Episode 630 – The AFTN Soccer Show (Dreams Stay With You with guests Stuart Armstrong, Fafa Picault, Jay Herdman, and Cindy Tye)

We’re back with another AFTN Soccer Show packed full of Vancouver Whitecaps, MLS, Canadian national team, and international football chat and interviews. It's our international special this episode as we cover the club and national team game from a wide variety of perspectives.

We kick things off with a look at the Whitecaps win in Austin this past weekend. Comfortable and very important, it sets them up nicely for the MLS season run-in after 42 days since their last league match. We take a look at how things are looking the in the MLS West and Vanni Sartini shares some thoughts on the match and the task facing the team now with six players away on international duty for the upcoming match with Dallas.

One of those players that will be away with Canadian international Ali Ahmed. We chat with him about the upcoming friendlies and talk with one of the WFC2 players that could be called up to replace the missing guys, Jay Herdman, about his experiences at last year's U20 World Cup and this year's Olympics with New Zealand. And talking of the U20 World Cup, we look at the great start made by the Canada at the women's one in Colombia and talk with head coach Cindy Tye.

We've two fantastic feature interviews for you this episode. First up is the newest Whitecap, Scottish international DP Stuart Armstrong. We chat with Stuart about his move to Vancouver, his career so far, what the future may hold in store, playing for Scotland at two Euros, and more. It's a great career retrospective for fans of his, new and old.

Next up is Whitecaps winger Fafa Picault. We chat with the forward about life in Vancouver, playing for Haiti, his football playing grandfather, and his deep love of music and food, in a really enjoyable interview that shows Fafa's passions to the fore.

All of this, plus Zach tells tales of his footballing adventures in Costa Rica, we have a way too long, but thoroughly enjoyable, chat about Britpop, and Big Country kick off their stint as our Album of the Month.

Here’s the rundown for the main segments from the episode:

01.28: Intro - Oasis fever!
06.25: Zach's experiences of football in Costa Rica
25.23: Whitecaps dominate Austin in return to MLS action
43.35: The lie of the land in the MLS West
47.00: Vanni on the Austin win and facing Dallas short-handed
52.02: Ali Ahmed talks Canada's upcoming friendlies
58.37: Jay Herdman interview on his Olympic experience with NZ
69.15: Axel on how the Stuart Armstrong deal came together
76.03: Vanni on how Armstrong will fit into system
81.05: Stuart Armstrong interview and discussion
101.04: Anyone Fancy A Chocolate Digestive - Stuart Armstrong
106.55: Fafa Picault interview and discussion
137.40: Britpop discussion
150.16: Canada U20s kick of 2024 Women's U20 World Cup
157.53: Cindy Tye interview
164.05: FIFA trial of Football Video Support review cards
167.05: Canada's men back in action against US and Mexico
168.47: Wavelength - Damien Quinn - Celtic Medley