The Daily Show: Ears Edition - World Cup Round of 16 Analysis with TDS Soccer Experts Joe Opio & George Gountas

Episode Date: December 8, 2022

The World Cup Round of 16 has come to an end and the quarter-finals are just around the corner. Daily Show writer Joe Opio and lighting designer George Gountas, our in-house soccer experts, break down the highlights and upsets from the Round of 16, and make their predictions for the quarter-finals. They chat about the pressure of the penalty kick, Brazil’s victory dance, and what Cristiano Ronaldo’s benching means for Portugal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You're listening to Comedy Central. Hey, what's up everyone? I'm George Guntas. You love the Daily Show for its incisive political commentary, but did you know that our offices are filled with super soccer fans? I'm the lighting designer here at the Daily Show, and the only thing that I love more than our studio lights are the lights of a soccer stadium. I'm joined by Daily Show writer and super fan Joe Opio. The World Cup is underway and we thought we'd drop a bonus podcast episode, breaking down the round of 16 and giving you our predictions for the quarterfinals. We'll begin with a

disappointing performance of the United States versus the Netherlands. The Dutch make easy work of the Americans with th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. the th. the th. the th. the. the. the. the. the the the the. the the the. the world, the world, the world, the world, the world, the world, the world, the world, the world, the world, the world, the world, the world, the world, the world, the world world, the world world, the world, the world world, the world, the world, the world, the world, the world, the world, the world, the world, the world, the world, the world, the world, the world, the world, the world, the world, the world, the the world. the. the. theateateatea. thea' is thea' is the world's thooooooooooooo' the world's the world's the world's the world's the world the world the world with a 3-1 victory. What are your takeaways from the game Joe? First of all, George, it's a pleasure as always to join you and break down the games of the World Cup as it goes on. My takeaway from the U.S. game, first of all, I thought the U.S. was killed mainly by primary schoolboy errors in defense. They were killed by cutbacks from the Dutch. Normally you would think that a team at that level would know that when a ball goes on the side, there are two chances. Either you know the attack is going to smash it right across goal or they are going to cut it back. And the US took the first option, they always went to defend the ball right across the face of gold, but then they forgot the trading runners and they ended ended ended ended ended ended ended ended they ended they ended they ended they ended they ended they ended up their their their their their their their their their their their their their their. their. their. their. their. te. to to to to their. to to told. told. to to to to to told. told. told. told. Te. Te. I. I. Te. I. Te. Wea. Wea. Wea. Wea. Wea. Wea. Wea. Wea. Wea. Wea. Wea. Wea. Wea. Wea. Wea. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's got. It's got. It's te. It's te. It's te. It's te. It's. It's te. It's. It's. It's te. It's. It's te. It's te. It's te. It's. It up paying twice for their mistakes. The second goal, the first goal I mean, it was Tyler Adams who failed to track Memphis

DePy because Memphis the Pye started the move but then ran right past Tid Adams. Saddam's has been America's best player by far. But I think in that moment he was caught napping. I think one of the central defenders should have stepped out maybe to help him and make Memphis DePy a bit more uncomfortable. But that was goal number one. Goal number two, again, another ball to Denzel Damprees again, another cutback. And this time it was another of U.S.'s more talented players, Sardinio Dates, who was caught napping by Del Blind. The last goal, I think, I think the U.S. was already beaten by that point.

They had scored a very fortuitous first goal, but I think by that time the U.S. had given up the game. And I thought again, it was more schoolboy errors in defense. Because when the cross came in from Delbillid, the the the the the the the the the the the to to the the to the the to the toeneded. And toened. And the the the the toenen and the the toen, toen, toen, toen, toenade is is toen, tooes, their is theasease. I was, their is their is, theirse. theirse. theirse. theirse. I was was was was was was was was was was, tooes, tooes, tooes, the, the, the, the, I was was was was was was was was was was was was was was was was was was was was was was was was, their, theirse. I was again. theirse. theirse. theirse. theirse. toole. toole. together. together. today. today. today. today, today, their today. theirsewereeuros. today. tod came in from Del Blin, the Americans all came into the middle. And I think Jedi Robinson is to blame. He came and squished into the middle. He never checked his mirrors, his side mirrors to see who was standing behind him. Again, Denzel Dumfries in acres of space, any professional player will put that chance away. So for me, that was very disappointing because the US conceded goals from schoolboy errors. My other take-a-was how reactive Greg Belhalter was. Because I thought, and we talked about

this in our last podcast, Gio Reiner should have started the game, especially because America lacks a striker so they could have played Gio or maybe as a false 9 or they could have sorted teamware into the number 9 position and then let Geo rena play as a number 10 but they didn't bring him on till they were already to kneel down. For me, that's very, very reactive from the manager. I feel like the coach should always take initiative. You try to force your opponent into playing not, instead of you reacting to the way they play. And I think Louis Van Hal, I talked about it in his post-March press conference.

He said the US failed to adapt. And when Greg Below tried to adapt, it was way too late. So for me, again, I'm going to go back to what I hoped on about in the last podcast. I think Greg must go. I think he shouldn't be to be to be to be to be trued trusted trusted trusted be trusted be the tried trusted be the tried tried tried trusted be toled toled took the gusted took took took to be to be to be to be to be the gardened to be to be to be to be to to to to to talk about about about about about about about about about about about to talk about to talk about to talk about to talk about to to to talk about their their their their their their the ga the ga the ga the ga the ga the ga the ga the ga the ga the ga the guard the garden't be the garden the garden the garden the garden the golden the golden generation the golden generation the golden generation garden gourden the golden generation on about in the last podcast, I think Greg must go. I think he shouldn't be trusted with this golden generation of American players. I think the US is going to be looking at making a deeper run in the 2026 World Cup. I think the US has the tools and the resources to make a deeper run, but they need a far more brilliant manager.

They need a far more brilliant manager, they need a far more proactive manager, and I think Greg is way too reactive and way too conservative for his own good. I have to agree with you on that. I mean, starting with Van Hall, com-a, coa, coa, coached Iax, Barcelona, uh, tans of experience. Byron, Munich, Manchester United, the biggest clubs in the world. He has, basically, he has forgotten Mosulka. Yeah, for sure, first, Berraltar knows. Yeah, for sure.

So now you sit there and it was a simple game plan from Van Hal. He knew that the US would struggle to break them down. They allowed the US to have possession. US had 59% of the ball to the first note that I agree with you on is that Van Hall, definitely out coached Burhalter. Again, completely agree about the being reactive. I mean, we waited till almost stoppage time and down 3-1 to pull a defender and play 3 at the back and just throw caution to the wind. In general, I feel like I wanted a more desperate performance once you went down from the Americans and it just seemed like

there was a little minutes, a couple minutes bell where when they kind of scored the fortunate goal there was another moment where someone rounded the keeper and probably should have done better. But yeah for sure that lack of desperation and then it was, I think it was hard you right again it was a loose ball. Yeah, it was a loose ball from Memphis the pie. the pie. And he rounded the keeper. And he tried his best, but again, his first touch took him. Too far, too far. And basically, you know, lost him the angle.

But you're right, yes. Yeah, and so again, to go in and then another thing just to kind of continue what you said is that the defensive mistakes, obviously, you know, you, you, you, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, the, too, too, too, too, too, too, too, too, too, too, too,, but I think when you make one mistake, that can happen. When you make three mistakes, those kind of mistakes, I think that is a reflection of the manager. I think that I think that's also an inability to communicate. I think that a centerback, if you're like playing on a team with, let's say a Sergio Ramos or, or just a, a more experienced centerback. They're going to be yelling, the, th. They, th. They, th. They, th. They, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th- thi, thi, thi, th- th- thi, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, thi, thi, thi, they they they they're, they they they're, they they thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, when thi, when thi, center back, if you're like playing on a team with let's say a Sergio Ramos or a more experienced centerback, they're going to be yelling and directing and talking. I feel like it was like nobody, nobody was talking. And in the end, it's easy to blame the person who had that responsibility, but I think defending as a collective. It's a more collaborative effort, yes.

Yeah, absolutely. And then the final thing that I'll say again, agree that the two main storylines from a U.S. perspective, obviously the defensive lapses. And the second is that the USA were wasteful in front of goal, and when you're an underdog in this regard playing a better team, you have to t your chances. You have to take your chances. Every chance. We all know this. The U.S. I actually outshot the Dutch 17 to 11, 17 to 11, with more shots on target, 8 to 6, the Dutch were clearly more clinical and deserved to win the game. But when you're playing, like we said, better side you need to take convert the opportunities. Had Pulisicch converted that early chance, it changes the game. It would. It would. It would. It would. It would. It would. It would. It would. It would. It would. It would. It would would. It would would. It would. It would. It would would. It would. It would. It would. It would. It would. It would. It would. It would. It would. It would. It would. It would. It would. It would. It would. It's. It would. It would have. It's. It's. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's more. It's more. It's more. It's more. It's more. It's more. It's more. It's more. It's more. It's more. It's more. It's more. It. It. It. But also, and I think this, it's crazy to talk about the US and not shooting well, not shooting effectively,

given the gun violence problem in the country. But yeah, I think the US is disparate for a striker who can't put the chances away. And I feel like they're lucky because they have such a striker actually. Ricardo Pepp was called up for the national team, but we can't go into the selections now. But I feel like Ricardo Pepe plays in the Dutch League. He makes, he has made a habit out of scoring against the Dutch opposition. He should have been in the team. I think enough acres of ink have been wasted writing about Greg Barreta's decision not

to call him. But he's young, and I think he's going to be a great addition to this particular roster going into 2026. Let's move on to Argentina versus Australia. Argentina beat Australia two to one to set up an interesting quarter-final matchup with the Netherlands. Many expected this to be in walk in the park for Argentina, but it was anything but. A well-organized Australian side made Argentina work for the win.

I think the thing I took away from this is again Messi delivered and I think Argentina are going to need him to deliver each and every game if they are going to have a chance. He has been delivering big big huge huge decisive goals in every game he delivered he scored he scored against Saudi Arabia of course they lost that game it was a penalty put it away then he scored the game that broke the Mexican resistance and I feel like in this game as well he scored the goal that broke the Australian resistance. Of course, this time he didn't have D'Maria, D'Maria I think had muscle overload. The only D'Maria clearly, if you watch this game, you could see why D'Maria is so essential to this team. But Mesa again

again delivering that was critical. I feel like this game turned out to be a lot more tense and a lot more nervous than Trudorbin. We all expected Australia is a bit like the US in that the best Australians or the most athletic Australians don't normally go into football. They're either going to Australian football or they're going to rugby or they're going to cricket. So football in Australia struggles in much the same way that football struggles in the US. It doesn't attract the best of the best. But I think the Australians are quitting themselves. I think they put up a good resistance. When Messie scored, I thought that would really be the straw that broke them. But they kept coming back, and then they scored, of course,

they considered a second goal, which was a gift from their goalkeeper. He was pressured, tried to split the two Argentinians. And you don't do that at that level. You're going to be punished if you make such a mistake. But they kept fighting back. They kept coming back. and the, and course of a deflection and I feel like Argentina had it in them to stretch the game away.

Lautaro Martinez, I don't know what's happening but he's off-form, his confidence is totally short. He has lost his starting position to Julian Alvarez and you can see that that's affecting him. He had three great chances in this game. The first one, he should have put away. It was a simple color into the side netting, but then he ended up skying it and sending it into the stands. The second chance, it wasn't him who should have taken it. He should have just backhilled the ball. They played a great ball into him, and then Montyrella was running behind him. He should have just backhilled the ball into Montreal.

It would have been one-on-one-one with one one one one one one one one one one one one one one one one one one one one one with one with one one one with one one with one with one with one one one with one with one with one with one with one with one with one with one with one with one with one with one with one with one with one-on-one with an empty net. He didn't do that, because again, the desperation. And when your confidence is short, you're always snatching at chances, he snatched at that. Third chance, Messie played him in. Again, he just shot straight at the goalkeeper. A player of Lauteroy's experience and pedigree. And we've seen him light up the champions the time and again. You should have expected him to at least put one of those chances away and put the game beyond Australia. But he didn't and as you could see at the end, they almost paid for it. Absolutely. There was a mezzer run by Aziz Beech which he should have put away but again, of course great defending from Alessandro Martinez. I think a gentler should be playing a back three because you need the three central defenders covering for each other. If if L if less less less less less less less less less less less less less less less less less less less their their their their th, their their their their their their their their their their their their. their. their. their.. their. their.. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. their. the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, te. te. te. te. te. te. time. te. te. te. te. te. te. te. te. te. te covering for each other. If Lysandra wasn't in that was a definite goal and then it was cause Australia had a chance at the very end. Tagliafugo falls down

yeah. Yeah a great save by Emiliano Martinez but this game again I did not made such heavy work. Yeah when should have been a walk over the only only, only two positives I feel that a Jena should take away from this game. Actually, three is one, the Maria wasn't in and they still managed to win. Two, Macy is still delivering. And then three, and most importantly,

this was the first game, this entire world cup. When I felt that Rodrigo the Paul was th th th th th th th th th th th th th. th th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. to th. to to th. to to to to to to to to told, to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the te, te, the te, the the try..... the try. try. try. try. try. today, today, the.. This is the Rodrigo DePaul that we all know and love. This is the Rodrigo DePaul that earned himself a transfer from Udenese to Athletic Comrade this is the Rodrigo de Paul that helped Argentina win the Cup America. And I feel like you could see that in the way he pressed the Australian goalkeeper to create that chance for Union Arvarez. For sure, for sure. Before I get into my thoughts about Argentina, I just want to take my hats off to Australia.

They were fantastic. This was the type of performance you were hoping for from the Americans as underdogs. You were hoping for some intensity. Yes. Intensity, physicality, And again, I think that, like you said, comes down to the manager. So now back to Argentina, like you said, what a performance from your boy, Leo Messi. I feel like in stoppage time, like you said, Argentina could have scored probably four goals in stoppage time before that final chance for Australia.

And again, to kind of jump on your criticism of Lauter-Tar-Martine. Is Lartar-Martine all of a sudden? Jesus. I mean, he's he gonna lose the tournament for Argentina if they get into a spot where they need him to put one away. You're right, his confidence is in the gutter. Totally going out. Yeah. And again, to your point about DeMaria, I agree. And I think the coach agrees because soon after half-time they made an interesting substitution when they pulled they pulled they pulled they pulled they pulled they pulled they pulled they pulled they pulled the the their their their their their their their their to to their. to pull. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. tothink the coach agrees because soon after half-time, they made an interesting substitution when they pulled Papu Gomez and attacking midfielder to bring on Lassandra and play three at the back. And that's kind of really when Argentina became more fluid

and I think, you know, I think that going forward, that that's something that they will turn to. I feel frankly that, when that that that that that that th is th is th is thi thi thi thi their thi their their their their they are thi thi their thi thi they will turn to. I feel frankly that when you look at this Argentina team, they are facing the same issue. They, or at least they, they should use the same formula they use that the Cope America. And that's you can't afford to concede. So if they can keep it nil-nil, they can always count on a moment of magic from Messie, but they also can't afford to consider because I don't think they have the character to come back.

I don't think they have the force of will to come back. So the best hope for me is to always keep it tight at the back. The only good thing I could say in their favor is they have considered three goals and all three goals have been absolute stunters. In a way that they were unavailable, unavoidable. So the two goals that Saudi Arabia put away, there's nothing a median or Martinez could have done about that. For sure. They were both like beautiful, brilliant goals.

And then again, as Australia, it was a stanner in a sense that it deflected and went. It was not even close to being on target before I thought to play it. But the way it deflated and went into the side netting, there's nothing he could do about it. So they haven't yet considered a goal that you would go like, oh, that was a mistake, or the other team outplayed them in that way. And I feel like that's that's that's that's that's good that's good that's good that's good that's good that's good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good. thatournament, because tournament football is all about keeping it tight at the back and then picking your moments when you go forward. Agreed, agreed. And then one more thing for our American fans that are new to watching the World Cup at

this moment, one thing that happened in this game that is a technical term that we like to call squeaky bumme time when you have, you're up, you're up, to to to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to to their, their, to their, to their, their, to their, to to to to too, too, too, too, too, too, their, their, too, too, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, together, together, together, together, too, together, isa, is a.s.s, isa, together, isa, together, together, together, together, together, together, together,am is giving it to your seat. And you're on the edge of your seat. This game for the fight for stoppage time. We were complete squeaky bum time for the Australian fans. But they got through it. Argentina meets the Netherlands in the quarterfinal who you have gone through. That's going to be a tight one. But I think Agenda will be as naive in attack. I don't think the agenda will be as generous in defense as the Americans were.

And I think the Dutch also struggle. They scored three goals against America, but that's, as we saw, as we've said before, that was because America was too charitable in defense. I don't think they'll get as many chances against Argentine. And I don't th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th thi don't thi don't thi don't thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thin I don't thin, I don't thi, I don't the, I don't the, I don't thin I don't thin, I thin, I thi, I the the the the the the the the the the the the thi, I thi, I thi, I'll thi, I'll thi, I the thi, I thi, I the thi, I the thi, I the the thi, I'm thi, I'm thi, I'm thi, I'm thin, I'm theananananananananananananananananananananananananananananananananananananananananan, I'm, I'm notean, I'm th'll get as many chances against Argentina and I don't think they have the kind of defensive midfielder or the kind of defensive discipline that can keep Leo Messi under the coach for 90 minutes. So I think Argentina would have too much for them at the end of the day. I think Argentina is slowly growing into the tournament. I think Messie and Urubres, like you can't see theirtournament. I think Messie and Urien Aravries that you can't see their chemistry is beginning to build the Maria will probably be back for this

game and I feel like the Dutch, their experience was war horses let's say that like their coach from the coach all through their defense Van Dy the midfield. These are players who play the biggest games week in the thoo. But I think I th th th th th th th I th th th I thi I thi I thi I thi I thi I thi I thi I thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi. I thi. I thi. I the. I the. I the. I the. I the. I the. I th. I th. I th. I th. I the. I the. I the. I will will will will will will will will will will will will will will will will will will will will will will will will will will will will will will will will will the. I the. I the. I the. I the. I the. I the. I the. I the. I the. I the. I the. M. M. M. M. Macy the. Macy the. Macy the. Macy the. Macy the. Macy the. Macy's the. Macy's the. Macy's the. Macy's the biggest games week in week out in Europe. But I think I think Messie's brilliance will be a bit too much for them. And also like I have to remember that on the left side of the Dutch, that's where Dale Brind plays and I think he's too slow. I actually think D'all Blin, against Messie and DeMaria is a war crime waiting to happen. So unless he gets some kind of support from his wingers, I think he's going to be exposed.

And if I were Leonel Scaroni, I'll specifically target Del Blaine, because I think he's the key weakness in that Dutch defense. Agreed. I have Argentina going through as well. I just, what I hope is that as these, as you get further into tournament that they don't tend to go conservative and in fear of not making a mistake and I hope that they really go for because I think that they will outclass the Netherlands. Let's take a quick break. We'll be right back. So let's move on to France versus Poland. France beat Poland three to one in a

pretty straightforward match. A second half race from Killian Bopay leads the French into the quarterfinals. I felt like the Polish will not be proud of themselves. They didn't really turn up for that game. They have one with best strikers in the world at the moment Robert Landowski. I don't think they fed him enough. I think he was starved of service. F. F. F. F. F. F. F. F. F. F. F. F. F. F. F. F. the their th. F. their th. F. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. thi. their th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. their their their their their their their their their their their. their. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. their their their th. their their th. th. th. their th. th. th. th. thee. to to theeee. to theee. to the. thee. to thee. the the their theee. their their the. think they fed him enough. I think he was starved of service. France, on the other hand, what can we say about France that we haven't said already? Them and Brazil are the favorites to win this particular World Cup. I think the final most likely,

barring any absence, will be a repeat of 1998. It will be France versus Brazil. Kilian Mbapi. Oh man, we are running out of compliments in this particular World Cup. He's already scored so many goals and he's just 24. And I think the goals he scored against Poland were particularly brilliant in their quality. The first one he gave the keeper the eyes,

the keeper was going to go to the far post, to me, yeah. And then the second one, he's playing, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's playing, he's playing, he's playing, he's like, he's like, he's like, he's like, he's like, he's like, he's like, he's like, he's like, he's like, he's like, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's like, he's like, he's like, he's like, he's like, he's like, he's like, he's like, he's like, he's like, he's like, he's like, he's like, he's like, he's like, the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the keeper the eyes, the keeper thought he was going to go to the far post, to the near. And then the second one, he's playing, he's like brimming with confidence and you need a player like that. But I feel like the calls made a mistake because if you're playing a team that has a Mbapi on its wings, I think the only thing you have to do is concentrate on him because the first goal goal goal goal goal goal goal goal goal goal think think think think thin thin thin to do thin thin the to the on him because the first goal was scored by Olivia Giro but I think France doesn't offer as much going through the middle. I think the only creative outlet is to go through Mbape. So if you crowd the wings and force them to go through the middle, it's almost like the only way to

notify France is to do the opposite of what coaches used to do when it came to Barcelona. So when Barcelona was so good, when Chavi and in Yasser used to play and mess and they would all go through the middle, what would coaches do? They would flad the middle and force Barcelona to play through the wings. Because then Barcelona was forced to swing in crosses and was absolutely important when it came to balls in the air. So I feel with France, because France is so devastating on the wings, with the embed on one wing and clearing back on the other. I think coaches should be doing the opposite.

They should be flooding bodies in the channels and force France to go through the middle. I don't think France has enough creativity in the middle to actually damage any defense. Because they middle to actually damage any defense because they play Choir and they also play Adrian Rabiore. Rabiol lacks the creative nerves to unlock a defense and so that's Tramany. They can pass the ball but they're always going to go through the wing. So flat the wings, force them through the middle and I think you'll be able to notify France's threat. Yeah for sure. I think that the way the way the way the way that that that that the way that that that that that that th that th thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi that thi thi thi the the the thrance thrance the the the the. the. the. the the the the. the. their the. their thi. thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi th. their they they they they they they they they they they they they their they their their their their their thr. thr. thra thra. thra. thea. thea. thea. thea. thra. thea. thra. the. the. the. the. them through the middle, and I think you'll be able to notify France's threat. Yeah, for sure.

I think that the way that France could get around that, that they've done historically is to, I think Drew needs to drop centrally deeper, hold up the ball, and then play off to the wings. They've had a lot of success in that regard. But as I mentioned, Drew, it doesn't seem like France is missing Korean Benzavon. No, they are not. And I feel like one player we're not talking about. And that's the beauty of France. They've got such strength in depth that they could easily switch out a player for another and you don't almost see a drop in quality, which is something that most other teams can say. And so another player I haven't been talking about is Antoine Grisman.

He hasn't been scoring goals, so he hasn't been getting any headlines. But I feel like his work rate and the way he helps link up the midfield with the attack has been absolutely important to France. I think he was the reason they scored second goal, that actually helped them get some kind of breathing room between themselves and the polls. And I think he was back defending, because the counter attack actually started from a bowl that he cleared. Ziru brought it down, played in Mimbape, two-nil, game over.

And I think because he hasn't been getting the goal, he hasn't been getting overlook the amount of work and the amount of a linker play. He's basically the glue in that French squad. And I think if, if you can, if you can just flood the wings, then the only other option for instance is to go through Antoine Greensman. But then he's doing so much work off the ball that I doubt he would be as effective in the final third. Oh, for sure. And th. And th. And th, for sure. And th, for sure. And th, for sure. And th. And th, for sure. And th. And th. And th. And the the th. And th. And the the th. And the th. th. the the the th. th. their their their th. their, their, their, their, their, their, their, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's the the the the the the the the their their th. th. th. thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thin, thin, their thin, their their their theean, their their their their their their their their their their thean. their their the. He would be as effective in the final third. Oh, for sure, for sure. And one last thing about this game before we move on is a pet peeve mind that's been a trend lately both in club and international football is this stutter step Georginio style penalty. Please stop everybody.

Goalkeepers, stand on your line and do not move while they stutter step and generate a penalty with zero power. Stand and wait. It is so frustrating to watch these penalties. I feel like it's a trend as you said and to set it by Georgino. But I feel like what's happening right now is players are betting on the goalkeeper going down fast. For sure. Before they even hit the ball. But then if the keeper doesn't do that, if the keeper decides this is going to be a staring contest, then one of you is going to break and normally because you don't have much of a run-up and so you don't have that momentum before you strike

the ball, your penalty is going to be saved because it's going to be a slow grounder. We talked about Macy last week and rather in our last podcast and we said he's not a great penalty taker, we talked about NEMA as well, but I think they're not isolated cases. I think and that's the takeaway that's a main takeaway from this round of 16. I think bad penalties are an epidemic in football right now. It used to be in a penalty shootout, one or maybe two people would miss. But now you had Spain, three people missing, all three people missing the opening penalties. Yesterday, Japan, horrible, horrible penalties.

All of them very, very sevable. And so I think, we talked about Messi and Nehmer last week, but this is an epidemic and maybe we should be talking to a doctor for whichy. Yeah, that's right. That's right. For sure, let's move on to England versus Senegal. Garra Southgate starts Phil Foote and he rewards him with two assist and Jude Belling and puts in a man with a match, theirse......... to f f f f f. to f. to f. to f. to f. to f. to f. to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to told. to to to told, to to to to to to to to to be a to be a to be a to be a to be a to be a to be a to be a to be a to be a to be a to be a to be a to be a to be a to be a to be a to to to to to to to to to to to their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their. tolde. told. told. toe. told. toe. toe. toe. told. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. to to to toe and Jude Bellingen puts in a man with a match performance as England cruise past Senegal 3-0, setting up a mouth-watering quarterfinal versus France. England had been crying out for Phil Fodden. We talked about this in my last, in the last podcast. I was crying out for Phil Fordin. I feel a talent like him should always be

be on the pH. And kudos to Southgate for starting game because otherwise, apart from Philforden, that that that was that was that was that was that was that was that was that was that was the very very very the very the very that was a very very conservative lineup when I saw it and I saw he was starting both the Klan Rice and Henderson and on top of that he was also starting Jude Bellingham I couldn't believe it. I thought wait is England facing Senegal or are they facing Barcelona Prime Barcelona that's how conservative that line up was But he redeemed himself by starting Field Forden and I think it paid off. I feel like Senegal, much like the US, was very generous. They were let down by both their defense and their midfield. I don't think England would have gotten the goals they got against Senegal if they were playing against more

experienced and more streetwise or street smart opposition, look at the first goal. They basically let Henderson run untracked into their six-year box the Senegaries. It was very disappointing as an African because I went like, oh, where is a defensive discipline? You can't have a midfielder running and track from the midfield into your six-year box. The second goal was even more disappointing because it was towards half-time, 44th minute, you're hoping and praying. Let's take it back into the dressing room when it's one nil. Then we can strategize and come up with a game plan. And then at that point, Judy Beringham got the ball and they let him run through their midfield. They had two opportunities to commit tactical fouls to bring him down so that

they could reorganize. They passed up both opportunities. I don't think a South American team or a more streetwise European team would have let Jude-Berringham get away with that. They would have, Sygiorimos would have put him on the deck immediately. But the Senegalis showed their, I think, tournament in their, in experience in experience in experience in experience in experience in experience in experience in experience in experience in experience in their, in their, in their, in theegalese showed their, I think, tournament in experience in that particular moment and now you're going into half-time, you tin-null down, game over. Third goal as well, again, a bit like the U.S. defensive naivety because the ball comes in from the side and Bukayosaka waited for, I think, an edge. It felt like centuries in that box. And the left back was off doing, God knows what.

Again, there's no way you're making that mistake at this level, and you're not getting punished. And I feel like the Senegalese let themselves down. I feel like they missed having a play like Sardio Money in the team. I feel like their defense, which is being being being being being being being being being being being being being being being being being being being being being being being being being being being being being being their their their their their their their the team. I feel like their defense, which is being marshaled by two very experienced players. You have made in goal and Kulibali in the heart of that defense. I think they should have done better. Again, you say defending is very collaborative.

I think they should have screamed and yielded and talked a bit more. They paid the price. And for the the the price, for the price, for their their their their their their their their, for me, for me, for me, for me, for me, for me, for me, for me, for me, for me, for me, for me, for me, for me, for me, for me, for me, for me, for me, for me, for me, for me, for me, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, the., thean., their, their, their, their, their, the US. I feel like if you're going to go out at this stage, it's better if you go out because the other team was too brilliant as opposed to you going out because you're either in discipline in defense or naive or otherwise through some kind of mistake. For sure. Obviously, Senegal missed Saudi Oman. I think the world, all the fans, all the fans, all the fans, all the fans, the fans, the fans, the fans, the fans, their their their their their their their their their their their tooome, tooome, tooome, too, too, too, too, too, too, too, too, too, to too, to to to to to to to to to to to me. to me. to me. to to me. to me. to to to me. to to me. to me. too. too. too. And, too. And, too. And, too. And, too, too, too, too, too, too, too, too. their their their their their the.e.e.e.e. too. too. too. too. too. too. too. It is too. It I think the world, all the fans of the world missed such a wonderful player. But again, England were dominant. Like you, you tou tou, you tou tou, a thing that really stood out to me,

was Harry Kane, and how Harry Kane is, I think, one of the two unique strikers in the world. I think he's the only other player that you could call a nine and a half who drops so deep to facilitate and influences a game so much when he's not scoring goals. The only difference between I think Harry Kane and Benzema is when Benzema starts a move deep and plays Vinny through he somehow magically arrives in the box to also finish the move as well. Where here obviously Henderson comes in, like you said, unmarked, but the awareness to say, hey, my number nine is at half field, let me occupy the center channel to give Bellingham an option to cut it back. Brilliant, brilliant from Henderson in that regard. I also, again, Jude Bellingham, wow. Man, this guy is the total package. to to to to to the the the the the the th. He th. He th. He th. He th. He thi. He thi. in that regard. I also again Jude Bellingham,

wow man this guy is the total package. He's he has announced himself at the big stage but I think if you're a player who watches European football you rather if you're a fan sorry yeah watches European football you're not surprised he has been a standout player at Bolivia for I think the last two seasons he's a classic box-to-box player. He's so strong, he's so fast, and he's so physically gifted that he can muscle his way from midfield to the attack. I feel like if you're English, another great piece of news from this game is that Hurricane eventually finally got onto the score-ship, like he got into the score sheet,

like he got into the score sheet, and you need, England needed Hurricane somehow rediscovering his scoring boots if they were to have a chance going further into the tournament. You can't just have a hurricane assisting and facilitating. That's not his job description. His job description is put the ball in the net, and I feel like that

goal, because sometimes if you're a strike and you're struggling for goals, sometimes that one goal can just reopen the floodgates for you. Absolutely. So now it's England, France in the quarterfinal. It's going to be box office. Who do you have going through? I think I have France going through, but I think this game is ironically, particularly suited to Garry Southgate's conservatism. I feel like Garry Southgate always goes negative, regardless of the opposition, but I think like for once, if he decides to employ negative tactics to counter the threat of France, everyone in England will understand. So I think threat of France, everyone in England will understand.

So I think this game France will win because France, I feel, has got way too many weapons to hurt England. And England doesn't have the same amount of offensive weapons. I feel France has also the defensive weapons to actually neutralize England's attack and England doesn't have the same, the other side. But I feel like this game, if there's a game that was almost that was that was that was th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. thi thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, the thi, the game, thi, thi, their thi, the game, their their their their their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, France, France, France, France, France, France, France, France, France, France, France their their their their their their the game, the game, the game, the game, the game, the game, the game, the game, the game, their their their thi. their thi. thi. thi. thi. their thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. their their their 't have the same the other side. But I feel like this game, if there's a game that was almost tailor-made for Gareth's Southgate and his negativity, Garry-Southgate and his conservative tactics, I think it's this particular quarterfinal. Oh, for sure. I agree. Great match-up. I do have France going

through as well. But you never know what ends up happening in these games. I feel like it's going to be nervy. I think it's going to be like one of those Champions League final games where people are going to be hesitant to take chances and I feel like it's going to take a little time, people are going to take a little time to get out of the shell and then, all it takes it takes it takes it takes it takes it takes changes. So again, going with France, but I think it's going to be a great game. It's going to be a mouth-watering battle, an intriguing mouth-watering battle between Killian Mbapi and Kyriwoker, because both of them are like super-paccy. Both of them are probably some of the fastest players who are playing the game today. And it's going to be an intriguing titanic battle between the two of them.

Let's move on to Croatia versus Japan. After beating Germany and Spain in the group stage, Japan fall to Croatia on penalties. After falling behind one nileteen, Horatius side get themselves back into match and force penalties where they come out victorious. I felt bad for Japan. I feel like they have put together a run in this particular tournament that deserved maybe beat more reward, maybe another round because remember they beat Spain and Germany and they qualified as top of a group that had Spain and Germany in it. This was a group of death. They were not supposed to make it top of a group that had Spain and Germany in it. This was a group of death.

They were not supposed to make it out of this group. They did. And then they ran into a Croatian side that is experienced at this level. They've been there done that. They have so many old war horses, Maudrich, Brozovic. These players have been there done that. And you could see it when when they when when when when when when they went they went they went they went they went they went they went one nil down. They didn't panic. Even Peresik, they knew that they could bounce back. And remember the last World Cup, Croatia kept advancing simply by

winning their penalty shootouts. Now they lost one of their best penalty takers back then. the former Barcelona midfielder, Racketeach. Even, yeah, even Racketeach, he was always their last penalty taker, their base penalty. They lost him from that World Cup, but they are still as experienced and they still know what it takes. And guess what?

Now they have a goalkeeper who stops penalties for fun. I felt like the Japanese penalties were all terrible. Again, the thing you've said, they try to hope and pray that the keeper goes the wrong way. You should pick your spot and you should put the ball in the sport regardless of where the keeper goes. I was talking to a friend of mine and I was asking him, why don't players try to put the ball in the roof. And he said, oh, because there's always always always always always always always might actually sky it and goes over the crossbar. And I was of the opinion that I would rather my penalty goes over the crossbar than it be saved by the goalkeeper. Because when you try to go high, a keeper has no chance of saving your penalty because no keeper tied was going up. And I remember one of my favorite strikers, one of my favorite strikers and favorite penalty takers, Alan Shidae always always always, their, their, their, thi, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, thu, thi, thui, thi, thi, thi, their, tho, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, the penalty, the penalty, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, is is their, is their, is their, is their, is their, is their, is their, their, the, thoomoomoomorrow, thoomorrow, thoooooomorrow, thoooooomorrow, thooomorrow, thoomorrow, thoomorrow, takers, Alan Shida, he always used to

go high. And he never missed a penalty, I think his entire career, or maybe he missed one or two. But he had a consistent record of always, always putting the ball in the net. And when you look at the Japanese penalties, all of them were on the ground, all of them easily, easily saved. And it was heartbreaking because I feel like Japan deserved a lot more, not solely because they played such great football, but also because they have the best fans at any world gap. I agree. I think that the other thing to that, I don't know what it is. It's always a pressure, the most pressure you can feel as a professional athlete in any sport, it seems like it's easy,

but it's all mental taking a penalty. I don't know what it is. It's It's a pressure. It's a pressure. It's a pressure. It's a pressure. It's a pressure. It's a pressure. It's a pressure. It's a pressure. It's a pressure. It's a pressure. It's a pressure. It's a pressure. It's a pressure. It's a pressure. It's a pressure. It's a pressure. It's a pressure. It's a pressure pressure pressure pressure. It's a pressure. It's a pressure. It's a pressure. It's the pressure. It's the pressure pressure pressure. It's the pressure. It's a pressure. It's a pressure. It's a pressure. It's the pressure. It's the pressure. It's the pressure pressure pressure pressure pressure. It's the pressure. It's the pressure. It's the pressure. It's the pressure. It's the pressure. It's the pressure. It's the pressure. It's the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the easy, but it's all mental taking a penalty. I don't know where it is. It's a simple psychological battle between you and the goalkeeper. And the goalkeeper is under absolutely no pressure because the goalkeeper can concede all five and everyone will understand. So the pressure is always on the kicker and the goal to just need to save one or two. And then they become the hero. I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the pressure is the pressure is always. the pressure is always. the pressure is always. the pressure is always. the pressure is always the pressure is always the pressure is always the pressure is always the pressure is always. the pressure is always the pressure is always the pressure is always the pressure is pressure is pressure is pressure is pressure is pressure is pressure is pressure is pressure pressure pressure pressure pressure pressure pressure pressure pressure pressure. the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the taker. taker. taker. taker. taker. taker. I taker. I taker is. I taker is. I taker is always. I taker is always their taker is always taker is always their taker is always. their pressure is always. their their takerto save one or two. Right. And then they become the hero. Yeah, it's like, I have this thing where I look at the face of the taker as they're lining

up and I predict if they're going to make it or miss it. And I'm right more than I'm wrong. You see a guy like, Christian and Rinaldo this guy is automatic and he is and then you see like you see the look on some of these and again some of these guys are kids I mean they're like 20 years old 22 years old like it's a huge responsibility with a weight of a country on it it's a huge huge responsibility England in the euro's prime example you know and you players, take the penalties who want to take the penalty than my more skilled players who are afraid of the moment. Some people would say the players are not chosen at random.

You know, they practice the penalties. And going by the results at a training ground, then the court decides who his prime penalty takers will be. But, Judge, as we always said, I think we've talked about this before in the hallways of the daily show. It's very, very hard to simulate the pressure and atmosphere in a live game when you're on the training ground. When you're on the training ground, you don't have fans booing and chanting. You don't have that lonely, that lonely, the the the only only only only only only only only only only only very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very and chanting. You don't have that lonely walk, that lonely, very, very lonely walk from the center line all the way to the box. So the conditions, the lab conditions at the training ground are far removed from the real

life conditions on the pitch. So even when the coaches go like, okay, this is the player who converted the most penalties when we practiced our penalty kicks on the training ground, it feels like the penalty kicks on the training ground are in a more controlled environment and so and not a reflection of the pressure you're going to be under the pressure cooker that's actually taking a penalty in a real game. Let's take a quick break. We'll be right back. Let's move on to see who Croatia will face in the quarter-final matchup. Brazil put on a show and they dominate South Korea, four-to-one, setting up the quarter-final match of Croatia. Can Brazil be stopped. I have to begin by saying I felt bad for South Korea. I felt like they had the

misfortune, the terrible, terrible misfortune of running into this Brazilian team. No one wanted to run into this Brazilian team so early. If South Korea had somehow avoided Brazil, they probably might have made it into the next one because then they would have been facing Switzerland. That's a far better prospect than facing Brazil. I think Brazil is a hard team to stop. I think we've talked about Brazil being the favorites. In the last podcast and I think I'll reach the same message in this podcast. Brazil are without a doubt, everyone's favorites.

It's such a solid team at the back. And yet they are also very very very very very very very very very very very very very their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their, their, their, tapylapylapyterliphouseath. today. today. tome. tieck. tooes. tooes, too. too. too. tom. tom. tom. tom. tom. tom. tom. tie. tie. tie. tie. tie. tie. tie. tie. It's tiel. It's. It's tiel. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's tiefe. It's te. It's te. It's te. It's te. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's te. It's te. It's te. It's a te. It's they are also very devastating on the wings and they have the creativity of Neima in the middle of the park and then they have Richelison who is converting and he converts at a far more efficient rate for his national team than he does for his club to retain a more superbow. So I think they're very unsuperable and of course if you manage to go past Casimillo and you manage to go somehow past Tiago Silver in defense and Marquino's, then you have to deal with the wall that's Allison. And Brazil has such strength in depth that even their second-based goalkeeper, their second option as a goalkeeper could be starting for most of the other teams in the tournament. So without a doubt, Brazil, and you can't see that they're in their groove now.

They're having fun, they are dancing. I've heard some people say it's disrespectful, but I don't think it is because I think when you score a goal, then you've earned the right to celebrate any way you want. If people don't want to celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrate celebrate 't want to celebrate, then they should be stopping you from scoring the goal. And I also feel like maybe there's a bit of a cultural misunderstanding. Some people see Brazilian players dancing and they think it's disrespectful, especially like I think pandas from the west. But Brazilians, that's who they are. They dance, they jiggle, they have fun. You know, they always, we call them the samba boys, because that's that's that's that's th is thi thi thi is who thi, thi, they're, they're, they're, they're, they're, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, th., th. the. thease. thea. thease. thea. thea. thea. thea. thease. thease. thea. that's who they are. For them, soccer is not so much a game as it is a lifestyle. You know, we talk about Yoga Bonito. They're having fun and that's a very, very dangerous Brazil.

Every time you see Brazil having this kind of fun, that means a mean business. The last time I saw Brazil having this kind of fan was in 2002 when they had the famous Rinaldino. the last their they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they had the famous three hours, you know, Ronaudo, Rinaldo Ronauddinio, and you remember they were dancing and they end up winning the tournament. So for me, I think they're the team to beat and I think good luck to Croatia trying to stop this team.

But of course, Croatia, as I said, might just have the tools or the tournament know how to pose a threat or to pose at least a big enough roadbrook for Brazil. But this Brazilian team man, I see them going and go the way. And remember, I'm a guy who wants Miss to win it, but Macy needs to go past this Brazian team somehow. My one last question about this game is other than Brazilian manager Tite, who had had the best, the best, the best, the best, their, their, their, their, the, the, the, the, the, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, tie, tie, tie, thi, thi, tie, tie, too, too, tomombsen, tombsen, tombsen, tom., tian, tom., is, is, is, is, is, is, is, is, is tian, is tian, is tian, is tian, is tian, is tomomomomomomomomomomomometeen, is tian, is tometeen, is tombs., is too, is tooe, is tooe, is ta, is ta, is together, is together, is together, is together, together, together, together, together, is a together, is together, is together., is today., is other than Brazilian manager Tite who had the best goal dance celebration. Who had you really see the thing about Tite dancing with these players and again I'm going to happen about how much fun the Brazians are having you really see coaches do that so the players will go dance and all that and then the coach will remain extremely professional and very buttoned up and we're like oh no the the job is not yet done. We can't be having fun yet.

But you could see when they rent to him, that even he is going like, he's a boat into this, I feel like we're here to have fun. So which means the pressure is off both tactically and on the pitch. And that makes, you donthe nerves are always jangling. At this level in the World Cup, every match becomes a pressure cooker. So if you see your opponent having fun and enjoying themselves, then you just know you're in trouble. I felt, I like, I like, frankly, I liked Lucas Pacetta's dance.

Yeah, it was good to see a white boy with rhythm. He's Brazilian. He's white, but also you have to remember he's Brazilian. So it was fun to see him having some rhythm. I think we can both agree that we have Brazil going through as our picks for the quarterfinal, yeah? Yes, I think it's going to be a Brazil-Agentina semifinal, which is a repeat of the Copa America, and that is going to be extremely exciting for every football fan, not just in South America, but all over the world. Moving on to Spain versus Morocco, an organized Moroccan side holds Spain to a nil-nil draw.

It goes to penalties where Spain failed to convert a single penalty, Morocco or through the quarterfinals. Disappointing for Spain,, disappointing for Spain. They thought they could. They hoped they would make a deeper run. But they ran into the informed team for me of the tournament besides Brazil. Morocco have just considered one goal, unbeaten in this particular World Cup, top their group, which no one expected them to do. And I've been on a run ever since this new coach came on,

Wally Dregragy. He replaced Vahid Varholzik, who had had a falling out with most of the squad, had a falling out with Karim Zieg. The first thing the new coach did was integrate ZH, his most creative player into the team. And I think you could see how much it's paying off. The first thing I love about Morocco is they're a proper tournament team. When you come into a tournament, and Americans always say this, but it holds true in soccer especially. When you talk to American football fans, they will tell you, offenses win your championships. And Morocco has perhaps the tightest defense in the entire tournament.

They don't give away goals. They don't give away chances cheaply. You have to work for almost every inroad you make in this team. And they are protected by, for me, one of the most underrated players in this particular tournament. And that's Amrabat, Sophia and Amrabat. He's been a machine in that midfield. He covers loads loads of ground.

He covers almost every blade of grass every time he plays. And then they have the outlet, you know, in Karim Z, in ZH, in Ilnestri, they have enough enough in Boffal. They have enough players who can also help them release the pressure when the ball is kicked upfield. But for me, I think the key to their success and the key that's going to be, and what's going to remain key to their success going forward

is their defense. So long as you're playing a tournament, and you don't concede, you always have the chance, you it goes into penalties or not, you always have a chance you can sneak a goal or maybe your rival, your opponent will make a mistake. So long as you keep it tight at the back, you always have a shot and I feel like Morocco at least understood the assignment when it comes to that. That's right you got to keep it sight in a tournament like Greece 2004. Exactly one almost every game all they nil all the way to the final and they won

the final as well, one nil. That was a proper tournament team and I feel like almost Morocco is replicating that kind of form. Absolutely. And I'd like to say for the record it is on tape. I did predict this outcome. You did call you. And before I get into Spain, I just want to say, Morocco were absolutely fantastic. They executed the game plan to perfection. Stay compact. Let Spain have the ball. Spain had 77% of the ball to their 23%. They were passing it sideways and backward, rarely looked a threat.

And they took to the game the penalties and they won the game. By the way, their coach their coach their coach their coach their coach their coach their coach their coach their coach their coach their coach their coach their coach their coach their coach their coach their coach their coach their coach took over over their their their their tooke over over over their their their their their their their the game the penalties and they won the game. By the way, their coach took over just last August. So he's been with the team barely three, four months. But you can't see that they buy into his philosophy. You can't see the impact has had on the team. And he's a former defender. So he understands how important defense is when you're playing tournament football. ball. He hasn't lost a game. That's the most impressive thing because he came on, played a bunch of friendlies, but he hasn't lost a game, even through the friendlies. So this run that he has, some people will say, oh, this is a fairy tale Cinderella run. No, this is

something that has had in place ever since he took over. And it's going to be very, very interesting to watch Portugal try to break down this Moroccan team. Oh, for sure. And, you know, I totally agree with that. We'll get that into the into the quarter of final in a sec. I just want to say a final thought on Spain. I think they're too rigid with their philosophy. You know, the blueprint to beat a tiki ticketaka side is pretty well documented. And th. And tho. And tho. And the tho, tho, tho, to to to to to the to be to be thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. th-I I's th-I's th-I's thin-I's thi. thi. th-a, th-s, th-like, th-like, th-in-s, th-s, th-s, th-s, thi, thi, thi, thi-s, thi-s, thi-s, thin, thin, thin, thin, thin, thin, thin, thin, thin, thin, thin, thi-s, thi-s, thi-s, thin, thin, thin, thin, tota-s. I's-s. I'm tota-s. I'm toteea. I'm totea. I'm tote. I'm tote. I'm tote. t beat a tiki tie tiki taca side is pretty well documented and they don't have the extra difference maker playing that style to make it work they don't have a messy over al Dino you know someone who you know or for that matter Javi and Niniesta you know those types of players to kind of really execute it so it's really easy for teams to sit back. Wait for the chances hit him on the break or in a the tournament. Or in a the the the the the the the the th. And th. You. You. You. You. th. th. tha. tha. tha. the. the. the. the. the. the. tha. the. the. the, you. the. their. the, you. the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. the. the. tie. tie. tie. tie. tie. tie. tie. te. te. te. te. te. te. te. te. tip. tip. tip. tip. tip. tip. tip. tip. tip. tip. tip. tip. tip really easy for teams to sit back, wait for the chances, hit him on the break, or in a tournament, you know, plates, penalties and win the game. And I think that they need to replace Luis Enrique with a new manager who's willing to play a more, keep the ticky-taca elements of having

the ball, but also in moments, be prepared to be more direct when the situation's off offer themselves. I feel like that's a Luis Enrique's gift and curse. He's so stubborn. Yeah. And when he's wedded to a style, he's wedded to the style. You want I switch it up just because maybe things are not going well. In this game, I feel like there was lots of two-threes possession-based Ticat attacker just for the sake of possession. At some point you can pass the ball, pass the ball, but at some point you need that forward thrust. You need to stab. You can't just pass the vocals.

Then what the defense does is it just keeps its shape and keeps its structure and they know you will never be able to go past them. So Spain, too much possession, but not enough of that killer instinct to actually make it count. The final thing I'll say about Spain before we move on is that obviously some of the older players like Buschett's and maybe Jordi Alba. This was the last World Cup. And even though I love the phenomenal talents of Padre and Gavi, they sometimes

struggle to compete with like bigger, stronger opponents, guys like Bellinghamville, Verde, Duameny, kind of more of the modern prototype of a modern day midfielder. So it's going to be interesting to see moving forward how they can combine with some of these young talents and maybe try to adapt to kind of a more physical, modern game. Because obviously the talent at Spain is there. I think Spain is facing the same issue going into 2026 that the US is facing. They need to find a striker.

And as you say, the way they play, the way the game in Spain is evolving. It almost feels like clubs no longer need strikers. Because they play false nines and half-nines and they try to cram as many midfielders in every squad as they can. And so you can't see that they're being left behind. Spain used to produce some of the best strikers in the world, but you can't see because of the evolution of football philosophy in Spain. And that was started by Pepegood, you know, it was started, of course, by Joanne Criff,

and then Pep Gardiera moved it and modernize it to the next level. You can't tell by that evolution that Spain is paying the price. Because Spain doesn't have a striker at the same level as Hurricane. Spain doesn't have a striker who you can count on to come and make make a to make a to make a to make a to make a the to make a the and make a difference because the league has evolved to become this midfield heavy league that almost always makes strike us feel like second-class citizens. Now for sure. So here we go we got one more matchup in the round of 16 in Portugal start Gonzalo Ramos in the

place of Christiano Ronaldo who scores a hat-trick and Portugal dominate Switzerland's six to one and coast in the place of Cristiano Ronaldo who scores a hat trick and Portugal dominates Switzerland's 6 to 1 and coast into the quarter finals. Did Gonzalo Ramos brilliant performance earn a starting nod in the quarter of quarterfinals? Without a doubt it was a gatsy, gatsy bold call, almost risky call from the Portuguese manager. You don't ever bench your best player in such a critical game. But I think Ronaudo, despite everything he has done, brilliant career, one of the best players I've ever played the game. He had a stinker against South Korea in the last game, and

I feel like that gave the coach enough justification to put him on the bench. Because I always felt like for all his gifts, he was holding Portugal back. Because Portugal is a very dynamic fluid team, very cohesive unit. But when Ronaldo is playing, almost every, he's like a black hole because almost every play has to be channeled through him. He's that big of a character, he's that big of an influence that all the players keep looking for him. It's almost the same problem that sometimes Barcelona used to have with Messi or that Agenda has with Messie now. You try to channel every attacking play through your best player. And so when they took him off, again, Gatsy called, I didn't think that Santos had it in

him to make that call, but when it paid off, it took 17 minutes for it to pay off. Brilliant, brilliant goal. He had no angle Gonzalo Ramos, but he somehow found a way past the goalkeeper and then he later went on to score. Also, by the way, had an assist. For me, probably the most complete performance by any player this world cup. I felt for the Swiss and maybe they got bamboozled by the fact that Ronaldo didn't play.

Because remember, all throughout the last four days, they have spent every training session preparing and strategizing for a Portugal team that had Ronaldo in it. Now imagine their shock when they turned up and there was this player no one had ever had of. Because remember Gonzalo-Ramos actually had this was just his fourth cup he's the least experienced player in the Portuguese team so when they were if they were going to bench Ronald you expected maybe Andre Silva to come on but but Santos tramped and went for the most experienced player it played off but I I think I feel like Switzerland was bamboozled.

Because the moment they crossed that white line, then the entire game plan went out of the window. Because the player they had been preparing for, wasn't on the pitch. And then the player who was taking this place, was a player no one knew anything about. So if you're a defender in that instance, you're going like, wow, no one told me about this guy in the strategy meeting, you're all of a sudden trying to go through your phone to find out

what's this guy's strength. Is he left footed or right footed? Is he good in the air or not? What's like, so it's, it almost like throws your entire game. And I feel like Switzerland paid the price because they had organized and strategies for a different game than they ended up playing. For sure. I mean I think Portugal looked really good both with the ball and in transition. Like you said, very complete performance. It makes you think that they could go toe toe with a Brazil or France if they were

to meet further in the tournament. Really, really impressive stuff. I think Spain should take notes about how to play a more modern brand of football. It's a side way to see Ronaldo go, because you would have wanted him to have a primary role, to play a bigger, more prominent role at his World Cup. In fairness, he has carried this team all through the other World Cup. In fairness, he has carried this team all through the other World Cup, so maybe his duress. But when I was watching the game, and with every goal that Gonzalo scored, you could see the chances of Ronau actually making it back into the starting 11 window with each goal, like the last goal, that was a goal scored by a player brimming with confidence

in a World Cup for a heart trick and he just dinked it over the goalkeeper. So for me, I feel like Portugal, prior to this, were facing the same problem that Manchester United has been dealing with, how do you build your team around a player whose age, which by the way is no fault of his, because father time comes for us all, but a player whose age makes him a liability when you don't have the ball? Because Ronaldo can't track back the way say Gonzalo Ramos can. Rona doesn't give you anything. He can't press the defenders because he has to conserve his energy. And he doesn't give you anything. He can't press the defenders because he has to conserve his energy. And he doesn't give you, because Messi doesn't do that all that, but Messi gives you something

off the ball or when he has the ball. Messie can create for other players. Ronald only contributes when he is scoring. And this World Cup, he has only scored one goal, it was off a dubious penalty against Ghana in the opening game. He has gone missing in all the other games. So if a player is not contributing through the only avenue he can contribute, then he has to go on the bench, sorry. And then when you bring in a youngster like Gonzalo Ramos, and he scores with a kind of ease that he did,

yet he can also give you other things when he doesn't have the ball, when he's not scoring, he can can can can can can can can can can can can can can the the the the the the the the the the the the then, he can can can can can can can can the the the the ball, when he's not scoring, he can defend, he can press, he can track back, then it becomes very hard for a player like Ronaldo to stay in the team. I think Eric Tenhag did the same when he brought in Marshall and preferred Rashford and preferred even Elanga for Ronald. It was because of that. Elanga will defend, Rushford would track back. And Ronardo, through no fault of his, his, he. He, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he. It. It, he. It, he. It, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, it, it, it, it, it, it, it becomes, it becomes, it becomes, it becomes, it becomes, it becomes, it becomes, it becomes, it becomes, it becomes, it becomes, it becomes, it becomes, it, it, it, it becomes, it, it, it, it, it, it, it, it, it, it, it, it is is, it, it is. It is. It is, it. It is. It is. It is. It is. It is. It is. It is. It is. It is. It is. It is. It. It. It is. It is. It is. It is. It is. It is. It's. It's because, he. It's because, he. It's because, he's because, he's because, he's because, he's because, he's because, he's because, it's because, he's because, it's because, he's because, it's because, he. It's because, he. Itrap Bath, and Ronaldo, through no fault of his, through no fault of his, his, you know, it's the age, father the time comes for ushold,

and it's sad to see a player of such greatness, also succumbing too further time. Because sometimes you watch plays like Ronald and miss, and you think, oh, they'll go on forever. But then, this is a reminder the the reminder, the yes, at the end of the day for the time, there's no way running, there's no running from him, however first you are on the beach. Absolutely. As a Real Madrid fan, Cristiano Ronaldo has brought to me a lot of joy. I love joy in my life and I appreciate all of that, but it's timed for Gonzales to take more featured role. So it's lead to a prediction, a stout Morocco team,

an organized Morocco team meet a really good-looking Portugal squad in a quarterfinal, who do you have going through? I have Portugal simply because they have the kind of tournament experience at this level that Morocco can only dream about. When you look at the player like Pepe, who was drafted in because Daniro broke his ribs. He wasn't supposed to be starting this game, but he don't really start the game,

but he was a rock in defense and then scored a towering header to put Portugal to kneel up. A player like him has played in way more world caps than Morocco, any of the Moroccan players has ever been in. And I feel like that's going to be critical. He plays alongside Drubin Diaz, who plays big games a week and out for Man City. And so I'll give it to Portugal. Portugal were way too cohesive a unit today.

They were so dynamic and so thrilling as a unit that it would be almost full hard to them. But as I said, Morocco doesn't concede, they don't score as well, but they don't concede, and you know what they're going to be doing? If they take it into half-time at Neil Neil, then Portugal will be facing the kinds of questions they didn't face against a Switzerland. For sure. I have Portugal going through as well, though. I do think that Morocco

has the ability to make it interesting. A few more questions before we go. Joe, who do you think your best player of the tournament has been to this day? The best player of the tournament, I think Leonimbape, without it out, I'm a messy fan, but Kean Imba is having way too much fan. He's scoring goals for fun and he's scoring brilliant goals. He also plays in a really good French team, so maybe that takes a bit away from him. Olivier Jiru has also been contributing, but Mbape has been unstoppable. He has produced the way everyone expected him to produce.

So, without a doubt, I would go for him. Messie, a close, second. And I say close second because Messie deals with the kind of attention from the opposition that Mbape doesn't receive. So Mesey, every time he receives the ball, he's swarmed by a battalion of opponents. Mbape gets the ball. First of all, he plays on the wing so he's always isolated against his wing back, which makes it easy. If Mese was always facing one on one, I think it would cause a lot more damage, but Mesa always has like six, five players always rushing towards

him every time he gets the ball. So Mbappe for me, but Mese a very, very, very close second. So are we both sticking by our predictions that it's looking like a Brazil and France final, and that's what we're all looking forward to? My heart, as I said, is an Argentina France final, but going by the results from the last round, I think Brazil are going to go past Croatia, which means they will face Argentina in the same is, and I think they will have way too much for that Argentina team. I feel like Brazil has the solidity to actually neutralize Messi the entire game. And then they have the weapons to hurt that Argentine backline. It's needless to say, it will be an exciting round in the quarterfinals.

There's so much to look forward to. It's been the the the the the the th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. thi th. thi thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. tho. tho. thoes. thia. thoes. thoes. to to to be to be to be to be to be to be thoes. I will will will will will will will will will will will will will will will. thoe. thoe. thoe. I thoe. thoe. I thoe. th. th. I th. th. thoe. the. the. toe. toe. the. too. the. the. the. the. to ta. ta. ta. tea. tea. tea. tea. tea. tea. toda. tea. tea. tea. There's so much to look forward to. Joe, it's been great breaking down the round of 16 with you. Always a pleasure, my friend. Always a pleasure. This has been the Daily Show recap of the World Cup. I'm George Guntas. And I'm Joe Opio. See you next time. For more on the Daily Show Weeknights at 11, 10 Central on Comedy Central and stream full episodes

anytime on Paramount Plus. This has been a Comedy Central podcast.