SPEAKER_00 0:10

And then there were eight. So we've gone from the biggest World Cup ever to the remaining eight teams in the quarterfinals about to kick off. And uh thankfully Alex is back with me today on the Punzer Podcast. So Alex, thanks for thanks for joining me again.

SPEAKER_02 0:29

Hi Luke, great to be back. Sorry I had to miss the last one. Travel, travel got in the way, and now I've landed in Toronto, settled and ready to see the rest of this World Cup out and see what's uh what more excitement's gonna bring.

SPEAKER_00 0:41

Yeah, building those air miles.

SPEAKER_02 0:43

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Moving up to business class slowly.

SPEAKER_00 0:46

Very slowly. I know it's too slow. Um so obviously we've spoken a few times ourselves, but the last time we spoke on a podcast was pre-tournament. So what from pre-tournament to now, is there one thing that stands out for you with the World Cup so far?

SPEAKER_02 1:07

Well, I think uh that not because English-wise, but that that game really, I think, opened up the World Cup to we were kind of waiting for that sort of game in the group stage, I guess. We saw a big uh goal margins with Germany 7-1 and things like that. And you know, some games have been okay, good goals, some good plays, but that kind of I think electrified the World Cup for what it really is for even young kids and obviously uh for grown-ups. Um, that was a sort of a game where so much tension, so much personal build-up, you know, with the Azteca Stadium Maradona against England 40 years ago. Um, I was a bit nervous. I thought, you know, I didn't expect England to get them two goals as quick as they did. Um and then, of course, the controversy. So the red card and the the penalties, the miss and the Mexican penalty, and and the whole 10 men and holding on 85,000 people, it was really, you know, even though of course I wanted England to win, I just enjoyed that that electric, that kind of like, wow, what's gonna happen here? And then, of course, you know, the Argentina game uh the other night, or the other day, sorry, uh, that was uh another sort of standout moment.

SPEAKER_00 2:17

Uh from the Yeah, I mean, even for me as someone who really doesn't want England to win the World Cup, the Mexico England game was amazing, and it was it was a real World Cup game. It's when you think back like when when we look to the next World Cup or to the future, and we think back about great World Cup games, we're gonna look at that Mexico England game. It was amazing, and then like you say, even the Argentina well, two Argentina games then, but we'll speak a bit more about those teams as we go. I think uh the first quarter final is France Morocco on Thursday night, and according to the bookies, obviously France are heavy favourites, odds on 8-13, whereas Morocco are big outsiders, 6-1. Uh, how do you see that going?

SPEAKER_02 3:06

Um, I've definitely been impressed with Morocco. Um, I think that they're they know what they have, they're such a collective team, they're not trying to do individual things, they're not trying to have a guy run up down the wing into the corner and do his stepovers or something that everybody they they move up together, they defend it together, they're so solid. Um, and of course, you've got the standout players like Mbappe, Dembele or Lise that can change anything in around the box nice and quick. So when that stuff happens, you've got to I always say to even being a coach to my players, if there's a moment of brilliance in football by these sort of level players, you just have to hold your hands up and give a clap. That's there's nothing you can do. There's no defending, there's no masterclass defensive moment you're gonna try to pull off. Um, I think Morocco will weigh them down a bit, like Paraguay. I think they'll take a lot of from Paraguay, Paraguay's tactics. Um, Morocco are a better team than Paraguay, but if they can hold off 0-0 at half time, I'd like to see the pressure go on France a bit because that's what will creep into Mbappes and that if they can get 0-0 or it could be 1-1 at half time, the pressure will keep falling onto France. So I think Morocco will go in that kind of way. Give them the pressure, you know. Don't worry, you know, even if they score, we know we can get one back from maybe a set piece, a free kick, corners, all the set piece kind of um uh involvement. Can I see France going through? 100%. Um, can I see them uh losing? I don't really see it, but I'm really excited to see what Morocco are gonna do. I know what France can do. I'm really looking forward to seeing what Morocco have up their sleeve tactically.

SPEAKER_00 4:41

Yeah, I think I think Morocco are gonna score. It's just a case of win. I mean, they've scored scored in every game so far. I think Canada kind of at times put them under a bit of pressure, but that's what Canada do. They're very energetic, very fit and physical. I think France probably I mean they're obviously physically fantastic, but I don't think they'll have that approach. Um, so I think Morocco will score. France are by no means like unbreakable at the back. Yeah, um, but obviously they have been really impressive. I think when we think back to the first game, Senegal actually had them on the ropes in the first half. Like they made that move in the second half, putting Elise into the into the middle, and he just my god man, he's so like six months ago, I wouldn't have told you like I wouldn't have considered Michael Elise in the top five, ten players in the world. But since the Champions League knocked their reins and out of the World Cup, he's just looked on fire, man. He's gone to a level I didn't think he had, you know.

SPEAKER_02 5:42

And that's the great thing about a World Cup. It can, you know, he played for well, I don't know if people knew, like, I where I was just coaching the last six months, Hayes in Yedding, um, just below the conference south in the in the pyramid steps of uh UK football. That's where he was, that's where he started his career. So I just want anyone listening out there, anything can happen in football, and it just shows it. It's not people talking Hollywood cliches, oh you know, dream big. And it look, the boy raised in Hayes, and now he's playing, you know, for France next to Mbappe. So it really is as simple as go, you know, left all the Academy City, Chelsea. Obviously, he had some attitude, a bit of that, and you know, that's fine. They have young kids at that time, they don't really know. Um, and then goes to Crystal Palace, a team that seems to produce players wingers from everywhere, we don't even know where they come from, and then suddenly they're sold for about 70 million every season to someone, and uh now he's an absolute superstar and a good attitude. Look at his attitude now. Um so good on him. Good on him.

SPEAKER_00 6:42

Yeah, so so you're you're sticking with France anyway. I mean, pre-tournament you backed France to win outright. So you're sticking with France in in this game.

SPEAKER_02 6:51

Yeah, I'm gonna stay with France, Lucas. I just think that uh the talent will overcome and um Mbappe heading for that golden boot. There's lots of little incentives. Elise wants to assist more, maybe he can get more assists than Bele. Obviously wants to rack up a couple more goals, I think. In so I just see that uh maybe a 2-1 France, something like that.

SPEAKER_00 7:10

Cool. Okay, so then uh Spain. Belgium is Friday night, and again, Spain kind of odds on favour to win the game. Belgium kind of one-to-four-ish. Um, so big outsiders, which I'm surprised by. Um, Belgium obviously looked really good. They obviously had to bit between their teeth for the US match. Uh, Spain probably haven't looked as amazing. I think they're missing Nico Williams and a fully fit Yamal. Uh, but how do you see that one go?

SPEAKER_02 7:43

I think it's gonna be a really good game because Spain haven't got into gear yet, which is which is a good a good sign. If play if teams are going through and they haven't hit full strength, that you've got to be careful of them teams because Spain have a lot of depth on the bench as well. Um uh Belgium, again, they were all they basically were there on the verge of being out and they come alive, and then of course the whole um the whole fiasco with Donald Trump's team. Um you know, that kind of spurred them on. And I was probably just expecting maybe a a 2-1 win or 2-2 kind of game. And they absolutely got you know destroyed 4-1. And maybe now that's that's revitalized them to take them into Spain to say, well, hold on a second, we're in we're in the quarter finals now. You know, now we can start to play. And that that that's sometimes sometimes happened, Luke. Like the World Cup is always a different challenge. Every new country brings something different, and it stifles stifles countries. And a lot, a lot of viewers they see it as Premier League-ish or Serie La Liga, you know, Bundesliga, they sort of think, oh, they can beat them and they can beat them. But like we've seen, Ghana, if you put 10 man behind the ball, I mean, you know, what you're gonna do, you're gonna have, you know, you have to change things up again. So I I can see Spain Spain getting through, but I still I still wouldn't uh I still wouldn't uh rule out Belgium. I just I can't rule them out. Uh so I'm a bit stuck that it could go to um extra time that game. I think they might cancel each other out for a bit. So but I I can see Spain going through, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 9:20

Yeah, you get three to one on the on the draw after 90 minutes, so interesting bet. I think uh like I don't disagree with you in the sense that Spain, I mean, I don't think they're ever going to score loads of goals, so you expect it to be a kind of low-scoring game. Belgium obviously weren't tipped to do much before the tournament, but obviously Trump's input in the last game has kind of brought them back to life a bit, you know. And who knows, maybe they'll have Balogun playing up front for them if Trump puts your call in, you know. So I could I play this game too. Yeah, come on, Donald, put your call in. Uh so maybe so maybe they'll have the extra firepower. But no, I I I mean I tipped Spain uh pre-tournament, and they haven't really I think Miko Williams and Yamala, it's obviously been their two most dangerous players, and they haven't been uh 100%. I mean, Nico's out of the tournament. So it's uh disappointing um from my point of view, but I I like I think they will have enough to win this match. I think the midfield is strong, I think they'll control the midfield. Yeah, but you never know with Belgium because they have the likes of de Bruine, who can just whether he starts or not, he didn't start the last game. So de Bruiner can just smack one in from 30 yards, and then it's like good luck, you have the ball for 90 minutes, Spain, but we'll just stick it in from 30 yards. So that's it.

SPEAKER_02 10:39

That's it, definitely. Anything anything's impossible in that game. I just think that Spain will have to really up their mentality to get goals. Possession is one thing we all know. You can have as much as bull if you want, but there's a corner comes in, and Lukaku just heads it in one zero, time ticks down, you're out. Um so I think we're gonna see a different Spain in this in this game.

SPEAKER_00 10:59

It's the beauty of knockout footballer. That's it. Um okay, so moving on to the really spicy games now. Uh Norway v England on Saturday night. Uh Norway, well, England are the favourites again, odds on, but according to the bookies, this is the hardest one to call. I mean, you might get uh 3-1 or so on Norway, England's even money more or less. Uh so really interesting game. Uh, how do you see it going?

SPEAKER_02 11:27

Yeah, it's gonna be a tough one. It's one of them where they've got a lot of resilience and a lot more confidence now, Norway. Um, I think it's their first time in the quarter finals. I think so. Um, to come off the back of beaten Brazil, not the greatest Brazil, it doesn't matter. We still respect the players, the team, the Brazilian Federation. That's huge. Um there's lots of Premier League players in the in the Norwegian side. They're obviously gonna understand lots of things that are the shapes that England will go into, different formations, players with speed, players who are not, they're gonna know exactly uh point for point. Um I do see England going through. I think I think it would be it could be a 2-1-3-1 England game. I think Haaland is gonna be a big threat, so that they're gonna use the Premier League kind of style where they're gonna probably put a lot of crosses in for him. I think they're gonna cause the fullbacks a lot of problems. Um, where the England are a bit tricky at the moment with injuries with the fullbacks and things. Um, I do think though, if the if the the Bellinghams, um, the Saka and the wingers really, really turn up, I can't see Norway stopping them. Um, but I can see them playing up into Haaland and causing a lot of problems for the the centre backs for England. Um, and then obviously Odegaard running off Haaland in and around the box, I think they'll be dangerous. I don't think there'll be too much of a threat in their half um within possession.

SPEAKER_00 12:53

I'm not I'm not really uh concerned so much of that, but uh I think it's going to be tactically the most interesting game because yeah, what England clearly want to do this tournament is counter-attack. Yeah. But they're not that strong at the back. So they have to absorb pressure, hit them on the break, and they can do that. They did that against Mexico, boom, two minutes, two goals. Yeah, um, whereas Norway, obviously, their back isn't the strongest either, but they their strength is up front with with Noosa, with Halland, obviously, and with Odegaard. And so the way I kind of see the game from a tactical point of view is that England will be happy enough to give them possession, it'll kind of play into their hands, but at the same time, Norway will be happy enough to have that possession because it plays into their hands. Odegaard getting on the ball, making angles, playing one-twos, looking for that opening. And definitely, I think from that point of view, it's a really dangerous game for both teams. Probably more so Norway, because England, I don't think their defence is the best defence, but it's not that bad either, where they can't handle Halland. I mean, they nobody can handle them easily, but they can do if they do everything else correct, they can manage the situation. And then on the break, I mean, Kane and Bellingham are on fire, so they're gonna be really hard to stop, and they will get chances. I think both teams will score though.

SPEAKER_02 14:21

I can see, I I definitely can I'm not gonna rule out uh Norway with one of the best players in the world, Haaland. I mean, goal hungry as well, there's motivation personally to be a golden boot, first World Cup, uh, seven goals in four games. I mean, it's unreal. So, I mean, to stop someone with that mentality, the only the only thing I think, if it does work like it did in the Premier League, is putting Dan Byrne to mark Haaland, which was a success in the Premier League. And I was watching some highlights of how frustrated Haaland was against him. So that physical battle, Dan Byrne is is is one of them. He's not trying to be the most Rio Ferdinand player on the ball. He's not trying to be someone special to show something a bit extra. He's just saying, if this is the job to stop Haaland, just just do that. Make him frustrated like you did in the Premier League, you know, like be, you know, have his when Haaland has his back to goal, Dan Byrne seems to know exactly how he likes to play. So I'm I'm pretty sure that if Dan Byrne starts, that will be his task, is just to like physically match with Haaland.

SPEAKER_00 15:18

I just I understand the reasoning, and I I've seen that, I've seen other people suggest that. I just can't see that change happening. I think it's I think it would be mad to change the centre half pairing now. That's not to say that the the two lads have been playing together forever, obviously they haven't been. Yeah, but centre back coming in, Dan Byrne would be his first start in the World Cup for England. I think um I don't know. I just think yeah, it changes everything, you know. If the base, if the base of the team, the defence is different, and it's we've always thought maybe it's just a cliche, you know, the centre back pairing have to stay the same, they know each other, they get to develop an understanding. Yeah, but of course, I understand why you would do it for Halland, you know. Yeah, yeah. But he's obviously Dan Bern isn't his mobile either, and that's the other thing. Halland isn't just great in the air, he's he is great in the air, but he's also good. We saw the second goal against Brazil.

SPEAKER_02 16:11

He's nimble, like he he's he's for such a big guy and obviously great body shapes, a bit similar to Ibrahimovic. Um, very nimble, drops low, drops into pockets, creeps around, you know, right, arrives at the back post and suddenly sticks a leg out, and he's you know, for a big guy, like he can get in these small pockets. Um but I do think as well, like we haven't even seen the best of um the England strikers either. Like you've got Ollie Watkins as well, um, someone like that who hasn't even hasn't really had a run, you know, and and you've got to think, I mean, what did he get? 15, 16 Premier League goals, lots of assists with that that great attack in that Aston Villa did. So I mean, you know, uh him him coming off the bench as well can be uh another weapon uh for England. So I'm really curious to see obviously what what changes they do for this game. Because you can't just if you know, obviously Kane's the captain, you can't just rely on him if it's 70 minutes and Kane still you know hasn't done much, you know. I'll be curious to see what sort of change Tuchel does with the other strikers.

SPEAKER_00 17:13

It would depend a lot on how the game is at that moment, because if that if Watkins comes on and Norway have a lead, well then they're gonna sit back and that kind of takes away what Watkins wants a bit of room to run into.

SPEAKER_02 17:24

Well, that's it.

SPEAKER_00 17:25

Um so it'll be an interesting. I I think it's gonna be from a style point of view, I think it's gonna be an amazing game. Uh I'm really looking forward to us.

SPEAKER_02 17:33

Yeah, I definitely think it will be another, it should be another blockbuster one because both teams, you know, Norway's never been in a quarter final, and this is their opportunity to really give it to the to the English because they know how they could crumble. And if they they use that mentality, and especially the Norwegians have a strong, strong mentality. If they if they That's not what you were saying before the tournament, no, no, I mean that's because they're used to going in the group stages and they're happy to be there, and you know, but now with this mentality of okay, we are here, we know how the English can crumble. I think that's what they're gonna try to play on. Is is playing them down.

SPEAKER_00 18:08

Pre-tournament, pre-tournament you suggested they'd be happy enough to go home after the group stages, stop off in Vegas, have a few drinks, find the pool, and uh and then go home to be received like heroes.

SPEAKER_02 18:19

Yeah, no, I definitely, and I think now they've they've they've they've exceeded expectation. So now they're kind of like, oh, you know, we're we're here, we're still we're still in this tournament, and you know, and I think now that their mentality will you know really weigh on the English because they know how you know the English players will slowly start to crumble if things aren't going their way.

SPEAKER_00 18:39

Um I get my fear with that is um the Mexico game was such like you mentioned previously about how the World Cup offers challenges, it's it's a different challenge, and England had that in Mexico, it was a very different challenge to anything else they've played, and they won. So automatically they it almost brings them to another level, yeah. And from my point of view, that's really scary because I don't think England, I never thought they'd win the World Cup, but suddenly you start building momentum, you overcome challenges, and you see the team kind of uh camadary between them all. They're so happy, they love being around each other. There's a it's a great team spirit at the moment, and I still wouldn't pick them to win it, but I feel a lot worse about it now, you know.

SPEAKER_02 19:28

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm seeing little glimpses. I'm still as I said, I'm I still got the France uh winning the World Cup. I mean, of course, I'd I I'd like to change my my my mind as well. Do I want France to win the World Cup? Maybe not. I am a bit of a neutralist as well. I'm not really sort of uh too passionate in the sense because I like you know good football or teams that you know, but yeah, would I like out of France and England to win it? I'd like England I'd choose to win it. But um I can I can see little little things, but I'm definitely good. I definitely can see against Norway, we'll have a we'll have a real view of how determined England are to get to the semi-final.

SPEAKER_00 20:05

Yeah, I mean it's a big game. I think it's the it's the toughest game both of them will have faced, so I'm really looking forward to that on Saturday. And then the last quarter final is on Sunday night, and it's Argentina v Switzerland, and Argentina are the favourites. Switzerland you can get uh four, maybe even five to one in some places. Uh I'm having that bet. I'm all over that because Argentina, for my money, as great as the moments they've produced have been. They haven't been a good team, and they're not going to win the World Cup, in my opinion. Um I mean, are Switzerland much worse than or much better than uh Egypt or Cape Verde? I don't think so. But either of those sides could have beat Argentina. So I mean that's my opinion. What do you think about them?

SPEAKER_02 20:54

I I think out of I think, well, out of all of it's a good point, Luke, in the sense I think out of all the teams that are in the favourite bracket, England, uh uh, Argentina, France, alright, put Spain in two, um Argentina have actually had the most uh thrilling journey. So yeah, I don't know I don't I want to look at the advantages of the thrilling journey, the Cape Verde, um the uh the last match, uh Egypt, and then obviously there's a there's a similarity again, it's Switzerland. So do they are they better than Egypt? Probably about probably about the same. Do they have a bit obviously one of their top players got injured now, so they lost they lost that player. I forgot his name. Um are Switzerland as fast as Cape Verde? Are they as athletic, 1v1, the way that Cape Verde were, got into Argentina's box so quickly, so confidently as well. Um, but then you know Argentina overcame it. Then they overcame it again. Um and that's kind of it doesn't I know people don't like it. Like you said, that they've been poor, but sometimes that's how world champions become world champions. Um, I'm sorry it sounds boring to people to be like, oh, you have to play exciting football to win the World Cup. Greece, Greece won the Greece won the Euro 2004 and it came from nothing, you know, and it was zero-zero, and then what did they win one-zero in the final? Just a header come up, that was it, and Portugal are done. So I can I can see Argentina stepping into another gear and saying, All right, you know, we need to we need to now like show 3-0 against Switzerland, um, the but all of them turn up, they don't want to concede first. Maybe, you know, Scaloni now gets it right. Maybe he's now gonna go into deep tactics to say, all right, what's the situation here? We keep conceding goals first, and we're we're we're we're chasing games and we're Argentina, we're the world champions. Maybe now, Luke, this could be the game where it's like, oh, it's it's three zero, it's two zero at halftime. Uh the game finishes three or four-zero. And can Switzerland do something? 100%. Can they set pieces? Can they you know, can they creep in and cause them a bit of pressure uh for 20 minutes or 15 minutes here and there? I'm just gonna go with the Argentina clean win, no extra time, nothing.

SPEAKER_00 23:14

It's funny because I think if you look at some of the fallout, if you look at some of the fallout that uh followed from the England group games and the uh Dominican Republic of Congo game, like it's quite negative, you know. Whereas Argentina have had these two results where they've had to come back. And I've been looking at some of the Argentina uh press and stuff like that as in the wake of these games and seeing what the attitude has been, and it's so much more balanced than I'd expected, you know. Like, I I guess I'm used to the British Irish press where they just kind of hammer the team and say, Wow, we should be hammering Congo. Whereas the Argentina press, it's not not everywhere, but a lot of it has been like, Well, they played really well and we did what needed to be done. We got there in the end, we got the job done.

SPEAKER_02 24:04

Exactly, and that's how I love like the World Cup has every animosity, every challenge, adversity, it's everything. It's it's not it's not just because you know Messi's in the team, Lautaro Martinez, and and all these superstars, and and the lights and the stadiums make them look great, and the boots, you know, all you know, and it's all the kids want that. I get it. But when you know football a bit more personally, or you work in the game, you're looking at a team like Argentina, they've already had these these moments, thrills and spills, and nearly out and crying messy and comebacks. Jesus Christ. I mean, if they now don't want to make comebacks and just go forward from quarterfinal, semi-final, final, they're they're they're they're they're dangerous. They they can literally they can win the World Cup and do what they want. No one's had that. France haven't come over a comeback, France haven't had that feeling of anything. They've just been, you know, kind of driving on cruise control a bit and and moments goal and back a 1v1 finish. And don't get me wrong.

SPEAKER_00 25:03

Well, I would say to be fair to France in that respect, obviously Paraguay presented a very different challenge to what they had had in the previous games. They just showed up to kick them and they did it pretty well. But then France responded to that really well. So I think in one respect they have had that challenge, you know, just a different type of challenge.

SPEAKER_02 25:21

Yeah, no, definitely you're right there, Luke. That they they've had that, that was their moment of testing them for everyone to see what all France does because surely Bappi's gonna react. There's a red card. Didier Deschamps, I think, done an amazing management job with the team because you saw all of them are on the same page as like, guys, no red cards, no, because it's gonna unbalance everyone. And normally you would think that game, it has to be a red card. Like you know, we've seen the French top players before, the Spanish ones, everyone reacts and no one cares about the moment, but you can clearly see Deschamps was like, guys, you know, we we lose we lose Caliba or we lose um Rabio or someone, our whole dimension for the next game, it's all it's all rock to boat. Um, and I I did love to see their resilience against the Paraguayan thugs who just came to to say this is the only way to win. And I heard now the the Senate of uh Asuncion in Paraguay, she's trying to do a lawsuit against some batteries.

SPEAKER_00 26:17

She's nasty, she's been saying some terrible things.

SPEAKER_02 26:22

It's just hilarious the way that people want to, you know, want to react. That was their game plan. So I think that Morocco they played last World Cup, wasn't it? Morocco, France, didn't they? France just about that was a real I remember the game being 1-1 at one point, and I was thinking, oh my god, Morocco are gonna be in the final of the World Cup. And France obviously came up boom 2-1. So I think Morocco will be will be definitely having a look at what Paraguay did and and obviously start to see which players react, and they'll they'll definitely be doing a lot of 1v1.

SPEAKER_00 26:57

But they won't get much insight there because France, like you said already, they didn't react too much. And I think I I don't want to take too much weight in Paraguay either. I've seen them they get a lot of crap. A lot of people are saying, oh, it's disgusting the way they chose. It's football, you do what you have to do to win. Jesus. Fair play to France for overcoming it, you know. They they did what they had to do to win, and their approach was amazing. I loved how they were just so kind of nonchalant and just didn't get roped into it. But at the same time, I love how Paraguay assessed the situation and said, Well, this is our best option, we gotta kick them.

SPEAKER_02 27:33

That's that's it. We gotta we've gotta distract them in any sort of way. And and you know what, we've I don't know why people are even looking at that now. I mean, if we go for the World Cups years and years ago, when 1990, I know we were we were young then, but remember when Cameroon had to play Argentina in the San Ciro, I think it was, second knockout round, I think. Yeah, they absolutely nearly cut Claudio Canija's body in half. When he done a run, there was three of them chop, chop, chop, and then eventually Canija had to like you know lie down at the end of the field. And but Cameroon were like, this is the only way we're gonna be able to stop these, they're everywhere, you know. Maradona, Canisia, like they were so many, and and you know, football is is changing, it's evolving. I know that all these, you know, this rope robotic tactics and and all these things, but we'll always go back to a tactic of old school, keep it, and you know, and that's that's what I love about Argentina, actually, as well, is that they like and Scaloni has talked about it plenty of times where they've tried to do, and I think what Brazil tried to do this year, they Brazil have tried to play a European-style game, and it doesn't suit them.

SPEAKER_00 28:34

Whereas Argentina have said, no, we're gonna play La Nuestra, we're gonna play our way, and that's what that is. It's all the midfielders, it's it's getting close, playing a lot of football close together, and then having that third man run, and it's amazing. And you see Argentina, you look back at the videos of Raquelmy uh and these types of players, Pal Aimar, and it's just amazing to watch, you know, these one-twos, Cambiaso, Simeoni. I I love it, you know, and I hope like Ancelotti's staying on, and Ancelotti's been a great manager at Brazil, but I'd love to see Brazil go back, like having those flying fullbacks. I know there's rather Roberto Carlos just hanging around on the beach or a Cafu, but like they've got it big enough, they've got to find, they've got to go back and understand what makes them Brazil. It's not all about Ronaldinho and Ronaldo and uh and these great players. I mean, but it's about fullbacks getting up and down, you know.

SPEAKER_02 29:29

That's right. There was no identity in that. I know we don't want to go obviously too far away with talking about the the quarterfinals, but of course, that's what I'm I'm liking Argentina because they're still they're still showing their own identity. No one's looking at the screen like we did Brazil. We're like 4-4-2, Brazil, what is going on here? Like, is this is this a serial game? You know, they're just playing it square, left, right, left, right, maybe. And where did where would a where would uh a real true Brazilian identity like a Neymar, where would he fit into that? Even Neymar came on, and of course it's Neymar, he's he's past it now, it's sad to say, but you know, Vinicius stuck out on the wing, you know, put him in them half spaces inside where Ronaldinho used to cause all these problems in two step hopes in out and a free kick penalty, and that was there was no there was no action.

SPEAKER_00 30:14

Um starting to cause a bit of chaos every now and then. Just like that's it.

SPEAKER_02 30:20

That's it. That's what that's what everyone was waiting for. You know, every World Cup, you've seen a skill from a Brazilian player. Every World Cup there's been a something where it's a nutmeg or um a flick over the head or something. So with Argentina, they showed resilience, grit, grind, uh a bit of a bit of fighting, a bit of, you know, two players, you know, uh bet the bench, the bench coming out as well and trying to you know be the 10th, be the 11th man, and um, they've scored great goals, they've you know, they've missed penalties, they've done comebacks. So, you know, Argentina have represented. So the people in Buenos Aires like looking on the street, they're like, Yeah, it's okay, two-zero down Egypt. Yeah, well, we'll be back.

SPEAKER_01 30:58

We'll be back.

SPEAKER_02 30:59

And and exactly what happened, and then everyone tries to blame FIFA now, but you're still you're still remembering that Argentina still had to score the goals, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 31:08

So so we've spoken about the four quarterfinals there. Um obviously, as I mentioned earlier, pre-tournament, you thought France would win, I thought Spain would win. Have you changed your position there? Do you still think France will win, or have you kind of drifted from that?

SPEAKER_02 31:27

Oh, don't do that to me. I mean, uh no, I have to still stick with it because um uh France just look phenomenal in the sense of in control defensively. I have all the teams defensive from the back, middle, and top, they just look in full control. It doesn't look like they're a bit England a bit shaky at the back, then obviously counter-attack, so you think, well, they've got these players, yeah, good. Spain collectively, they need a bit more Argentinian bite, they need a bit more like aggression, and I think because they're a they look a bit timid, um, they don't have too much senior players in depth, and that that's where I think they could come up short Spain. Um, that little bit of leadership, that bite, you know, to say, come on, guys, enough ticky-tack, and all let's we need you know, let's get this job done, even if it's ugly, just get it done. Um I still see France, I still see France with the way Mbappe's going as well. Um I still see them doing it as much as I'd want England to beat them.

SPEAKER_00 32:25

Yeah, well the betting hasn't changed too much. I mean, France and Spain were the favourites pre-tournament for the bookies, and they remain the f favourites now. France are clear favourites, whereas pre-tournament it was kind of neck and neck with France as well. Yeah. So France are clear favourites, Spain, Argentina, then England. Um that kind of surprised me a little bit. Argentina, then England. Yeah. But I guess that's partly to do with the World Cup draw they have as well. They've got a tougher game. Um England have a tougher game than is. But yeah, I mean I think from my point of view, I said Spain, and I still am not fully I still kind of think they can win it. I still think like you mentioned, they don't have much depth in terms of experience, and that's true, but they have like I think when I said Spain pre-tournament, one of the reasons I said was because they have the variety, and there's such a contrast to England. England have big built their squad, they've picked two players, two of the exact same profile of player in each position. So if Gordon can't play, Rashford comes on and they'll stretch defence, they look for the ball in behind. Whereas Spain have gone the opposite route and they've gone variety in everything to help them in any situation, and that's exactly how they they beat Portugal. Yeah, they could they were struggling, but then eventually they bring on Marino and Marino scores, and I think that's what Spain still have, and Yamal getting a little bit better each game. Obviously, he was playing against Mendez in in against Portugal, and Mendez is probably the best fullback in the world at the moment. He's amazing when he went off. Yamal looked a bit more lively. Um, so I still think if he can go up another level again, get a bit closer to full fitness. Well, then I just can't put it past them. And I think they'll pose a very different challenge to France. It's a challenge where actually, for the first time in the tournament, France won't have possession, they won't have the majority of possession, and it would be interesting to see how they would react against that situation. Where do they're forwards all press, do they sip off? I think that would be really interesting. I think Morocco could pose a similar question tonight. They have a solid midfield and they aren't afraid to keep the ball. So I think that we'll see, we'll see lots of answers. Obviously, it's the same. We're in the quarterfinals, so we're gonna get a lot of answers to a lot of questions over the next few nights. But yeah, yeah, I'm I'm I can't change, so I'm sticking with I that at least that's me convincing myself that Spain are going to win the World Cup and that I was right the whole time, you know.

SPEAKER_02 35:05

I know, yeah. Yeah, you had your you had your shaky moments out of the group stage, into the knockout stage.

SPEAKER_00 35:10

Yeah, I did, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 35:12

Thought should you should you steer away from them? But the good the good thing is, is what I like is is that it leaves the opening for the bookies to Argentina and England. But of course, yeah, they're gonna, if it goes the way that I hope it does, you're gonna see a semi-final like it's gonna be a final with Argentina. And what obviously we know one of only one can go through, so it's it's gonna be an absolute blockbuster. So hopefully he does get to that stage and England do beat Norway because the Argentinians are already singing songs to taunt the English. They haven't even beaten Norway. So even the Argentinians are saying, I'll beat Norway, we're gonna we want to see so if you're if you're talking about Argentina having their blockbuster comebacks and you know, great comeback goals, electric moments, and tears and emotion, then you've got you've got the English who have you know went to Azteca Stadium, which was like in it was near impossible to sort of you know uh get that win, and they did it. And then if they go and now do a blockbuster in a semi-final against Argentina and they do it, I mean, then you're then you're setting yourself up for a you know a France, I hope a France or Spain, uh England World Cup final. But coming over that Mexico, England versus Mexico, England versus Argentina, then then then you know it's the semi-final we all want.

SPEAKER_00 36:32

It's it's a proper World Cup match. Oof, it's it.

SPEAKER_02 36:37

I mean, I think even the Argentinas are like, hurry up this Norway game, let's get it out of the way. That's what they're thinking already, which you know that I like I like the way that they were disrespectful. They're already like, Well, you know, we'll see you in the semi-final, you know, Auckland's is ours, you know, and all this.

SPEAKER_00 36:52

Las Malvinas, Alex.

SPEAKER_02 36:54

Las Malvinas. So, you know, it's so yeah, I mean, definitely I'm excited for for the France, Morocco, and and then England-Norway on Saturday. It will be uh, you know, and look, it could be a surprise. We're all you know, all this England and Argentina, it could literally be turn around and Haaland scores a 2-1 win, and England that's it, packing their bags.

SPEAKER_00 37:16

Yeah, well, I like I would love nothing more than Argentina to beat England in the semi-final, but I can't take that chance, so I need Norway to beat them. I need Norway to beat England, you know. I just we're already in the quarterfinals, you know. If they beat Norway and then and then they have a game against uh uh dodgy enough looking Argentina, but then better off, you know, for the wrong reasons that England got to the ball cup final. I have to move in behind the couch, you know, watch watching it from behind the couch. But uh all right, Alex, well thanks a million. Thanks for joining me uh again today. Uh we missed you, or I missed you on the last one. It was uh no, it was great being into the void, you know.

SPEAKER_02 37:57

I know, I know, I know. No, I'm back now for the rest of the World Cup and uh thanks for having me back on. And I'm really excited to see what's what's gonna be the next one after we get these games out on the weekend.

SPEAKER_00 38:07

So hopefully we'll catch up on Monday or Tuesday for a quick one again.

SPEAKER_02 38:10

Yeah, no, sounds good. Perfect, Luke. Yeah, cheers. Thanks very much.

SPEAKER_00 38:14

Just for if anyone is listening to this, uh, apart from my mother, uh give us a follow on Twitter at punser underscore IE. Um, and yeah, just give us a follow, help us grow. And uh because I don't know about you, Alex, but I really enjoy doing these podcasts. No, they're great.

SPEAKER_02 38:35

And of course, we've got the the football next month starting all back up, which is uh which is great after a long break and in the World Cup, and obviously and you've committed to doing one podcast a day at that point, right? Yeah, yeah, so that'll be exciting for the new seasons coming up as well.

SPEAKER_01 38:54

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 38:55

All right, thanks, Alex. Let's speak again in a few days and enjoy the quarterfinals. All right, cheers, Luke. See you soon, mate. Thanks. Adios