DISCUSSION: Quarter Finals Preview
Declan Link, Paul Schmidt-Troschke & Jon Bonfiglio are back with a preview of the match-ups at the quarter final stage.
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1 SPEAKER_02: Hi everyone, welcome back to World Cup football, etc.
We have we have reached the quarterfinal stages of the World
Cup.
Seems to have gone quite quickly in uh in some respects.
Well, not quite quarterfinal stages, that's all happening
tomorrow.
Today is the rest day.
Um, but nonetheless, uh uh Declan Link, Paul Schmidt,
Troschke, and myself will do be doing a little bit of a preview
through the different games and our perspectives on them.
Um hello Declan.
Hello, Joe, hello Paul.
That's that um that's that bit where somebody interferes with
uh the time-space continuum as Declan just did, and said hi to
Paul, and then Paul doesn't know whether he should respond or
whether he should wait for me to say hi, Paul, and then we move
on from there.
But we've now let's return to to normality and this particular
iteration uh of our existences in which we don't bend with time
or space.
Um let's start if we might uh with tomorrow's um game, which
of course is France, Morocco Declan, in what is a um a replay
of the semi-final at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
There we go.
Um is it gonna be much the same game, kind of game, do you
think?
Or do you think um uh there are gonna be some differences in
that one?
Famously, sort of France let Morocco come to them and then
and then punish them, but presumably Morocco will have
learned a two uh thing or two since then, even though Morocco
were really a great side of that World Cup, also, although quite
a surprise package there uh to some extent rather than being a
known quantity uh now.
And um and I guess France will know that this will be a
different kind of tie as well.
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, I I personally think Morocco were gonna sit
back and be nice and compact and try and uh counter uh look to
counter France, uh particularly on the right hand side with
Hakimi Hak Hakimi's place.
Um I have a funny feeling that France could be a little bit
battered and bruised from that Paraguay match, because I think
it might have taken a quite a bit out of them.
And although the odds favour France massively, uh no,
actually not massively, they favour France.
I do think this is a going to be a really stiff test of the uh
French team, but particularly their depth and their squad as
well, because on paper they've got a fabulous squad.
Uh, and um I I I I'm particularly looking forward to
this game, Toronto and especially as the game is in
Boston and I can I can visualize everything having been up there
to see uh Ingwer play, uh I do think it's gonna be quite good.
I think one of the problems for uh Morocco is that their their
their striker Ismail Shabari, uh who came off in the Canada game,
is looking like he's not gonna be able to play.
Um so because no squad in this tournament is as good as the
French squad.
So it's going to be interesting from that.
I mean, as you said, it's a rematch of 2022.
France won that game 2-0.
Um, but I think Morocco are more mature, uh, they're they're
better, their whole system in their country as they focus in
on the next uh World Cup is bringing youth through, and they
play the same type of system throughout the uh football
federation.
So I I do think uh that France will somehow get through, but I
I I think it's going to be quite uh uh an interesting tactical
chess match tomorrow with some so with with a good number of
goals in it.
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I think um, excuse me, you're right about
the odds favoring France, of course, but that's almost
because they're France, right?
Because they're they are the outstanding side of the
tournament so far.
So with any sort of matchup you would against the remaining
sides, you would pretty much say that um, I mean, even with
Argentina, that the odds would sort of favor France uh at this
point, but that's not taking anything at all away from from
Morocco, who are also just an outstanding heavyweight side.
I think you're right also about the tactics.
I think um with a lot of games, with a lot of uh teams,
especially when playing against other teams, you can pretty much
predict based on who the side is, what the side is, and given
its sort of historic identity, uh, its particular players at
this World Cup, and also um, of course, what what who the
opposition are, how the sides are going to sort of set up and
play.
But I think with with this game, I think it's particularly um
there are interesting tactical decisions to make uh across both
France and um and and Morocco Paul, what's your what's your
reading of the game 24 hours ahead of time?
SPEAKER_01: Um I I had the the the funny feeling today that um
I don't know we might we might be seeing some um kind of a
rematch or a replay of um of this year's Champions League
semi-finals.
Because I think both teams uh mean so the the famous first lag
um between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.
I mean first of uh first and foremost, uh five Paris
Saint-Germain players uh play for um for the French national
team.
Um of course the the biggest uh uh club representation um in in
the French national team.
And I think that um for for Morocco they are very aware that
France is is an extremely definitely more more dangerous,
I would say, than Morocco uh team on the offense.
So I think that um Morocco will have a hard time if they if they
play um like a defensive Ghana block, for example, as one of
the prime examples of it of a defensive block.
Um so I think they they have to score, they know that, and that
definitely can make things uh things very, very interesting
and potentially lead to lead to many goals.
Um, because I think that it's just it's just a question of
time um that that France will score the first goal.
And um I think that Morocco will just uh see if they can keep up
or if they actually can can shock France in in some way.
And I think what what's what shouldn't be underestimated is
that you have um a Hakimi, of course, in uh in the Moroccan
team who very well knows uh knows the playstyle and
characters, etc., of his fellow PSG teammates.
That's that's definitely I would say uh an advantage and also of
of very key key French players.
Um that's that that's definitely an advantage.
Um I at least hope for I hope for uh for a spectacle.
SPEAKER_02: Yes, uh, I think we all hope for a spectacle on that
one.
Um, well, on all of them, but in particular this one, because it
could it could end up being quite a dower affair.
SPEAKER_03: Uh I have to I have to confess, John, there has been
a void in my life today because I'm missing football already,
and it's the one day off so far in the tournament.
So I can't wait till four o'clock my time tomorrow
afternoon to sit down and watch this game.
SPEAKER_02: That's interesting because I've definitely felt it
to be a I've been relieved rather than uh than missing it
too too much.
It's been it's been a lot to to keep up with, and of course,
we're you know, we we we talk about it on a on a daily basis,
and um, and then I have my sort of end-of-day um review with
with Track Radio Breakfast in the UK.
So it's um it's been difficult to sort of focus on on a great
deal else.
So I'm very grateful for um for today.
Declan, just a a a word on France's last match.
You you referenced it at the at the start of the piece about
Paraguay.
I think um the of course, yeah, Paraguay sort of uh took some
chunks of meat out of um out of France.
But at the same time, are Morocco sort of uh would Morocco
have learned anything from that from that match and the the
general efficacy of the Paraguayan side?
I'm thinking specifically, I mean it's not a quite a fair
comparison, but if you remember the old sort of famous
free-flowing um arsenal sides of old under Arsen Wenger, and how
they always used to come a cropper against sides that would
just used to be really in your face about uh about things,
really sort of front and and and direct.
Do you think Morocco might might have learnt something from that,
or do you think Morocco are just going to play in their own
inimitable way anyway?
SPEAKER_03: I think they're gonna play in their own in
inimitable fashion.
I mean, just like with the Egypt's Argentina game, you
know, there's a with a lot of the Middle Eastern and the um
the the the the the countries from North Africa and and
countries like Egypt.
I think you know, as you get down into the the last 15
minutes or so of the game, there's a ten there there tends
to be a tendency to lose your rag and and to start you know
getting a bit desperate.
But I I do think Morocco have got enough experience now as a
team that they are going to be able to play their own game
rather than what was patently obviously a strategy by by
Paraguay to basically rough France up and and fair play to
to Mbappé, every time he got kicked, every time uh he got
pushed over, he just bounced back up smiling again.
So I I maximum respect him for that.
Uh I know there's been a lot of controversy with some of the I
think one lady of Paraguayan politician, but uh I don't think
Morocco, unless unless it's a really tight game uh in the in
the fourth quarter, as they say now, um I don't I think it's
just going to be a good tactical game of two different teams.
And I do think that um, you know, France had a tough game at
the beginning when they beat Senegal 3-1, but they beat Erach
3-0, they beat Norway's reserves 4-1, they beat Harry Potter
Sweden 3-0, and then they had a and then they had um you know
this tough game against Paraguay.
Whereas whereas Morocco, you know, they had a tough, tough
game against Brazil, they had two relatively easy games
against Scotland and Haiti, had a tough game against the the
Netherlands, but that they had a bit of a taxi when playing
Canada.
So I think they're gonna be physically and mentally in a
better shape than than ours would be France are, um, because
France's the France's schedule, and no one can control the
schedule, has been a little bit erratic.
And as I said, there is definitely a school of thought
that says that they're battered and bruised from that Paraguay
match.
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and um, and it does take a few you know more
than a few days to to get over something like that.
Um the the the big difference, of course, is that there was a
significant gulf in class between Paraguay and and France,
and and that's not the case with with with Morocco.
I mean uh France are uh an outstanding side, but Morocco
really are a very good side as well.
Uh what you referenced there, Declan, was this controversy
with a Paraguayan politician who has been, I mean, who
fundamentally made a racist attack on Mbappé and uh a number
of his uh teammates in the French and national side saying
that basically this French team was a um was a team from Africa
and not a not a French side, and that's generated a whole um
series of uh um discussions, I mean, very much in Paraguay, um,
but also in in Latin America more broadly about about racism.
And um uh but let's uh let's move on.
I mean, it's not the end of that discussion.
She um she just doesn't know how to keep her mouth shut, so it's
running on and on and on.
Um let's move on to the next game, Paul.
Um Spain, Belgium.
Um, Spain, of course, overwhelming favorites for that
match, except for the fact that Belgium slow start at the at the
tournament, um, but they've scored 12 goals in the last
three games.
They're now sort of they seem to have really peaked at a
particular moment in time, and um, whilst they don't go into
the match favorites, they could generate spains and problems.
SPEAKER_01: Oh, definitely.
Um, I think that especially the the the Senegal game was uh was
a sign that Belgium is uh is here to stay, to go as deep as
possible, and not to be the I mean we've spoken about that a
um a lot of times, uh not to be this uh always expected to be
dark horse, but never never fulfilling the expectations um
at all.
And I think that this year um they have a have a very good
shot.
Um especially because they they have proven to uh to be able to
win against uh the current reigning African champions, uh
which uh Declan and I um will speak about that in the in the
Africa uh review.
Definitely have not shown their best side in this World Cup, but
still.
Um and and I think that is that is the for me the the the match
where I will not make any any predictions because I'm um for
now really unsure what Belgium still has um in its reserve or
has not yet shown shown on the pitch.
And I think the the Belgian superpower, especially in the
last two games, were um putting a lot of pressure uh in very
specific moments on the defense, and um, and there is definitely
a lot of pressure already on Spain um from their from their
population to perform.
Um again, on the other side, on the Belgian side, not so much.
Um I I would say.
Um they they made their their home fans already very happy
with their with their performance um so far.
And um and I think the this the Spanish defense must be very,
very aware of um of Belgian surprise attacks, and and they
still have uh have amazing quality, um old quality um in
many cases.
Um but the the Lukaku goal, for example, um he he can score such
goals as well um against against the Spanish team if he's in in
the right position.
So very, very hard to call for me.
Um a little bit of a of a coin toss.
SPEAKER_02: Um Declan, almost the idea is that we know which
Spain side, sort of following on from what Paul's saying, we know
which Spain side's going to turn up.
They're gonna be incredibly um profligate as regards their
defence, they're not gonna give anything away, but equally
they're not gonna have um, they're not necessarily gonna be
as efficient as as they might be in in front of goal.
But we basically know what Spain side is going to turn up because
it's the same side that's turned up pretty much every game
throughout the tournament, with the possible exception of
against uh Cape Verde.
But the question being which Belgium side is the one that's
going to emerge uh against Spain on Friday?
And if we have a fully firing Belgium squad, then it could be
much closer than we expect.
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, I'm um going to be controversial here.
I I don't think what Paul's assessment there is correct.
I think Spain are clear favourites in this game.
Um I there really doesn't matter in some respects which Belgium
team turns up because they they uh have sort of uh hobbled
through this whole tournament apart from when they beat New
Zealand big deal 5-1, and then obviously they they came through
that close game against Senegal.
But um, you know, a team who's playing in the quarterfinals,
like Spain, who haven't even conceded a goal yet, that to me
is a major sign that they are uh uh a top team who's who's
probably gonna end up uh in the semi-final or final.
Um so I I think the uh the injury to um Onana who who um
suffered a tournament ending ACL injury is gonna really hurt um
Belgium, and I do think that uh Lemin Yamal is gonna have a
field day because I haven't been overly impressed with um
Belgium, particularly from a defensive perspective.
And one of the articles I was reading and studying the game,
it seemed like um Portugal tried to, as they say here, double
team Lemin Yamal, which which means that Pedro Porro on the
other side would will be able to get up and down, up and down uh
and score like that goal he scored with the header.
So I think, in in my opinion, although it should be a fast
another fascinating game, I think Spain are clear favourites
and we'll move on to the semi-final.
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I mean Spain definitely gonna they're not
gonna change anything at all, and we'll see how how Belgium go
go go into it.
Um Saturday, two double, two, two matches of double header.
Let's leave Norway against England till till the end.
Let's start with potentially the slightly easier one to call
Argentina against Switzerland.
Um uh Declan, of course, we we spoke um last time we conversed
about Argentina's vulnerability, but also about um how
Switzerland had uh in a similar way to to Belgium, I feel sort
of really grown into the into the tournament.
But is this going to be a um a match too far for Switzerland
against the reigning world champions?
SPEAKER_03: See, I'm I'm actually thinking Switzerland.
Uh I've been a big fan of Switzerland pretty much through
this tournament, and and they haven't they haven't, the faith
I've shown in them, they haven't let me down.
I think that um obviously Johan Manzambi, their top goalscorer,
uh, is out, which is going to impact them, but they are very
well organized, Switzerland are.
They are um you know a a savvy uh savvy European top team going
on to many World Cups and Euros in recent years, um, you know,
and ultimately I think every analyst is is is looking at it.
Stop Messi, stop Argentina.
That's what they need to do.
And I do think that the Cape Verde game and um the the game
uh against Egypt are gonna take their toll on Argentina and
they're going to be uh a little bit uh fatigued from that.
Now they have the advantage that they they are their their
training camp is in Kansas City, and the game is being played at
nine o'clock Eastern Standard Time at the Arrowhead Stadium in
Kansas City, so it's not like they've got a fly somewhere.
But um, I don't think this is um a done deal.
I think and and I want uh Argentina, believe me, I want
Argentina to win because I want to see Argentina play in Atlanta
next Wednesday after England beat Norway, so and I want to
see Mercy lose to England and that'll be the end of his
career.
But I actually think Sweden uh uh uh sorry it's not Sweden,
Switzerland are a potential for an upset here.
And Paul.
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I uh I definitely agree with you,
Declan.
I think that that Argentina just cannot rely on um on being, I
mean, spectacular on a performance level in the last
15-20 minutes, um but uh also having a good portion of luck.
Um and if you if you struggle against two teams, nobody would
have Argentina expected to to have truck any trouble against
both uh Cape Verde and Egypt there.
I think that Switzerland might have the um yeah, the the the
bit more quality to actually go all the way and to deny um
Argentina the um equalizing and then then going going into a
lead um in during the last um yeah 10 minutes, five minutes,
um even less as it happened.
Um so I definitely agree.
Wouldn't call it by now, but I think that uh this will be so
far definitely the hardest game for for Argentina.
Um as you said, uh Declan, uh fatigue definitely also plays a
role in there.
I mean, uh Switzerland's last game did of course uh into extra
time did go into extra time as well.
And um I think that the the dynamics in terms of confidence
are diametrically uh going against each other.
I think that for for Argentina, I mean, if you are an
Argentinian uh Argentinian player and you take yourself
serious, then you can't really say that um that your
self-confidence can can grow on a on kind of an evident uh
real-world basis from these last two games.
Well, on the Swiss side, um, I mean it's their it's their first
appearance in a quarter final since 1954, when they hosted the
match and win in which Germany got this surprise win against
Hungary.
Um so and they never they never actually uh went beyond the
quarterfinals.
So they I think see themselves emboldened after this uh after
this win against against Colombia, um, where I would say
that was more of a done deal in Colombia's favor where and uh
than than this game right now is um uh in terms of Argentina, uh
Argentina being a favorite here.
Um so in the end, uh Switzerland has a has a very good shot.
Um nothing to lose again.
I think that that is that is always um always a big big
factor.
On the other hand, you have Argentina, you have the star
power of Messi.
You have, of course, as well the ego of Messi to be the first um
Argentinian player or among the first Argentinian players to
stand out against Maradona to win um to win the World Cup
twice for for his country.
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and Messi has, of course, now statistically
scored.
He has a a record for scoring in six consecutive world knockout
um World Cup knockout matches.
Paul, as you say about confidence, I mean, so if it was
any other side, I would agree.
I would say that um if you are squeaking through um and having
tough games, that it that that has to sort of dent your
confidence in yourself.
But but my reading of Argentina is that it this is a different
that they don't they they don't um have standard um sort of
character traits as regards how they self-assess, but it's much
more a kind of religious belief that they have rather than sort
of standard confidence or or a sort of measure of how it is
that they're they're playing.
And I think you saw that with Leo Scaloni's well, I mean the
whole side's response at the end of the game against uh Egypt,
and in particular the the manager who just couldn't quite
believe what what he'd um what he'd seen.
And and um, Decan, just further to your point about Messi
stopping Messi, I mean for sure tactically sides know that
that's the case, but they've known that that's the case now
for certainly since he sort of really stepped up halfway
through the the last um the last tournament.
But doing something about that is is uh much easier said than
than done.
Egypt packed the middle and they managed to to I mean there were
chances, but they pretty much managed to keep him out for for
60 minutes.
And then what was interesting was that um uh he sort of
changed his his position.
I think what's one of the the real um points of separation and
exception and genius with with Messi is how he sort of reads
the game um and uh sort of has the the ability to to sort of
bend the game to his his will in a way that he's much more than
just a single a single player.
And and that's what I think that Switzerland are going to be
unable to finally to deal with.
I do think that they can hurt Argentina, but then you know we
we've seen a number of sides achieve that.
SPEAKER_03: But I think I also see John, you know, obviously I
follow the MLS and into Miami and Inter Miami's management
team do manage very closely Messi's minutes, and bearing in
mind his age, bearing in mind you know the two gruelling
inverted commas games that Argentina be involved in, he's
pretty much I don't remember I I I probably got this wrong, but
he's pretty much played every minute, and every three to four
days, he's playing another 90 minutes plus the extra time.
So you have to think at his age, sooner or later, he's not gonna
have as much gas in the tank as he did when he was fresh at the
beginning of the tournament, and that could have a toll on how
long he actually plays in the game.
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I think you're right.
Um he has played every minute, except for one game in the group
stages.
I think it was the third game in the group stages he um he came
on in the second half as a as a substitute.
But beyond that, he definitely has played, he has played every
minute.
And yeah, you you're totally right.
I guess the the the question is about how far um in what uh
almost certainly is Messi's last World Cup um sort of adrenaline
can um can can take you, but we'll we'll see.
And that brings us to the last um last very much not least
match on Saturday.
Um we're gonna look at it and analyze it, Declan.
But before we do, before we sort of get objective on it, how are
you feeling sort of emotionally about this matchup now on the
back of the game against Mexico?
SPEAKER_03: Every hour that's gone by since the Mexico game, I
think I was telling you guys uh before last night's podcast.
You it was almost so overwhelming being there in the
stadium with everything that was going on, the atmosphere, the
adrenaline, what actually happened, the intrigue, the
mystique, everything that happened in the game.
But as I look back and watch the YouTube videos um of the key
incidents, uh and and and you know, we're back in what's my
normal life.
Uh, it was definitely a classic, classic game, uh, in you know
unbelievable circumstances in an iconic stadium and will go down
as one of the best games in history.
And I've heard people saying, you know, the John Kennedy, John
F.
Kennedy moment, you'll remember where you were when you saw when
when you talk about that game.
Um I think England are in a good position for for Saturday's game
against Norway.
Um, Norway uh uh apparently have, and this could be a press
story, some illness in their camp.
So that could be a factor.
Uh, I think Norway having gone this far is is uh you know
history for them.
And uh when all is said and done, you know, I was I was
listening to the radio today, and you know, Norway can't
compare their talent to England's talent.
They've got a centre back from Brentford and they've got a
midfield player from Fulham and a few other players.
Obviously, Odegaard's fantastic, won the Premier League with
Arsenal after what was not a particularly good season, and
then you know, Haaland is Harland, he scored 62 goals and
54 appearances and just scored two against Brazil when really
he did nothing else in the game.
So I think it's gonna be one game too many for Norway.
I said that the other day, and I do apologize to my Norwegian
friends that I sound like an arrogant English guy.
Uh, but I do think they've had a fantastic tournament.
I do think there'll be goals.
I do think there's there's intrigue, and I do think England
need to get their Rifact situation sorted out.
Uh Jr.
Kornz is still out with the red card.
Reese James, they've been they've been keeping him in
couple this week.
There's speculation he might play, but I don't think that's
ideal preparation, having missed out the last uh few games.
You've got the four four players on yellow cards who, if they get
another yellow card that's Pelling in Rice, Gahy, and uh
O'Reilly, they're gonna be out for the semi-final.
So um it's and there's supposed to be bad weather in Miami early
on Saturday evening with tremendous thunderstorms and
lightning.
So there could be yeah, a little bit of a a repeat of a lot of
the stuff that we dealt with in um Mexico City, but I am quietly
confident England are gonna get through and we'll be in Atlanta
next Wednesday.
SPEAKER_02: Um, yes, there is um there are reports of um of the
Norwegian squad suffering from some kind of viral stomach bug.
You would hope that these are just 24 hours thing, 24 hour
things that um that pass and don't really sort of work their
way through the um the squad significantly because uh you
definitely want both sides to be as strong as they can be for
that uh for that matchup.
Paul, you've been a a big um advocate of the Norwegian side
of this this World Cup since since the beginning.
Has um uh and you were relatively critical of of
England as well.
Has anything changed in your from your perspective that um to
suggest that Norway is uh is not in your from your perspective
the the sort of favorite going into this game?
SPEAKER_01: Um no, not really, I must say.
I think that that Norway just um uh first we I think we haven't
spoken about that.
Their their play of um not really um going into the game
with a B team, but against France, leaving um leaving
Haaland out was absolutely the the right call, as we as we know
now.
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, they made 10 changes in that in that match.
That was I mean basically, you know, and there's no side of
this World Cup that you could call a B team in their squad,
really, but they definitely made a very deliberate choice to to
rest their their um their normal starters.
SPEAKER_01: Yes, exactly, and then to still to achieve that
result um is uh is is not too bad.
And also, I've never seen Norway being visibly in distress, and I
think that is just the the biggest Norwegian strength is is
just this um we can't lose anything, and uh the the
surprise factor of of Haaland.
Um you it's it is so so difficult to guard him.
Um and he of course has uh has the advantage when it comes to
uh to height, weight, strength, uh over over most players.
I mean, luckily uh the the English team very very well know
how it is to play with and against him.
Um but but still he is he is he is such an um such a big uh
surprise factor overall that I think um it will be really a big
struggle for for England to um yeah to defend against him and
and his his attempts on on goal.
And lastly, this is uh England is is the the nation um among
these eight who played the most quarterfinals so far, and uh
with ten, followed by France with nine, Argentina with eight,
Spain with five, etc.
And I think that I mean we've heard about the 60 years of
hurt, right?
And all these players have it in their bones and have it in their
bones back from the Euros, right?
I think that England just has still such a big issue with with
the fear of losing.
And I don't I at least I am not confident in in what England has
shown yet in the tournament so far that they have actually um
successfully, at least they haven't proven it yet.
They they will maybe in this game, that they actually have
overcome this this almost um yeah, being part of this this
this this psychological thing being part of the of the English
footballing identity for 60 years.
Um and I think that is that is the biggest the biggest
difference between Norway, uh Norway and England.
I just um remind everybody of of of the smirks on Harland's face
after he scored um he scored against uh against Brazil.
Um they they don't have any pressure on them.
And I mean illness would be the only thing changing my
assessment there.
Um but apart from that, I think that uh that Norway goes very
well in into that game.
Um we'll see I like that we have um I think for the first time um
a very big divergence in in our c that game, probably also
influenced by by some um patriotic feelings uh towards or
against teams.
Um but but apart from that, I I um I really think that that
Norway has a has a very good shot, and England must be uh
very aware of that if they if they want to overcome that
Norwegian key.
SPEAKER_02: I'm gonna ask you for your predicted semi-final um
line-ups.
I'm gonna give you mine first, just to give you time to quickly
uh think about it.
So I think in the first semi-final we're gonna see.
I mean, um I I really would like Morocco to to go through.
I think uh it would be an amazing story for for world
football, but I just can't see how France ultimately are not
gonna not gonna emerge from that game.
So I'm gonna go France-Spain in the first semi-final.
And then the second one, I'm finding the Norway-England game
really tough to uh really tough to core.
Um, I think Argentina will see off Switzerland.
So uh I don't know, six of one, half a dozen of the other.
Um I think it's a 55-45 England, but I can see Norway coming
through that.
Um, but I'm gonna go England.
So France, uh, Spain, and then England, Argentina is my um
semi-final um predictions, uh, which I guess is a kind of safe
bet across all of those.
Uh Declan, where where are you on the on those lineups?
SPEAKER_03: I applaud you for really sticking your neck out
there.
Thank you.
Thank you.
That was very good, very good.
I learned a lot there.
No, I think um I think FIFA with the seedings have actually are
actually gonna get it right.
I think France are gonna beat Morocco and they're gonna play
Spain in one semi-final.
I think England are gonna beat Norway, and I think the one that
could, like I said, go uh the non-seeds way is uh Argentina v
Switzerland, but I'm I'm still gonna go for Argentina because I
want to see uh Lionel Messi in Atlanta next Wednesday.
So I've mine is uh France v Spain and England v Argentina.
SPEAKER_02: Exactly the same as mine.
So you've just copied me.
It's like being at school with that annoying kid at the table
next to you, just constantly looks over your arm.
SPEAKER_03: And I have a funny no, no, you know what?
Paul's Paul's gonna be funny now.
Yeah, he's gonna get Morocco, he's gonna get Morocco, Belgium,
Norway.
He's definitely gonna get Norway rather than England.
SPEAKER_02: All right, Paul, hit us with it.
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, uh, I mean, uh you you took it away from me,
uh, the the surprise of of putting Norway against
Argentina.
I still think, of course, that Argentina has the better chance
to go through against Switzerland.
Um so that is going to be my matchup uh then played on the
15th of July between Norway and Argentina.
And um, I'm not gonna not gonna uh play games here or do do any
stupid stuff.
I think that France has the better chance, but for me,
France, uh Morocco is also only a 60-40, maybe even a little
less, because we especially you, John, you brought it up a couple
of times.
Morocco knows how to win so far.
And with France against Paraguay, um, I had the feeling
that France did not really know how to win.
Um so still going to go with France there, and um, and yes,
Spain, Spain will go through, I think, in the end.
Um, but also I think that this game might be closer than you or
other people um like go.
SPEAKER_02: Alright, let's let's choose an upset each as well,
seeing as we've we've pretty much all done the same except
for Paul's choice of Norway.
Um Paul, obviously you've gone with with Norway there, and we
know that you that Morocco, of course, can go the other way.
Declan, if you have to choose one upset from the
quarterfinals, which do you think is the most likely upset
for you?
SPEAKER_03: I'll be consistent with what I said all night.
Um, Argentina V Swiss could could turn Argentina over.
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, mine I think is is Norway against uh England.
Uh, but uh thanks very much, uh Declan.
Thank you, Paul.
We will be back in 24 hours' time reviewing, and what a joy
it's going to be to review you only be reviewing one match
rather than a number of them.
We can really dive into that uh as as well.
So in 24 hours' time, we will be reviewing France Morocco.
Thank you very much, and talk soon.
Thank you as well.
SPEAKER_03: Bye bye.
Thanks, guys.
Have a good evening.