How can England conquer the Azteca?
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
The Athletic FC.
Hi there and welcome to The Athletic FC podcast with me, Adam Leventhal. So Lionel Messi and Argentina are through, but only just. And as the round of 16 starts over the weekend, we will ask, can England conquer the Azteca after the kickoff confusion? Well, here in the studio, we have The Athletic's Keris Jones and Liam Tharm. Now, we know we've had the confusion over the kickoff time, but that is all settled. We'll get to that. But have you finalized your plans for Monday morning yet?
I think pub. I think for the novelty of being in the pub from one until three in the morning. And I am then on the show the following morning.
How did Argentina survive Cape Verde and what does it reveal about their World Cup form?
So, yeah, I might not be my most like put together self, but I'm calling it authentic.
Yes, absolutely. Yeah, it will go either way. You might be elated because England have gone through and you'll just sort of carry yourself through.
I'll come in in my shirt, like it'll be fine.
You might as well come in from the pub, presumably to the office rather than... I mean, with how long it takes you to get in. Extra time on pens potentially as well.
If it goes to penalties, I probably won't go to bed. So, yeah, we'll see. It could be fun.
It's going to be fun either way, isn't it? Liam, what are you going to do? Are you going to be sensible?
I think I'm well the problem is I'm working on Brazil Norway before that so I'm going to be doing that from home I think it might be watching it from bed I fear there's a you know yeah I think if the problem is though also if I watch it from bed I'll fall asleep like it doesn't matter how good the game is like if I try and watch something in bed at one in the morning I think that might also happen with me so yeah
Okay. Well, it'll be a nice surprise for you when you wait.
Yeah, that's true. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Well, we'll have much, much more on the kickoff time with Matt Slater very, very shortly. But let's start with the on-pitch drama. Lionel Messi's Argentina were taken to the brink of World Cup elimination by Cape Verde, only to win in extra time. And to witness it all in Miami, our man there was James Horncastle.
Well, that was nice, easy, straightforward, a walk in the park for Argentina, just as everybody anticipated. Oh, no, it wasn't. Cape Verde gave them a real scare. It looked at one stage particularly in extra time, like... One of the great upsets was on the cards, particularly when Sidney Cabral scored what, for my money, is the goal of the tournament so far. Argentina at 2-2 looked shaken up, they were looking blankly at each other. They ultimately found a way to win the game and that was important, Lionel Scoloni said, even if it was an own goal. because this game reminded him of a lot of the games that they played in Qatar four years ago, which were often manic, hysterical, left you biting your nails, tearing your hair out.
It reminded Scaloni in particular of the opening game of the last World Cup against Saudi Arabia, which they took the lead in and then they lost. But he said the difference was this time against Cape Verde they didn't. They're more experienced now, they've got more character, But he wanted to pay homage to Cape Verde and say that there are no easy games at this level anymore. We've seen in this tournament that the gap between particularly the African countries and those in South America and those in Europe has got smaller. And it was a great occasion and one of the nights of the World Cup so far.
Liam, Sidney Lopez Cabral with the goal of the tournament.
Yeah, it's up there. I'm ashamed to say that actually I turned the game off at 2-1 when Argentina dropped from the corner.
Shame.
That is shame. So Cape Verde proved me very wrong. I think a lot of other people this tournament. I mean, they were really, I think, diligent late in the game when... Argentina were kind of pushing as well like defended the box really really well centre-backs were really alert I mean the fact I know they conceded two goals kind of beyond that both from set pieces which I think they were just so good kind of in settled possession deep defending that that's the way then you have to try and break them down and they've had a really really good tournament to take the the winners all the way to extra time after taking Spain to a nil-nil you know three draws in the groups this just is a good team now.
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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 survive Cape Verde and what does it reveal about their World Cup form?
0:44–8:20
3
Why is Cape Verde being called the story of the World Cup this year?
8:20–40:00
4
What caused the last-minute kickoff time confusion for England vs Mexico?
40:00–42:14
Speakers
6 identifiedMore from The Athletic FC Podcast
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