DISCUSSION: World Cup 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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Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:25

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 2:15

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 4:10

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 5:20

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 7:23

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 7:34

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 7:49

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 9:10

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 11:14

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 12:45

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 14:55

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 15:41

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 17:13

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 17:53

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 19:30

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 22:17

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 24:13

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 24:56

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 25:42

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 28:30

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 29:17

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 29:41

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 29:56

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 32:56

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 33:58

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 34:35

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 34:42

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 34:53

All right, Paul, hit us with it.

SPEAKER_01 34:56

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 36:04

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 36:21

I'll be consistent with what I said all night. Um, Argentina V Swiss could could turn Argentina over.

SPEAKER_02 36:27

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 36:53

Bye bye. Thanks, guys. Have a good evening.