World Cup update
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What were the key highlights from the knockout stages of the World Cup?
The FIFA World Cup knockout stages continue to deliver with France showing their strength over Sweden, Norway's Erling Haaland scoring a late winner against the Ivory Coast and co-host Mexico making it into the round of 16 with a flawless defensive record after beating Ecuador. Joining me now to look back on the action and ahead to England's game later today is soccer analyst and former Ireland international Stephen Kelly. Stephen, good morning to you. Good morning, Dave. You OK? Yeah, good, thanks. We've had some upsets so far in the round of 32. Less so last night. It probably went according to expectations more, did it? Yeah.
How did France perform in their recent match against Sweden?
Yeah, a bit more normal service resumed from what we expected. Yeah, to see Germany go out and to see the Netherlands go out. For Morocco, that was always going to be a tough game. So that was a toss of a coin. And I think the Barrett team came through that one. But yeah, last night, France just... they're just sensational they really are like genuinely we're on last night talking about it and you feel if they turn up to the level they can they beat everybody genuinely I'm not sure who can stop them but you know they have to have a bit of an off day to get one over on them I feel Okay so they'll be looking good for progressing further Norway Erling Haaland struck late again so is it all about Haaland?
Yeah, it seems to be. They're not a bad side. They did really well in qualifying. And then, you know, after that big defeat they had in the group stages, you kind of felt that Norway, well, not a big defeat, it was a defeat against France. But everything is reliant on him. You're almost guaranteed a goal with this guy when he's playing. So it gives you a chance in every game you play. He's just an amazing centre-forward. He's always in the right place. He's got 60 goals in 53 games for Norway, which, considering they're not the most creative team in the world, is ridiculous. So, yeah, they always have a chance with him in the team.
OK, and the co-host Mexico cruised past Ecuador. They've a flawless defensive record and that's going to really stand to them, isn't it?
Yeah, it is. And you know, those games in Mexico for them, the altitude, all of this is playing into what could be a really strong position from themselves. You feel like if anybody has to go there, it's going to be a very difficult place to go and get results. Their confidence that the fan base is incredible. And, you know, the Azteca Stadium would be a pretty impenetrable place to go and play. So, yeah, any teams going to that altitude is going to struggle.
OK, well, vying to fill that place in the next round, England against the Democratic Republic of Congo in Atlanta tonight. I don't think Congo would have been on anybody's list of teams to do really well, but they have done well so far. I mean, there's certainly no pushover for this particular England team.
No, African teams, I feel, have done extremely well.
What makes Erling Haaland a standout player for Norway?
Overcoast against Norway, we're lucky. They are Congo there as well. I think they're, you know... England struggled against Ghana. Defensively, Ghana were so strong, so physical. We're able to deal with everything and have the trouble. And if you're the Congo, you go out with the same game plan. You try and stifle them and then catch them on the counter-attack. And England have not been great in getting past that low block. So, yeah, this is an interesting one. And if England are looking to really put a marker down, this would be a game where they can kind of show their credentials.
And a bit like Haaland for Norway, is it all about Harry Kane? I think...
with England you have more superstars Jude Bellingham has been their best player of the tournament so far you know question marks whether he was going to start in this tournament that he's come out absolute the one that they're going to be heavily reliant on Kane is yeah he's got goals he's got attacking ability is great but you feel England their front door players haven't really delivered yet the wide players who are capable of more should be more influential in the game and they're going to look for them to come to the fore but yeah I think Jude Bellingham and Kane are the standout performers
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