World Cup update
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What were the major surprises in the World Cup knockout stages?
Now, the World Cup knockout stages are living up to expectations with two major European heavyweights crashing out on penalties overnight and Brazil leaving it incredibly late to keep their hopes of a sixth title alive. Joining me now to look back on all the big talking points and ahead to today's remaining round of 32 ties are soccer correspondent with the Irish Examiner, John Fallon and RTE soccer analyst, Maeve de Berger. Good morning to you both, John. Well, if you were looking for drama, you certainly got drama last night.
Absolutely, David. Yeah, pure entertainment for the night elves like ourselves. Yeah, as you mentioned there, European heavy aids have crashed out. Germany, who haven't won a knockout game since they won the tournament in 2014, they've gone and so have Netherlands. Probably the game in a tournament against Morocco, but like Germany... they ended up being eliminated in a very dramatic penalty shootout.
How did Germany and the Netherlands perform in their matches?
Yeah, Maeve, good morning to you. Were Paraguay simply better than Germany or has Germany let themselves down, do you think?
Yeah, I think Germany probably let themselves down. Definitely, I suppose, pressure on the team from their own fans and media and like it probably is one of the biggest shocks of the tournament. I think they kind of dominated it. possession of the territory but they just kept running into Paraguay's like really disciplined low block so they just kept attacking through central kind of crowded areas and then on the flip side Paraguay were really defensively solid and so I think they managed to come through then in the end Yeah John as you say Morocco against the Netherlands one of the games of the tournament but Morocco are a decent team aren't they?
Oh absolutely they're reigning African Cup of Nations champions they got to the semi-finals of the last tournament so the pundits in RTE actually tipped Morocco to go through in advance but it took a last minute equaliser to force extra time and eventually penalties but they are a serious outfit and there's very much a chance, given the depth of their squad, that they could go deep into the tournament. But if they are to do so, they're probably going to come up against France, who play Sweden later on, and that should be a cracker of a game.
Yeah.
What role did Morocco play in the tournament's drama?
Maeve, Brazil nearly joined the ranks of the heavyweights that had a shock defeat. Japan did very, very well, didn't they?
They really did, yeah. Their first half, they got it spot on. I thought they were excellent. They really... They pressed high against Brazil and even the goal, they got really kind of capitalised on how slow and vulnerable Brazil can be going towards their own goal. And Casemiro in particular, I think, was caught out for the goal. But he came back with the equaliser in the second half. And I think Carlo Ancelotti really can be, I suppose, given credit for bringing on Henrik at half-time because he changed the game completely.
How did Brazil narrowly escape elimination against Japan?
And I thought Brazil then overwhelmed Japan during that second half. And then, like I said, just for Japan, that was a heartbreaking, just a 95th-minute winner. Not for the first time they've been knocked out at the knockout stages after having a lead.
Yeah, very disappointing for them. John, as you say, France against Sweden should be a good game. I presume France would be the favourites.
All of them, well, scored 10 goals, only conceded two in the group phase and have rotated their squads. They also have their manager Didier Deschamps back after a compassionate leave. His mother passed away and it's his last tournament.
What are the expectations for France in their upcoming match?
So France, I think, have been the standout team so far in this tournament and I'd expect them to progress with a bit to spare against the Swedes.
OK, and Maeve, we have Ivory Coast against Norway and Mexico against Ecuador. What are we expecting there?
Yeah, I think Norway would definitely be the favourites for the first one there. They got to rest a load of their players in the final group game because they were already qualified. So I think if Haaland gets service early, they could be really, really dangerous.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What were the major surprises in the World Cup knockout stages?
0:00–0:56
2
How did Germany and the Netherlands perform in their matches?
0:56–2:23
3
What role did Morocco play in the tournament's drama?
2:23–3:04
4
How did Brazil narrowly escape elimination against Japan?
3:04–3:40
5
What are the expectations for France in their upcoming match?
3:40–4:42
6
What controversy surrounds FIFA President Gianni Infantino?
4:42–5:46