at No. 1?: Why putting Allen over Patrick Mahomes makes zero sense to anyone who actually watches big-game football.
26:28 - Major Snubs: Calling out the disrespect of leaving Jalen Hurts off the list in favor of potential-based picks like Caleb Williams and Drake Maye.
28:46 - Rings Over Potential: Why NFL front offices pay too much attention to potential rather than real championship accomplishments.
29:31 - The Open Championship: Previewing the third major of the year at Royal Birkdale and mapping out picks for Tommy Fleetwood and Sam Burns.
31:14 - Mail Day!: Pacman unboxes a gorgeous new set of custom PXG golf clubs and reacts to his viral stage appearance with 50 Cent.
32:30 - Show wrap-up and final thoughts.