Argentina are inevitable + Ornstein on Man United transfers
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
The Athletic FC.
Hello and welcome to the Athletic FC podcast with me, Emma Payton. Argentina produce one of the great World Cup comebacks to see off Egypt. They'll face Switzerland next, who saw off Colombia on penalties. And just why do Manchester United want to sign Chelsea midfielder Andre Santos? Here with me in the studio today, we have the Athletics' Mark Critchley and Liam Toomey. How are we? Do we feel well rested after some pretty normal kickoff times last night?
Not as rested as I would feel if I'd given Switzerland-Columbia a miss. Ah, yes. I did at one point think about setting an alarm for the penalties and just going to bed for about an hour.
How did Argentina stage a comeback to beat Egypt after going 2-0 down?
You were really focused on that one, weren't you?
I watched the whole thing. In my hotel room, I had to charge my phone on the other side of the room. So I was fully locked in. And honestly, I loved it. I don't know what everyone's talking about. I was so focused solely on what was going on in that game that it felt like I was a child again.
Yeah. You were seeing the pressing systems, the man marking, everything.
I don't know if I'm quite as advanced as some of the people on this podcast who talk about those sort of things. But yeah, I could maybe even notice those, maybe. But no, it was brilliant. Except everyone disagrees and thinks it was crap. So whatever, that's fine.
That's fine. Don't worry about that. So then the round of 16 is complete and we have our quarterfinal lineups. More on that a little bit later in the show. But let's begin with Argentina, who came back from two goals down to beat Egypt 3-2. Well, here is the Athletics' James Horncastle, who was in Atlanta on an incredible night.
Depth on the cross.
Enzo Fernandez. The world champion still alive. and showing their pedigree with one of the all-time World Cup recoveries.
Well, that was the craziest Argentina game I've covered in four days since I was in Miami for their 3-2 win over Cape Verde. This one was another level because they had been in front in those Cape Verde games. They went behind here. They looked down and out, particularly when they were 2-0 down. And Messi, he was having an off day for an hour. He had a penalty saved. He had a shot in the first half, which almost hit the corner flag. He just did not look at it, even though I think when Argentina were behind in that first half, they should really have been in the lead. They created enough chances. They believed all the way through. But no one in the press box did. They were already writing their requiems for Messi's career at the World Cup.
Everyone was saying, is this going to be over now? Is this going to be one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history? It wasn't, because as was the case four years ago, just when you think this Argentina team is out, they pull themselves back in. They're still alive.
Yeah, they are very much still alive, aren't they? And as James says there, just when you think this Argentina team are done, they managed to find a way to win. I think when they went 2-0 down and 67 minutes on the clock, James saying they looked down and out, I think everybody was thinking maybe it's just not going to happen for this Argentina side today.
Yeah, it feels like with this team, they need to feel appropriate fear, especially with some of the teams they've played in this tournament so far. They haven't had the hardest run in terms of on paper names. So I think there may have been an element of complacency, certainly against Cape Verde. And maybe in this game as well until Egypt put them on the brink. I also thought there was a football reason why Argentina was struggling so much because you look at the way their team is geared up. Everything goes through the middle of the pitch and often it works because they're so good at finding Messi and Messi's probably the best we've ever seen at threading little passes through and small space combinations and stuff.
But any team knows how to flood the pitch, the middle of the pitch defensively. And that's what Egypt did. And Argentina couldn't really get anywhere until they were 2-0 down and suddenly Messi, and I'm just going to go and stand here on the right wing and start clipping crosses in.
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Chapters
4 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:02–0:44
2
How did Argentina stage a comeback to beat Egypt after going 2-0 down?
0:44–9:28
3
Why was Lionel Messi’s performance criticised despite leading the comeback?
9:28–17:30
4
What tactical reasons made Argentina struggle early against Egypt?
17:30–42:54
Speakers
5 identifiedMore from The Athletic FC Podcast
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