As the so-called “inventor” of Barstool Sports, Dave Portnoy has given more than his fair share of hot takes that have upset many fans – and now Canada’s FIFA World Cup soccer team is in his crosshairs.
During an appearance on Wake Up Barstool on Monday morning, Portnoy said that despite Canada’s 1-0 win over South Africa to advance in the knockout stages, the Canadians aren’t one of the best 16 teams in the tournament.
“I cannot almost believe in a world where Canada — you’re telling me Canada — has one of the best 16 soccer teams in the country (sic)?” he said “That, that just seems impossible.”
Portnoy also pondered whether it could be product of the “NCAA-ification of the World Cup,” which means the tournament has let too many teams in.
One of the show’s hosts, who goes by T-Bob Hebert, did his best to stand up for the Great White North.
“Yeah, look, it’s just the nature of the beast,” Hebert said. “The host nations sort of tend to perform better when, when it’s in their country, like I think it was Korea that reached the semifinal when it was there.”
Hebert also pointed out that Canada had been favoured against South Africa in the match.
What is Portnoy’s reasoning?
Portnoy then further explained his reasoning, while getting patriotic in the process.
“I picked the USA. I’m not going to root against the USA on home soil on the 250th birthday of this great country. So I’m all in on USA,” he began.
“I’m also a firm believer that if we put our best athletes in (soccer) and gave them five to 10 years, we win the World Cup every year.”
He then explained that the same may be the case for Canada.
“So, yes, I just think Canada is even more so,” he said. “Everyone’s like hockey, hockey, hockey, hockey, hockey, hockey.
“Who plays soccer in Canada?” Portnoy rhetorically asked, before answering “losers.”
Why does Portnoy dislike Canada?
If you’re looking for the root of Portnoy’s anger toward Team Canada, you might start with his betting slips.
Portnoy, an avid gambler, posted before Sunday’s game that he was going to bet on every knockout game of the tournament and started doing so by wagering $25,000 against Canada.
“I think I’ve decided to bet and win every knockout round game the rest of the World Cup,” he posted, along with a screenshot of the bet he placed. ”It starts today with South Africa. I just don’t see Canada advancing in soccer.”
It was a decision that obviously didn’t work out for the native of Swampscott, Mass., and he clearly was upset about it.
“Brutal. What the hell was that idiot doing on defence?” Portnoy wrote in frustration. “He passed it right to him. Stupid soccer will always get you beat. O-1.”
He also later shared a video of the turnover, saying that the player should “hang up his cleats.”
On Monday, Portnoy followed up his disastrous South Africa pick with another losing bet. On the advice of a follower, he backed Japan to beat Brazil in a game where the South American side came back from down by a goal to win 2-1.