World Cup Diary: Part One

The FIFA Men's World Cup has kicked off and the entire world is watching. Normally taking place in the summer, this year's tournament in Qatar happens to coincide with the heart of the NHL calendar. This means that for Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman, balancing the demands of being an NHL player with the passion of a football fan is a unique challenge. And so, as Hedman watches the World Cup during the next month of the season, we invite you to watch with him.
Each week Lightning Radio's Kevin Erlendsson will sit down with Hedman for our World Cup Diary. They'll break down important matches, discuss storylines and pick out Heddy's favorite moments from the tournament. Every entry will be available in audio form on the Lightning Radio On Demand podcast feed. Or, come back here each week for the transcription.

KE: What does the World Cup mean to you?
VH: The history for me. I've been following it ever since I was born. Unfortunately in this one Sweden is not in it, but that still doesn't take away from the from the magnitude of the tournament. I'm very excited about watching and hopefully seeing some guys that have never played in it and do well.
KE: I know last year there was the idea that, sometimes when your team's not in the tournament, it can actually be some of the best viewing experiences of your life. But I think we Americans were just telling ourselves that.
VH: Haha maybe, but my second home (The United States) is playing so it'll be exciting to follow them.
KE: Do you have any formative memories as a kid watching the World Cup?
VH: Definitely, especially 2002. Sweden was in the group of death with Argentina, England and (the hosts) South Korea. And we're able to pull through, actually beat Argentina thanks to an unbelievable free kick from Anders Svensson, who I think has played the most caps for Sweden. That is by far the fondest memory I have of the World Cup, that Sweden was able to pull through in that group. They then go on to lose to Senegal in the in the round of 16, but still, to get through that group was what no one expected really, but very fond memory.
KE: Bit of a topsy turvy history for Sweden in the tournament, and especially you look at the last cycle. I'm not sure anybody expected anything out of them, especially without (star) Zlatan Ibrahimović. They were that close to getting past England.
VH: Yeah I know. But, England is a very good team. And that group stage was also very, very good. And then I think we beat Switzerland, and then went on to lose against England. But you know, it sucks not being in the in the biggest states of the world. But I think Swedish football overall is looking pretty good. A lot of good young talents that's up and coming with Dejan Kulusevski, Alexander Isak, Anthony Elanga. There's another kid Roony Bardghji, he plays for FC Copenhagen and is only 17 years old. He's been a star there since he was 16. So, yes, looking bright for us.
For the uninitiated, the World Cup is held every four years and consists of 32 teams from 6 different federations around the world. Teams are divided into eight groups of four and play three matches each in the first round, one match against each group member. The top two teams in each group move on to the knockout rounds.
KE: So looking at this field, we have the graphic up in front of us. Who are some of your favorites and most likely to win the tournament?
VH: Well you look at Group E (COSTA RICA, GERMANY, JAPAN, SPAIN), you've got two potential winners in that one I think, with Spain and Germany. Will be fun to see that game in the group stage. France looks like they have kind of an easy so-to-speak path. And then you can't look away from the South Americans with Argentina and Brazil.
But I like Belgium. I think this is kind of their last chance with their golden generation, so I hope they have a good tournament and can top it up with a win. But they have a tough group as well. Croatia are an unbelievable team, Morocco has some really good players and then obviously our neighbors to the north in Canada. So it will be a lot to follow.
As a Scandinavian, you look to see Denmark, they're probably going to move through (GROUP D: AUSTRALIA, DENMARK, FRANCE, TUNISIA) as well. And they've been doing really well. And I think they beat France actually in the Nation's League, so it'll be interesting to see.
KE: I feel like whenever you talk about this tournament, you're contractually obligated to say "what's the group of death?" Is there a group of death this year, do you see one in there?
VH: I mean group G is very tough. Brazil. Serbia, I was very impressed by them in the qualification rounds. Switzerland is a very good team. Then Cameroon from Africa, a very good team as well. Yeah, I don't know. Group of death, it's tough to really pick one of these, I think it's pretty even-steven, if you look at it.
KE: You've gotta feel for Senegal, losing (star player) Sadio Mané to injury right before the tournament.
VH: Yeah I know. Last game I read they still had hope. But that's gone now, so that's a big blow for them obviously. And you look at Group A (ECUADOR, NETHERLANDS, QATAR, SENEGAL), obviously The Netherlands are big, big favorites. So it'll be interesting to see it opening night, Qatar against Ecuador. I think whoever wins that game is gonna have a good chance of moving through.
KE: That first group stage game is always a weird one. Last year, Russia blew the doors off of Saudi Arabia, 5-0. It was a statement by the hosts. And Qatar, they're mostly an unknown quantity. They don't have players that anybody really knows. But they were guests at the Copa America, they performed very well. They were guests in the gold cup here in CONCACAF, the less said about the Gold Cup, the better but yeah, you just never know what the hosts.
VH: Exactly. I mean, they're gonna be busting from the start, obviously, as the host. That'll be an interesting first game. And then, you look at Group B (ENGLAND, IRAN, USA, WALES), the team I'll be cheering for in the US. A big game against Wales, gotta win that one and then beat Iran. Like I said before the show, I think my projection - seven points - will obviously be enough to move through.
KE: You're certainly a lot more confident than I am.
VH: I just like the setup that they have. There was some controversy over people they left out, but you look at their strength, which is their midfield. Tyler Adams, Brendan Aaronson has been doing really well. Weston McKennie, unbelievable at Juventus. And then you've got Yunus Musah, a regular at Valencia. And they're still young.
And then you've got the captain in Christian Pulisic. So, we're excited to see them play, and you've got the veterans back there with Walker Zimmerman, Tim Ream. Sergiño Dest, formerly of Barcelona. And then, the late bloomer, Matt Turner in goal. I read somewhere that he didn't start until he was 16 years old. So it'll be interesting to see
KE: Arsenal's Matt Turner. It's weird about the US because Gio Reyna and Christian Pulisic, arguably two of the best we've ever produced, have only played 300-something minutes together at the international level. That just shouldn't be possible. There's been injuries, but now they're healthy. And I'm gonna knock on the wood right here \Kevin audibly knocks on wood\. And I've been holding my breath pretty much every day, and I'm probably going to do that up until kickoff on Monday. But if they're healthy, I think I'll give them a shout. I don't see them getting through this group. And I'm just gonna leave it at that because I don't want to get killed for it. But if they stay healthy, they're talented enough.
VH: Exactly. And when you look at their squad, their best players are 24-25 years old. This won't be their last kick at the can. And then you've got Ricardo Pepi, he was not picked for this one but another bright star. But, you look at their team, I'm very confident that they're going to do well in the future as well.
Wales is a tough opponent. With Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, this is their last one as well. So, it'll be very interesting. But like I said, you never know what's gonna happen until kickoff. You look at France, Christopher Nkunku, an unbelievable season last year, started this season well, he got hurt in practice and is gonna miss the whole tournament. So knock on wood, they don't get hurt.
KE: And France without Paul Pogba too. But they're France, I think they'll be all right.
VH: They've got Karim Benzema, a Ballon d'Or winner, and Kylian Mbappe, arguably one of the best in the world.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This conversation took place on Friday, November 18th. And on Saturday, November 19th, France announced Benzema would miss the tournament after suffering a muscle tear in training.
KE: Who are you looking most forward to watching from an individual perspective? And you can't say Mbappe, that's too obvious.
VH: I'm looking forward to seeing Spain's young midfielders, Gavi and Pedri. Two young players that have played an absurd amount of football as of late. They're generational talents from Barcelona, just a treat to the eye. It'll be probably those two guys and Sergio Busquets that will start in midfield, but yeah, looking forward to seeing those guys.
KE: I'd be remiss if I hadn't mentioned that it's going to be a tournament without Tim Cahill. It just doesn't feel right without Tim Cahill.
VH: I know, especially when you look at Australia. Yeah, Tim has been around for a very, very long time and did tremendously well. Australia is going to look to, I don't even know who their superstar is. Aaron Moy probably. We will miss Cahill out there.
KE: And I think (former captain) Mile Jedinak retired too.
VH: Yeah, it will be a different Australia. Matthew Ryan in goal, probably their biggest star. Yeah, it'll be interesting to see Australia, they have a real chance to upset either Denmark or France.
KE: All right, before we let you go, looking at these groups, what is the first group match game you are looking forward to?
VH: You like the opener. I'm not really sure what the schedule is like but I think the US Wales is the one I'm really looking forward to. Because that's a do or die game I think for the US.
KE: Are you gonna be able to watch it or will you be napping? It is a Lightning game day unfortunately.
VH: Yeah, I know I know. But we'll see the results after. I'll try and catch as many games as I can. We'll see.
KE: This concludes our first entry into the World Cup Diary with Victor Hedman. Join us next week when we recap the first round of group games and get Victor's perspective on the matches that he was able to watch. And for those in America, the US kick off their tournament on Monday, November 21 at 2pm on Fox. I'll be watching through the cracks between my fingers and I hope you'll be watching too.