World Cup Round of 16 Analysis with TDS Soccer Experts Joe Opio & George Gountas

super fan Joe Opio. The World Cup is underway, and we thought we dropped a bonus podcast episode breaking down the Round of sixteen and giving you our predictions for the quarterfinals. Will begin with a disappointing performance of the United States versus the Netherlands. The Dutch make easy work of the Americans with a three one victory. What are

your take worries from the Game Show? 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. Um My take away from the US game? First of all, I thought the US was killed mainly by primary school boy eras in defense the Waki by cut backs from the Dutch. Nobody. 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're going to cut it back, and the US took the first option. They always went to defend the ball right across the first of goal, but then they forgot the trading runners and they ended up paying twice for their mistakes. The second goal. The first goal, I mean it was Tyler Adams who failed to track Memphis the Pie because Memphis the Pi started the move but then

ran right past Adam. Adams 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 the play a bit more uncomfortable. But that was goal number one. Goal number two again, another ball to Denzel Damn Freeze. Again, another cut back, and this time it was another oh US is more talented players as a junior,

Days was caught napping by Dell Blend. The last goal, I think I think they written by that point they had scored a very for truitous um first goal. But I think by that time they always had given up the game, and I thought, again it was more school boy errors in defense because when the cross came in from Dell blend Uh, 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 dan Freese 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 school boy errors. My other tack I was how reactive Greg bell Halt was because I thought and I talked. We talked about

this in our last last podcast. G ring should have started the game, especially because American laxis Wriker, so they could have played Geo maybe as a false night. Oh, they could have sort a team were into the number nine position and then let during a play as a number ten. But they didn't bring him on till they already turnel down. For me, that's very very reactive from the manager. I feel like the court should always take initiative.

You try to take the initiative, try to force your opponent into playing, not not instead of your reacting to the way they play. And I think Louis and talked about it in his post much press conference. He said the US failed to adapt um and when Gregg bel to try to adapt, it was way too late. So for me again, I'm going to go back to what I hoped to about what I happened 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 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 needed far more proactive manager. And I think Gregg is way too reactive and way too conservative for his own good. I have to agree with you on that.

I mean, starting with vanhal comparatively to Burr Halter, Van Halla guy coached I X Barcelona, US of Byron Munich, Manchester United, the biggest clubs in the world. He has he has forgotten Moska. Yeah first, yeah for sure. So now you sit there, and it was a simple game plan from Van Hall. He knew that the US would struggle to break them down. They allowed the US to have possession, US had of the ball to the Netherlands

forty one. They just sat patiently and waited for their moments. Uh. That was the first note that I agree with you on his that Van Hall definitely how coached. Burr Halter again completely agree about the being reactive. I mean, we waited till almost stoppage time and down three one to pull a defender and play three at the back and

just throw caution to the wind. In general, I feel like I wanted a more and more desperate performance once you went down from the Americans, and it just seemed like there was a little minute, a company spell where when they kind of scored the fortunate goal, there was there was another moment where someone rounded the keeper and probably should have done better. Uh. But yeah, for sure that led lack of desperation. And and then it was

I think it was had you right again. It was a loose ball ball from Memphis, the pie that's around the keeper and he tried his best, but again his first touch to him too far away, too far, and basically you know, lost him the angle. But you're right, yes, yeah, And so again to go and then another thing, just to kind of continue what you said, is that the

defensive mistakes. Obviously, you know optional defending, but I think when 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, um. I think that's also an inability to communicate. I think that a center back, if you're like playing on a team with let's say a Sergio Ramos or or just and more expandence center back, they're gonna be yelling and

directing and talking. I feel like it was like nobody. Nobody was talking, and in the end it's it's easy to blame the person who had that responsibility, but I think defending is a collective. Uh 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 wasteball in front of goal. And when you're an underdog in this regard playing a better team, you have to

you have to take your chances every chance. We all know this. The USA actually outshot the Dutch seventeen to eleven, seventeen to eleven, with more shots on target eight to six. The Dutch were clearly more clinical and deserve to win the game. But when you're playing, like we said, better side, you need to take in fort the opportunities. Had Poolicitch converted that early chance, it changed, it would have gained

the complexion of the game. Yes, but also and I think this, it's crazy to talk about the US and not shooting well, shooting effectively given the gun virus for me in the country. But yeah, I think the US is this protect for a striker can put the chances away, and I feel like they're lucky because they have such a striker. Actually, Ricardo Peppy wasn't called up for the national team, but we can't go into the selections now, but I feel like Ricardo Peppy plays in the Dutch league.

He makes he has made a habit out of scoring against that your position. He should have been in the team. I think enough acres of ink have been wasted writing about Greg Baratta'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 six. Let's move on to Argentina versus Australia. Argentina be Australia to the one to set up an interesting quarterfinal matchup with the Netherlands. Many expected this to be in walk in the park

for Argentina, but it was anything but. Well organiz Australian side made Argentina work for the way. I think the thing I took away from this is again Messy delivered, and I think a Jentana are going to need him to deliver each and every game if they're going to have a chance. He has been delivering big, big, huge, huge, decisive goals in every game he delivered. His scored against ad 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 the married Mary. I think had massle overload, don't need the Maria. Clearly, when if you watch this game, you could see why the Maria is so essential to this team. But Messy again delivering that was critical. I feel like this game turned out to be a lot more tense

and a lot more nervous than should have been. We all experted. Australia is a bit like the US in that um 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's struggles in match the same way that football struggles in the US. It doesn't attract the best of the best. But I think those stradients acquitted

themselves well. I think they put up a good resistance. When Messi scored, I thought that would really be destroyer broke then, but they kept coming back and then they scored. Of course, they considered the second goal, which was a gift from their goalkeeper. He was pressured trying 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, you know, fighting back, They kept coming back, and then the scored, of course of a deflection, and I feel like I didn't had it in them to stretch the game away. Lou Tarro Martinez. I don't know what's happening, but his of firm, his confidence is totally short. He has lost his starting position to Union Alvareze, and consider that that's affecting him. He had three great chances in this game him. The first one he should have

put away. It was a simple color into decide nating, 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. Should have just back killed the ball. They played a great ball into him and then Montiel was running behind him. Should have just back killed the ball into Montreal would have been one on one with an empty net. He didn't do that, cause again the desperation and when your confidence is shot, you always snatching

a chances. He snatched at that third chance Massy played him in again, he just shot straight at the goalkeeper. A player of lauter Rose experience and pedigree, and we've seen him light up the champions retirement again. He should have expected him for 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. There was amazing run back as his beach which should have put Away back again. Great defending

from Alexandra Martinez. I think I should be playing back three because you need the three central defenders covering for each other. If if Lissandro wasn't in, that was a definite goal. And then of course Australia had a chance at the very end of the day down Yeah, yeah, aggressive by Emiliano Martinez. But this game again Igin not made such heavy work when should have been a w The only only only two positives. I feel that I

should take it from this game. Actually three is one the Maria wasn't in and they still managed to win. Two Massy still derivering. And then three and most importantly, this was the first game this entire World Cup when I felt that Druggor Depot it was almost back to his very best. This is the road Depot that we all know and love. This is the drug depole that earned himself a transfer from Mudensis to athlete commadred. This is the Rodrigo depole that helped again now win the

Copa America. And I feel like you could see that in the way he pressed the Austrian goal people to create that chance for union overies 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 from for from the Americans as under dogs. You were hoping for some intensive intensity, physicality, belief. 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 um 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 Laotara Martinez, um is Lotar Martinez, Gonzale Iguayene all of a sudden, Jesus, I mean, he's gonna lose the tournament for Argentina if they get into a spot where they need him to

put one away. You're right as confidence is in the Yeah. And again to your point about uh de Maria, I agree, and I think the coach agrees because soon after halftime they made an interesting substitution when they pulled Papu Gome as an attack in midfielder to bring all the sounder and play three at the back. And that's kind of really when Argentina became more fluid, and I think, if you know, uh, I think that going forward, that that's

something that they will turn to. I feel frankly that, um, when you look at this Identina team, Yeah, they are facing the same issue. They at least they should use the same formula they used that the Copa America, and that's you can't afford to concede. So if they can keep it near near, they can always count on the moment of magic from Massy. But they also can't afford to because I don't think they have the character to come back. I don't think they have the fossil of

weir 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 their considered three goals, and all three goals have been absolute standards in a way that they were unavailable, unavoidable. So the two goals that's Arabia put away. There's nothing in media or Martinez could have done about that. For sure, you're both like beautiful, brilliant goals. And then again as Australia, it was a standard in the sense that it deflected

and went. It was not even close to being be not closed, but the way different than went into the same knitting. There's nothing it could be 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 good if you're playing in the tournament, because tournament football is all about keeping it tight at the back and then picking

your moment when you go forward. Agreed. Agreed. And then one more thing for our American fans that are new to watching the World Cap at this moment. One thing that happened in this game that is a technical term that we like to call squeaky bum time when you have yourpe, your to one late and the city and on the end of your seat. This game for the five for for savage time, we were complete squeaky bum time for the Australian fans, but they got through it.

Argentina meets the Netherlands in the quarterfinal. We have gone through. That's going to be a tight one, but I think I know would have too much for the Dutch eventually. I think the Dutch benefited a lot from American's naivity. I don't think I, you know, will be as naive in attack. I don't think that would be as generous in defense as the Americans one. And I think the Dutch also struggle. They scored three goals against America, but 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 our getting and I don't think they have the kind of defensive middifielder or the kind of defensive discipline that can keep Leo Massy under the coach for ninety minutes. So I think you would have too much for them at the end of the day. I think Argentina is slowly going into the tournament. I think Messy and Ullian arab Braze that you can see

their chemistry is beginning to build. The Mario probably be back for this game, and I feel like the Dutch the experience was what horses. Let's say that like the coach, from the coach or through their defense Van Dye the midfield, these are players who play the biggest games week in week out in Europe. But I think I think Mrs Brilliance will be a bit too much for them. And also like you have to remember that on the left side of the Dutch, that's where they'll bring a place

and I think he's too slow. Actually think they'll bring against Messy and the Maria is the war crime waiting to happen. So unless it gets some kind of support from his wingers, I think it's going to be exposed. And if I were, if I were Lioness KARNI our specifically target they'll blind because I think he's the key weak weakness in that Dutch defense. I agreed, I have

a Argentina going through as well. I just I what I hope is that as these as you get further in the tournament that um 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 netflace. Let's take a quick break. We'll be right back. So let's move on to France versus Poland. France be polling three to one in a pretty straightforward match A second half rade from Killy and

bob Ay leads the French into the quarterfinals. I felt like the Polish will not be proud of themselves. They didn't really ton up for that game. They have one of the best strikers in the world at the moment, Robert Landowski. I don't think they fed him enough. I think he was stabbed of service um France. On the other hand, what can't we sak about France? But we have been said already them and Brazil and the favorites

to win this particular World Cup. I think the final most likely, batting any upsens will be a rep with France, Vases, Brazil, Kirian Embapy oh man, we're were we are running out of compliments in this particular world They scored so many goals and it's just twenty four and I think the goals he scored against Poland what particularly brilliant in their quality. The first one he gave the keeper the eyes was going to go to the fair post, to the near Yeah.

And then the second one he's playing he's like bringing 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 in Pappy on its wings, I think the only thing you have to do is concentrated on him, because the first goal was scored by Olivia Jero. But I think France doesn't offer as much going through the middle. I think the only creative outlet

is to go through Bay. So if you crowd the wings and forced them to go through the middle, it's almost like the only way to narify France is to do the opposite of what coaches used to do when it came to Barcelona. So when Barslona was so good, when Chevy and in yes I used to play on the mass and they would all go through the middle,

what would coaches do. They would flad the middle and force Barsona to play through the wings, because then Barsona was forced to swing in crosses and Barsona 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 them bed on one wing and cleaning up on the other, I think coaches should be doing the opposite. They should be flooding bodies in the channels

and forced France to go through the middle. I don't think France has enough creativity in the middle to actually damage any defense because they play too many and they also play ah adrianab rub your lax. They the creative now to unlock at defense, and so does so many. They can pass the ball, but they're always going to go through the wings. So flat the wings forced them through the middle, and I think you'll be able to

notify Francis great. Yeah, for sure. I think that the way that France could get around that that they've done historically is too I think Drew needs to drop centrally deeper, hold up the ball and then play off to the wings. They've they've had a lot of success in that regard um. But as I mentioned Drew, it doesn't seem like France is missing Cream Pansaba. No they're not. And I feel like one player we're not talking about, and that's that's

the beauty of France. They've got such such strengthened depth that they could easily switch out to playerff another and they don't almost see a drope in quality, which is something that most other teams can said. And so another thing I've've 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 the squad the second goal that actually helped them get some kind of breathing room between themselves and depots. And I think he was back defending because the counter atta actually started from a ball that he cleared. You brought it down played in Embapy too near game over. And I think because he doesn't mean getting the goal, he doesn't mean getting onto the score sheet is very very easy and very tempting to overlook the amount of

work and the amount of a link up play. He's basically the glue in that French squad, and I think if if you can, if you can just flat the wings, then the only adoption for instances to go through autoin Brisban. But then he's doing so much work off the ball that I doubt he would be as effective in the

final fad for sure, for sure. And one last thing about this game before we move on is a pet peet mind that's been a trend lately, both in club and and international football is this stutter step Georgenio style penalty. Please stop, everybody. Goalkeepers stand on your line and do not move while they start a step and generate a penalty with zero power. Stand and wait. It is so

frustrating to watch these penalties. I feel like a friend of I feel like it's a trend, as you said, and to set advisag you know, but I feel like what's opening right now is players betting on the goalkeeper

going down fast 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, right then one of you is going to break a Normaldy 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 ground up. We're talking about Messy last week and rather in our last podcast and we

said he's not a great penner take up. We talked about Nama as well. But I think they're not isolated cases. I think, and that's the take away from me, that's the main take away from this round of sixteen. I think bad penalties an epidemic in football right now. It used to be that 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 severable. And so I think we talked about Messi, but this is an epidemic and maybe we should be talking to Dr Fauci. Come, that's right, that's right for sure. Let's move on to England versus Senegal. Gary Southgate starts still voting and he rewards him with two assists and Jude Belling and puts in a man with a match performances.

England cruise pass Senegal three, now setting up a mouth water and quarterfinal versus France. England that had been crying out for fear for then. We talked about this in my LA in the last podcast. I was crying out for fear for then. I feel a talent like him should always be on the pitch and Kulto us two a south Gate for starting game because otherwise a partform fuel for then. That was a very very conservative lineup.

When I saw it and I saw he was starting, both they clan Rice and Henderson, and on top of that he was also starting Jude bearing Up. I couldn't believe it. I thought, wit is England facing Senegal or they facing Barcelona Barcelona. That's how conservative that lineup was. But he redeemed himself by starting field for then and I think it paid off. I feel like Senegal, much like the US, was very generous there. They were laid

down by both their defense and their midfield. I don't think England would have gotten the goals they got against Senegal if you are playing against more experienced and more streetwise or street smart position. Look at the first goal they basically late Henderson ran untracked into their six year box the Senegal It's was very disappointing as an African because I like always the defensive discipline. You can't have a midfielder running trucks from the midfield into your six

and box. The second goal was even more disappointing because it was towards halftime forty minute you're hoping and praying, let's take it back into the dressing room when it's one year. Then we can strate gaze and come up with a game plan. And then at that point you bring him, 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 you bring him get away with that. They would have side your remos would have cast. You would have put him on the day immediately. But the Senega showed there I think tournament in experience in that particular moment, and now you're going into halftime, you tinuer down game

over third goal as well. Again, it beat like the US defensive nativity because the ball comes in from the side and Boaka 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 where you're making that mistake at this level and you're not getting punished. And I felt like the Senegatives let themselves down. I feel like they missed having a player like said your money in the team. I feel like their defense,

which is being marshaled by two very experienced players. You have a mending goal and calibody in in the heart at the heart of that defense. I think they should have done better. Again, you said defending is very collaborative. I think they should have screamed and yelled and talked

a bit more. They paid the price, and for me it was very disappointing as an Africa and I guess the same Americans were disappointed by the U S. 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 disciplined in defense or naive or otherwise through some kind of mistake. For sure. Obviously Senegal miss Saudioman. I think the world, all the fans in the world

missed such a wonderful player. Um. But again, England were dominant. Like you said, you touched on a lot of the points. Um. A thing that really stood out to me, uh was Harry Kane and how Harry Kane is I think one of the two unique strikers in the world. I think here he is the only other player that you could call a nine and a half who drops so deep to facilitate and influences the game so much. When he's

not scoring goals. The only difference between I think Harry Kane and Benzema is when Benzama starts to move deep and plays Vinny throu he somehow magically arrives in the box to also finish the move as well. Where here, obviously, uh Henderson comes in, like you said, unmarked, but the awareness to say, hey, my my number nine is at half field, let me occupy the center channel to give Belling him an option to cut it back at brilliant,

brilliant from Henderson in that regard. Um I also again Jude telling him, Wow, man, this guy is the total package. He's he's he has announced himself at the big stage. But I think if you're a player who watches European football, rather if you're a fan sorry, who watches European football, you're not surprised. He has been the standout player at Publish Dottman for I think the last two seasons. He's

a classic box to box player. He's so strong, he's so fast, and it'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 a bench word finally got onto the score ship right, he got into the score shiet, And you need England needed hurricane somewhere rediscovering his scoring boats.

If you are 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 descriptions. Put the ball in the net. And I feel like that goal because sometimes if you strike and struggling for goals, sometimes that one goal can just reopen the flaggates for you. Absolutely. Um 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 Gary stuff Gates conservatism. I feel like Gary stuff get 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 this game France will win because France, I feel, has got way too many weapons to have 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 Engan doesn't have the same the other side. But I feel like this game pays a game that was almost tailor made forgot to self gate and the negativity, got to self and the conservative tactics. I think it's this particular quarter final for sure. I agree great matchup.

I do have France going through as well, um, but you never know what ends up happening in these games. I feel like it's gonna be nervy. I think it's gonna 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 gonna take a little time. People are gonna take a little time to get out of the the shell and then you know, all it takes is one mistake and everything changes. So again, going with France,

but I think it's gonna be a great game. It's good for me. It's it's gonna be a mouth of running battle, an intriguing, mouth watering battle between Kelly and Mbopy and Kyle woke up because both of them are like super super passy. Both of them are probably some of the fastest players we 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 and penalties after falling behind one nailed, unexperienced Croatian side get themselves back in the 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 a bit more reward, maybe another round, because remember they beat Spain and they beat Germany and they qualified as top of

a group that had Spain and Germany in it. This was the group of death. They were not supposed to make it out of this group. They did, and then they ran into a Russian side that his experienced at this level. They've been there than that. They have so many old war horses, Modre each Brosovich. This players have been there, done that, and you could see it when they went one day down, they didn't panic, even parisick.

They knew that they could bounce back. And remember the last World Cup, Koratia kept advancing simply by winning their penalty shootouts. Now they lost one of their best penalty take us back then, um, the former bassel on the midfielder, even even your even Racketica. He was always their last penalt taker, their best penalta. They lost him from that World Cup. But they're 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 that the Japanese penalties were all terrible. Again the thing you've said, they try to hope and play that the keeper goes the wrong way. You should pick your sport and you should put the ball in the spot, 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 they said, because there's always the risk that you might actually sky

it and it goes over the cross bar. And that was of the opinion that I would rather my penalty goes over the cross bar then it'll be saved by the goalkeeper, because when you try to go high, the a keeper has no chance of saving the pen because

not keeper dives going up. And I remember one of my favorite players, one of my favorite strikers and favorite penalty takers, Alan should I always used to go high and he never missed the penalty I think his entire career, or maybe 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 are on the ground, all of them easily, easily saved, and I it was heartbreaking because I feel like Japan deserved a lot more, not because not sorrely 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 that I don't know what it is, it's always a pressure, the most you know, one of the most pressure you can feels of fessional athlete any sport.

It seems like it's easy, but it's it's all mental taking a penalty. I don't know, it's it's simple, it's it's a simple psychological butt between you and the goalkeeper and the goalkeepers and absolutely no pressure because the goalkeeper can consider five and they don't understand right. So the press is always on the kicka and the god just needs to save one or two 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 gonna make it or miss it. And I'm right more than I'm wrong. You see a guy like Christiano Ronaldo take a deep breath, and you're like, 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 twenty years old years old. Like,

it's a huge responsibility. It's a huge, huge responsibility. England and the Euro's prime example. Uh, you know, and you can just say, like the I would rather have a person my least skilled players take the penalties, who want to take the penalty, then my that are confident than my more skilled players who are afraid at the moment. Some people who all say the players are not chosen at random, you know, the practice the penalties and going by the results at the training ground, then the court

decides who he is prime penalty as will be. But George, as we already 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 life game when you're in the training ground, because you're not. When you're the training ground, you don't have fans bowing 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 far removed from the real conditions on the pitch. So even when the coaches go like, okay, this is the player who converted the most penalties when we practiced the penalty kicks on the training ground, it feels like the penalty kicks on the training ground are in a more controlled environment and so on, are not a reflection of the pressure you're going to be under. The pressure is 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 quarterfinal matchup. Brazil put on a show and they dominate South Korea for the one setting up uh the quarterfinal match of Croatia. Can Brazil be stopped? I felt I have to begin by saying I felt bad for for South Korea. I felt like they had the misfortune, the terrible, terrible misfortune of running into this Brasilian team. No one wanted to run into this president

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 it the same message in this podcast.

Brazil are, without a doubt, if one's favorites. Is such a solid team at the back, and yet they are also very devastating on the wings, and they're the creative to name in the middle of the park. And then they have Charison who is converting, and he converts at a far more efficient rate for his national team than needers for his clubs Motorspa. So I think they're very insuperable.

And of course, if you manage to go past Casal, and you managed to go somehow past Tiago Silver in defense and Martinos, then you have to build who with the wall that's Alison, and Brazil has such strengthened depth that even the second best goalkeeper, the second they are 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're dancing partaple 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 anyway you want. If people don'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 pand is from the West. But Brazilians that's who they are. You know. They dance, they jiggle, they have fun. You know, they always they call them the sample boys because 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 the main business, and that's what my soub Brazil having this kind of fun was in two thousand two when they had the famous three hours you know, Ronaldo, Rivaldo Ronardino, and you remember they were dancing at the end, up winning the tournament. So for me, I think that the team to beat, and I think good luck to

Croatia trying to stop this team. But of course pas I said, you know, Cosia experienced, they have been there, done that. They might just have the tools or the tournament know how to pose a threat or to pause at least a big enough road broke for Brazil. But this President team, man, I see them go and go their way. And remember I'm a guy who wants mess to who in it, but Messin needs to go past

this Prasian team somehow. My one last question about this game is other than Brazilian manager Tita, who had the best goal day and celebration, who had you really see the thing about Tita dancing with his players, and again I'm going to happen about how much fun the Brasians 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 battled up, and we're gonna don't know. The job is not yet done.

We can't be having fun yet. But you could see when they ran to him that even he is going in the case of vote into this. I feel like we're here top pan so, which means the pressure is of both tactically and on the pitch, and that makes you don't want to fast an opponent because at this at this level in the World Cup, the 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 like to look as packet as dance because yeah, I just good to see a white boy with rhythm. He's Brazilian, he's white, but also you have to remember his Brasilian, so it was fun to see him having some rhythom. I think we can both agree that we have Brazil going through with our picks for the for

the quarterfinal. Yeah, yes, I think it's going to be a Brazil again in a 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, and organized Moroccan side holds Spain to a nil nil draw. He goes to penalties, where Spain failed to convert a single penalty. Morocco or through the quarter finals,

disappointing for the wiser and rickey. Disappointing for Spain. They thought they would, they hoped they would make a deeper run, but they went into the informed team for me of the tournament. Besides Brazil, Morocco have just considered one goal and beaten in this particular World Cup, top their group, which no one expected them to do, and they've been on a run ever since. This new coach came on,

um Waldre. He replaced but Zeke, who had had a falling out with most of the squad that had a falling out with karim z. The first thing the new coach did was integrated z h, 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 there a proper tournament team when you come into tournament, and Americans already say this, but it holds true in soccer, especially when you talk to American football fans, they will tell you offenses win your games, but defenses win your championships. And Morocco has perhaps the tightest defense in the entire tournament. They don't give away goals, they

don't give all chances cheaply. You have to work for almost every in rod you make in this team, and they're protected by for me, one of the most underrated players in this particular tournament, and that's a amber Bat, Sophie and amber Bat. He's been a machine in that midfield. He covers loads of ground, He covers almost every blood

of grass every time he plays. And then they have the outlet you know in in in z h in all nursery, they have been enough in uh in Bufal, there 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, whether it goes into penalties or not. You always you can sneak a goal or maybe you're right, but you opened 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 assignment when it comes to that. That's right.

You gotta keep it site. In a tournament like Grease two thousand four year olds exactly one almost every game, one deal or they way to the final and then one the final as well. One deal. That was a proper tournamentum 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 Korea, and 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's Spain have the ball. Spain had seventy seven percent of the ball to their they were passing it sideways and back whar it rarely looked a threat. And they took to 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 differender, so he understands how important defense is when you're playing tournament football. Um, he hasn't closed the 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 poles said, oh, this is a fairy tale. No, this is something that has had in place ever since

he took over. And it's go 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 that into the into the quarterfinal and sect. I just want to say a final thought on Spain. I think they're they're too rigid with their philosophy. You know that the blueprint to beat a tiki tie tiki taka 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 or Aldano, uh you know, someone who in you know, you know, or for that matter, Jobing and he Hasta, 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 tournament,

you know, plays penalties win the game. And I think that they need to replace Louis Enrique with a new manager who's willing to play more keep the tiki taka elements of having the ball, but also in moments be prepared to be more direct when the situations are for themselves. I feel like that's Louis and Rookie's gift and classes so stubborn and when he's waddy toy style, he's wedded to the style. He won't add switch it up just

because maybe things are not going well. Um in this game, I felt that there was lots of tooths possession based tic attack and just for the sake of possition. At some point you can you can't pass the ball possible, but at some point you need that forward thrust. You need to stab. You can't just pass the bocause 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 the 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 Busquets and maybe Geordie Alba obviously probably World Cup, and even though I love the phenomenal talents of Padri and Gabby Uh, they sometimes struggle to compete with like bigger, stronger opponents, guys like telling him wilder day Uh to a many kind of more of the modern prototype of

a modern day midfielder. So it's gonna 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 town at Spain is there. I think I think Spain is facing the same issue going six 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 that clubs no longer needs strikers because they play force nines and half nins and they try to prom as many midfielders in every squad as they can, and so you can 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 evolution of football philosophy in Spain, and that was started by paper, you know, it was started of course by you and Crick and then Peper moved it and modernize it to the next level. You can't tell by that evolution that Spain is paying the price because Spin doesn't have a striker at the same level as Hurricane.

Spin doesn't have a striker who you can count on to come and make a difference because the league has evolved to become this midfield a heavy league that almost always makes strikers fuel Mexican citizens now for sure. So here we go. We had one more matchup in the round sixteen in Portugal. Start Gonzalo Ramos in the place of Christiano Ronaldo, who scores a hat trick and Portugal dominates with certain six to one and coasting the quarterfinals.

The Gonzalo Ramos plowing performance earn him starting out in the court of quarter finals without a doubt. It was a gutsy, getsy bald call, almost risky call from the Portuguese manager. You don't ever bench your best player in such a critical game. But I think Ronaldo, despite everything, has done brilliant carrier, 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 ours felt like for all these gifts, he was holding a Portugo back. Because Portugal is a very dynamic, fluid team, very cohesive unit. But when Ronaldo is playing, almost every he's he's like he's like a black hole, because almost every player 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 Messy, or that Agenda has with Messi. Now you try to channel every attacking play through your best player. And so when they took him off again, gotzicole. I didn't think that Santos had it in him to make that call, but when it's paid off, it took seventeen

minutes for it to pay off. Brilliant Prian God. He had no angle, Gonzmos, but he somehow found the way past the goalkeeper and then he just went on school had also by they had an assist for me, probably the most complete performance by any player this World Cup. And I felt for the Swizz and maybe maybe the Gold Bamboozo by the fact that Ronaldo didn't play, because remember or 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, no one had ever had of because remember Gonzalo Remos, actually 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 Ronaldo, you expected maybe Andress Silver to come on, but Santos tramped and went

the least experienced player. It played off, But I think I feel like Switzerland War bambooz One because the moment they crossed that white line, then they had the entire game plan went out of the window because the player they have been preparing for wasn't on the pitch, and then the player was taking this place was a player no one knew anything about. So if you had defended in that 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 le footed or right footed? Is he couldn't air or not? What's so? It's it almost like throws your entire game off. And I feel like Switzerland paid the price because they had organized and sort of different game than they ended up playing. For sure. I mean I think Portugal looked really good both with the ball and then transition. Um,

like you said, very complete performance. Uh it makes you think that they could go tone so with a Brazilia of France if they were to meet further in the tournament. Um, 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 you would have wanted him to have a primary role, to play a bigger, more prominent role at his World Cup. In fantasy, has carried this team or through the other

World Cup, so maybe his dear rest. But when I was watching the game and with every goal that Romo squad, you could see the chances of Ronaldo actually making it back into the starting living dwindle with each goal. Like the last goal that was a goal scored by a player bringming with confidence in the World Cup for hart trick and it 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 has been

dealing with. How do you build your team around the player whose age, which by the way, is not thought of his because further 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 same remors can. Ronaldo 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 Messy doesn't do that all that, but Messy gives you something off the ball or when he has the ball, Mexican create for the players are not the only contributes when he's scoring, and this World Cup he has only scored one goal, which was of a dubious penalty against Garner in the opening game.

He has gone missing in all the other games. So if a player is not contributing through the only album you can contribute, then he has to go to the bench. Sorry. And then when you bring in a youngster that goes though remors and his scores with the kind of is that he did. Yet he can also give you other things. He doesn't have the ball when it's not scoring, you can't defend, he can't praise, he can track back. Then it becomes very hard for a player like Coronado to

stay in the team. I think Eric tn Hag did the same when he brought in Michelle and preferred rushed forward and preferred even a laga Forronado was because of that a Lager world defend, Rushford world trap back and Ronaldo through no photo of his through no photo of his his you know, it's a father father time comes to our soul and it's sad to see a player of such greatness also succumbing too far the time, because sometimes you watch players a Coronado miss and you think, oh,

they'll go on forever, But then this is the reminder that yes, at the end of the day for the time, there's no way running. There's no running from him. However, first you I want the pitch absolutely as a as a real Madrid fan, Christian Ronaldo has brought me. I love joy my life and appreciate all that. But it's time for Falamas to take more featured role. Um So it's leader to a prediction. A stout Morocco team, an organized Morocco team meet a really good looking Portugal spot

on the 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 Peppe was drafted in because Danio broke his ribs. He wasn't supposed to be starting this game. But I don't only start the game, but he was a rock in defense and then scored

a towering header to put Portugal to lap. A player that Kim has played in way more world gaps than Morocco, any of them Rocan players has ever been in, and I feel like that's going to be critical. He plays alongside groups who plays big games a week in week arut for man City, and so I'll give it to Portugal. Portugal, where two cohesive unit today are so dynamic and so thrilling as a unit it that it would be almost full hardy to actually perform 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 Switzerland. For sure. For sure, I've Portugal going through as well, though I do think that Morocco

has the ability to make it interesting. Um, a few more questions before we go, Um, Joe, who do you think your best player of the tournament has been to this to this day, the best player of the tournament, I think clear Nimbappe without a doubt. I'm a messy fun but Kanimbappe is having way too much fun. He's scoring goals for fun and he is scoring brilliant goals. He also plays in a really good French team, so

maybe that takes a bit away from him. Olivia Ju has also been contributing, but im Puppy has been unstoppable. He has produced the way everyone expected to produce, So without a doubt, I would go for him. Messy a close, close scare second, And I said close second, because Messy deals with the kind of attention from the opposition that him Mappy doesn't receive. So Massy every time he receives

the ball, he's swammed by battalion of opponents. Mappy 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 Messi was always facing one on one, I think it would cause a lot more damage. But mess always has like six five players always rushing towards him maybe time he gets the ball. So poppy for me.

But Messi a very very very close acond. So are we both sticking by our predictions that it's it's it's looking like a Brazilian France final, and that's what we're all looking forward to. My heart, as I said, he says, A and a Gentina France final. But going by the results from the restaurant, I think brazila going to go past Croatia, which means they will face Argentina in the semis, and I think they will have way too much for

that Agentina team. I feel like Brazil has the solidity to actually neutralize Missy the entire game, and then they have the weapons to hurt that Argentine back line. It needs to say. It will be an exciting uh round in the quarter finals. There's so much to look forward to. Joe, it's been great breaking down the round of six team with you. Or is a pleasure? My friend? Or is a pleasure? This has been the Daily Show recap of the World Cup. I'm George Guntas and I'm job See

you next time. For more on the World Cup, listen to Joe's full conversation with Grant Wall at Daily Show dot com, slash Beyond What's the Daily Show weeknights and eleven Central on Comedy Central and stream full episodes anytime on Paramount Plus. This has been a Comedy Central podcast