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WCAD 3-21: Euro & Copa América QF Recap + SF Preview
75 Plays11 months ago
Amit and Austin double-dip to cover both the Euro & Copa América QFs including a string of penalty shootouts, Spain's Dani Olmo fortune, and one of the most physical matches in recent memory between Uruguay and Brazil.
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Transcript
The Art of Penalties
00:00:01
Speaker
If we learn anything from the quarterfinals of the Copa America and the Euro emit, it's that you better practice your penalties. Because odds are you're probably going to penalties. Six of the eight quarterfinals went to penalties if my count is correct. No, five of the eight, one wins extra time, almost one to penalties. That's a pretty good number. ah get Good relatively. um Listen, the penalties are great drama. I'm with you. um We've come so far on penalty kick taking and saving. It's very good tension, but ah you should be ready to win them. And we saw that, and we're going to get into that. um Yeah, it's the very tense, different game than the rest of the game that we love about international football. And also, your first penalty kick-taker should not hit a grass-cutter to one side. Like, Switzerland, what are you doing? That was tough. That was tough. i
00:00:52
Speaker
you know, would maybe have a player whose, you know, job it is to do attacking things, do the attacking thing and the most important time of the game. But, but, but
Copa America and Euro Insights
00:01:02
Speaker
we'll see. We'll see. This is the world cup after dark podcast. My name is Austin Miller. He is a mid Malek. We've reached the point where there's enough, there's a lack of games, admit that we're, we're merging the two tournaments. So we're going to talk Euro. We're going to talk hope America all on the same show today. We'll recap the quarterfinals. We'll preview the semi-finals. Let's get right into it. Let's start with the headliner from the Euro.
Spain vs Germany: A Clash of Styles
00:01:24
Speaker
Spain 2, Germany 1. This game lived up to the billing. Yeah, this was final level quality. I think both of these teams had all the talent and they also had just enough flaws and not committed to playing boring suffer ball. As we had said, all tournament looking forward to this very game
00:01:44
Speaker
And it really delivered, it really delivered. um Spain went up early, Germany clawed their way back very, very slowly. um And I think both managers here were really good too as well. And then we saw a really interesting extra time where Germany had just subbed on a lot of players to try to chase the game. And then the next time they had all those attacking players in Spain, had kind of done a bunch of defensive conservative subs. And so that made the extra time very interesting. And in the end, Spain got the winner. A lot of places to go in this one. Where do you want to start? Yeah, I think let's start with something that happened that was kind of unexpected in this game. And that was within the first 10 minutes, Spain are forced into a change here. Pedri off, Danny Olmo on. I think Danny Olmo might've played a role regardless in this match, but he comes on early. and he turns out to be the person who turned the tide of this match for Spain. He scores the the goal that put them ahead in regular time, and he has a pin-perfect cross for the assist in extra time. Absolute game-changing performance here from Danny Omo off the bench unexpectedly early on. That's, to me, the biggest overall headline from what happened on the field. He was just super impressive, like you said, and it's really interesting that, like, he's a bench player for them. I think he gives them ah so much more
00:03:11
Speaker
It's not more than Pedro, right? It's so hard to be like, we should be starting players over Pedro, who is like a quintessential spade midfielder that plays at Barcelona and does all the passing. But what Danny Omo does differently is he's much more of an attacking, like box arriving midfielder, much more willing to play that cross. And I think that's what you get from a guy that plays within the Red Bull system. Like, yes, he has the technical, you know, standards that all the Spain players have, but he's just a much more forward inclined player. And the big theme for Spain all tournament is that they're much more forward inclined than their past generations, which with their wingers and he is like the the embodiment of that. And it almost, I think helped them to have him in this game for longer. For sure. I think he would have come in 60, 70th minute, who knows? I mean, he we we would have seen him, but he was that X factor today and yeah on that game and just
00:04:08
Speaker
always running forward to and the cross like that to me is the number one area where it started in a game where a bunch of guys were crossing and and making runs and dribbling he just had the the the best two balls of the game, right? Like what, ah like that's where it starts. Yeah. And, and that was in the end, the difference on a day when two teams were very evenly matchable, very good. The German response, like you said, was quite naturally they put on the number nine that they put on in pretty much every game at some point and they played, send it in the mixer. They just gradually slowly, but surely put on more and more and more attacking players until that's all they had left. And they finally got the reward for it with a late equalizer.
00:04:50
Speaker
It took a while, it did take a while, but it was well done. I think, you know, I think Spain de la Fuente was a little bit too conservative trying to see out that lead. And I, you know, I'm not going to fault anyone for, I can, but it's hard in a knockout game when you're up one in the last 10 minutes, like your basic instinct is to get on as many defenders, put five in the back and just retreat to your box. And what we're finding more and more, I think, seeing this at every level and every tournament everywhere is that, yes, you you'll have more defensive bodies, but when you give up that much space that easily, the other team, if they're smart, will just fully aerially assault your box. And yes, maybe you head away the first ball. Maybe you had away the second ball, but for five to 10 minutes, can you deal with just 10 balls
00:05:44
Speaker
20 balls in your box, and they all have you have to win the first and the second. And that's the way the goal went, too. yeah It was a header for Kimmich at the back post who headed it down to Florian Wurz, which was a great header, by the way, by Kimmich. And this was a very interesting game that was kind of... I thought Spain had the better technical quality, but Germany had this physical advantage on set pieces that we were kind of waiting to see play out all game, and it did at the very end. It was really interesting because like you said, Spain kind of went into this shell and it really felt like in the last kind of 10 minutes of regular time, they just needed like one sequence of 90 seconds where they just pass the ball. And like, that's what Spain should always be able to do is come up with that sequence at the exact right time. They didn't do it. And eventually it cost them because like you said, it was just the, the tsunami of
00:06:35
Speaker
at one after the other after the other. It was just every single time Germany was boom right back in. Manuel Neuer was playing in the center circle like he he likes to do taking throw-ins and just eventually they eventually broke because it's so hard to continuously win all those balls against a team that's as physical and as strong as Germany is. Yeah, and in these back ends of tournaments, it's every the difficulty of everything is magnified to hold out these leads because Germany are very physical. They're going to contest every ball and they're also very well managed. I thought Nagelsmann showed you why he is the attacking manager he is like and what he gets that reputation for. you know he He sold out for this goal and and and he got it at the end. but you know he's not go to The other team is just going to be like, oh, wow, you put everyone in the box. What are we going to do? like You got to try something. And for Germany, it was it was that. It worked. And then I think extra time was really fascinating because
00:07:33
Speaker
Germany, one team had all the attacking players and one team had none of the attacking players. and The one that didn't have any of the attacking players is the one that ended up winning. It ended up being that Spain's leftover players were able to keep the ball. And Germany ran out of midfielders, right? Tony Cruz was just too slow. ah Germany started Emre Chaun in this game, I think to give themselves some extra running. He came off at halftime for Andrich, who has been the normal starting midfielder. By minute 120, Andrich was gas. and And that's where you see um they you know on the goal in the last you know whatever minutes, Germany's all over on the right, on Spain's right, trying to press the ball. It goes to the middle, and it's a 2 on 1 for Danny Olmo. And he has a cross, and it's Marino, the sociodade midfielder, making a late run into the box.
00:08:22
Speaker
beans do it all players did more of all the Germany's players who midfielders who just didn't have enough defending. but We'd always kind of pinpointed that for Germany there. Can't run enough. It was so funny watching it took us to this game to see the limits of the squad stretch and expose and at the end like it It was one great run, and what a header too, right? like Yeah. And how about the the Rudiger reaction on the goal? It's just like, yeah like you just there was the one replay where you just watch Rudiger watch it happen, right? And he's just like, oh, no, that crosses over me. Oh, no, that guy is free. Oh, no, it's in the back of the net. We lost. It's just like, oh, how? You feel for him. He had defended really well all game, but yeah, he knew as soon as that crossed, it was over his head.
00:09:10
Speaker
great header. My only like really quibble here is when Germany had those guys on, I maybe would have tried for the first five minutes of extra time. Just go attack. Keep it chaotic. It's dangerous to to play chaotic in extra time, but the second they like tried to back off, Spain kind of passed the ball around and settled it around. and kind of killed Germany's attacking intent. Endless and listen Germany were ready to counter, but it was it was just such a reset after the the extra time. I think Germany could have maybe stolen one. You're introducing a little risk and the themes of all the extra times are generally no one wants to risk anything and thats it's always been that way.
00:09:55
Speaker
Yeah. Last final thought on Germany here. Disappointing result in this tournament, but I kind of come away here feeling better about Germany. Big picture going forward. Is that a fair assessment here? Like look, you had a home major tournament and you fell out in the quarterfinals. Like that's never a good result, but the performances felt better. The direction feels better and heading towards 2026. I think I feel as good about them as I have in quite some time. Agree 100%. I think they got to try to keep Nagelsman. um That would really help them. But um their squad every squad is going to have limitations. And I think they played to their strengths really, really well here. They were unlucky to see Spain in this game. They yeah could have maybe gotten a result against anyone else. They were close to penalties. they were you know they They fought back for a goal against a very good team. These are all signs of themselves a very good team.
00:10:51
Speaker
um They're going to be one of the best attacking teams in the in the world. and And listen, they don't want to play a soccer ball, and I'm not going to fault them. yeah Can we say to anyone, like you should be playing like France and England? Well, if you want to advance deep in a tournament, maybe you should. But the truth is that those two teams have the personnel to play that more effectively than anyone. I think Germany's personnel is built to play attacking transitions. And and listen, in two more years, You're looking at Musiala as like the super superstar, you know? And so we'll see how they develop their midfielders. I think Andrij and Krosz, I'm not sure that's going to work in two more years. Krosz definitely is gone. Mueller, who is a super sub here, is gone. Manuel Neuer, maybe two more years. But they've they've got this identity that'll be easy to plug in the next German
00:11:46
Speaker
wave of guys for inverts, for example, who is very effective, they're going to be fine. And they're going to be a top five six ish team in the United States in 26. And that's the inherent difficulty of this all is that there's not a run it back for the next club season. We'll see you in in six weeks, you know, tinker with the squad and go at it again. That's not how international football works. And so they don't get another major tournament opportunity for two years. And that's obviously the the inherent difficulty. and And one of the overarching themes of of of what we do here. All right, let's talk France-Portugal a bit. There was tension here. um There was not a whole lot of football. France did what we know France to do, and Portugal in this current era of Portugal did what we know Portugal to do, which is...
Portugal vs France: Tactical Missteps
00:12:31
Speaker
Sorry, hang on. Cristiano Ronaldo in the penalty area just threw up his hand asking for another cross. Do you think it's gonna work this time? No, I think he's gonna he's gonna hit the hand. He's gonna sulk to the camera as he always did.
00:12:43
Speaker
Ah, man, ah he was really frustrating. I mean, that's where to start with this game. France didn't create anything again. They have no goals or from open play, and they're in the semi-finals. And Duchamp doesn't care. this is this we knew We knew what we were getting from France here. And it's almost like, well, Portugal credit to Bobby Martinez for not giving them anything. Good job. But they were there for the taking if they could have a better number nine, I think, right?
00:13:18
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, if they did more than just kind of whip in endless meaningless crosses towards Ronaldo, who was very clearly not at it at this competition. um And we like, look, this is what we said in the preview, right? Like France are really well built to deal with that style of play. And it just felt like Portugal were hamstrung by their decision to play that style when doing something else would have potentially led to more success. And and that really, I think was the, the biggest frustration of this match for me. I mean, other than France just not doing anything. Yeah. I, I had kind of defended a little bit the Ronaldo selections up to this point and he didn't score. It looked really bad. I mean, and yeah that's also what makes it worse is that even if he had scored, you look at the profile of this game and you think you'd need a striker to do more things and not just stand there. And
00:14:12
Speaker
On top of that, he clearly is you know cutting a troubled figure. like He's yeah yeah struggling. at the so like i you know I think Bobby Martinez is probably like has very clear instructions from Ronaldo, from the Federation, from the vibes that he he's got to play this guy because it's Ronaldo. I'm not sure at the end of the day there was a choice, but it It really hurt them. It really did. And France's defense was physically imposing all game. What a great game from Saliba. I don't think it was that hard for him. Yeah. And so you and I, as this game went on, started to maybe question, should France really be playing for penalties here? And then penalties came in. France absolutely threw that out the window. like Give France, and and we'll get to them in a second, England credit.
00:15:04
Speaker
If you're gonna do this, and if you are well aware that, hey, the style that we're playing does not create a lot of opportunities, it's very likely that we're gonna go to penalties. You gotta be rock solid and on your penalties, and France and England were both absolutely rock solid here, just no chance. Like, Jogo Costa had this like penalty of momentum coming in, and man, you could be a penalty hero once, but to be a penalty legend is really, really difficult, and he just was not able to do it here, just didn't get anywhere close. Yeah, France took five good pens, five really good penalties, everyone. And it's a bummer to be like, well, Deschamps and Southgate really coaching up their guys to win in shootouts. But like I see evidence that this teeth these teams were mentally prepared to get to this stage and say, this isn't a coin flip. You have to save our A-plus penalties. like Good luck. Yeah.
00:16:03
Speaker
Yeah. And, and credits of France. They're in the semi-finals. Um, I don't think there's any big arching tape. I mean, there's huge arching takeaways from Portugal, but I feel like we we've touched it all here. Like let's see what happens and how much longer Cristiano Ronaldo is around. Yeah. I think he wants to play at 26. I think he's in Saudi Arabia for two more years. He can kind of just keep doing what he's doing. Um, if, if you're Portugal, like you got to, I don't know what these conversations are like. Are there are there conversations? can any does Is anyone bigger than him to say like, hey man, we can't do this again.
00:16:39
Speaker
the The rest of the squad is so talented that they could be winners if everything broke right. They were good enough to win this tournament. They were good enough to to win a World Cup. they will not They will not if Ronaldo is the striker. We just saw, if he was any better, they would have scored at any point. The key would have scored at any point. And and the the sample size keeps growing post whatever you want to say, post Saudi Arabia. like Yeah, he could maybe he can get some easy goals in qualifying. But in major tournaments against the most physically imposing players, he just he he can't get it done anymore. and I don't mind if you want to use him as a super sub, but that's what we were saying in 2018. Well, look, like Portugal had a group stage against Georgia, Turkey, and the Czech Republic. And Cristiano Ronaldo couldn't put the ball in the back of the net. like If you're not putting the ball in the back of the net in that group stage against that opposition, I don't really know what else you're supposed to be doing here. like
00:17:39
Speaker
You are not going to score against France if you can't score against those guys. And like you said, it hamstrings everything that they're trying to do because they're playing, they're putting a square peg in a round hole, essentially is what Portugal are trying to do with their style of play and all this. So you're going to need to figure it out. Yeah. And they have really, really good players. Like otherwise, everyone on the field, good ball players, like they, they, they, you're right. They need to figure it out. We don't know what that is, but find a striker. and maybe adapt your play style a little bit because they've got the quality to do it. Yep. Care Southgate and didn't learn. It also didn't matter because it never matters. England won. Switzerland won. England threw on penalties.
England's Consistent Strategy
00:18:23
Speaker
um Have you watched England play any major tournament knockout game for the last like, I don't know, six years? It was that again here today with the caveat that Switzerland
00:18:35
Speaker
Took the lead in this match on a really nice finish from Brielon Bolo to put them one nil up. Just when you thought it might get good. and Oh man, the moment's finally coming. England's finally gonna play. Bukaya Saga just absolutely rips one off the post from distance and then they didn't have to play. And they took it to penalties. And to their credit, they took five really, really good penalties. The first penalty they taker versus Woodson was a center back and his penalty was saved. And that was the story of the shootout. um I don't even know what to to talk about with this game. I feel like we've talked about this game before. Yeah, Garrett Southgate did exactly the same thing he always does. you know He fooled tried to fool the media um with his lineup and putting Trippier at right back and Kyle Walker is right center back, Sokka at left. ah It was the same thing. He just made one sub at center back. Gehi was out. and He put in Kansa. And then England played the exact same game.
00:19:30
Speaker
Switzerland were very deep defensively. They had five in the back and England was just trying to break them down and they they really struggled. And kind of for the second game in a row, <unk> England went down and like kind of got led off by one of their star players doing a star player thing. Like Southgate is getting away with his like really reactionary conservative tactics twice now. And like, is it sustainable or is it that's like, Hey, when you've got all the stars, you don't have to do anything. You literally just put them on the field and they use, they save you like Bellingham soccer. Like that's what it is at this point. And you have to.
00:20:11
Speaker
like for all that we we knocked and you have to give England a ton of credit. The penalties here were absolutely rock solid and it goes back to exactly what we talked about when we talked about the France match. If you go into a match playing this style well aware that penalties are a strong possibility, you better be really, really good at them and England have really flipped the script on that and they are now really, really good at them. Yeah, I think the last Euros when Sokka missed going fifth, um like almost is like the step in the narrative to this thing. iteration where they it's not just him, all these guys were young too. It's Bellingham, it's Palmer, it's Trent, it's Sokka, you know? It's Ivan Tony who was subbed on without Harry Kane. Harry Kane, the penalty overlord didn't even shoot one in this shootout and they were just really good penalties. um At some point I want to talk about the nuances of the shootout. Is it is it time now or do you want to wait a little bit?
00:21:07
Speaker
I mean, I think we can. We had five shootouts here at the moment.
Mastering Penalty Techniques
00:21:11
Speaker
So number one is the hesitation is way too overpowered. It just is because if you can really run and stop, stop and not backwards, but if you stop, you get the goalie to tip. yeah It's too easy. It's too easy. And we're at the point now where the goalies can cover distance almost to their post. So if you don't put it at the post, they're gonna they're they're going to save it. So you need to send them the wrong way because even if you send one the right way, there there's a decent chance they'll save it unless you put it in the corner or behind them or on the ground. And no one really shoots on the ground. Hurricane is the best at like doing that. The Kanji does, apparently. Well, yeah. Well, if you put it on the ground and don't put it in the corner, it slows down the grass, the friction. Of course.
00:21:59
Speaker
and i The other part of it is like, okay, if you know the hesitation is available to you, you should be trying to deceive the goalkeeper as much as possible. like You have to. but When you watch these center backs come up and take them, they do not do the stutter step. They put their head down, pick a spot, and just go for it. And goalies are so good now that what are they reading? They're reading your knee, your plant foot, but your hips. like you've got to You've got to mix it up. You've got to use your eyes to look. You've got to put your hips one way and then go the other way. If you just run up and hit it, the goalie note goalies are too good. it was these are There are bad penalties. There are bad penalties, and we saw them in this shootout from Akonji. We're going to talk about them in Venezuela, Canada. Their skill to this in England took a bunch of good ones. They stuttered. They put them right in the corners.
00:22:58
Speaker
they like they They look at the goalies, right? You can got to read the goalies. And also credit to Pickford. like I think this is so tacky, but like this is what Southgate Sweat manifests itself in real time. He's got every penalty taker on Switzerland on his water bottle and instructions. And you know what? He knew where Akanju was going. Like if you want to beat the England and France in a shootout, you've got to be at that level. These are the best penalty kicks levels we've seen. It's like it is it isn't a coin flip anymore, guys. They're very good at this. Is this whole tournament just building up to the epic England, France shootout in the final? Unfortunately, I mean, like I'd love for it not to go that way. We're going to talk about the semifinals, but like that's what they want, isn't it?
00:23:47
Speaker
Yeah, I guess. We're gonna have to sit through 120 really bad minutes to get there though, if both those teams make the final. Last quarter, finally here, I met Netherlands two, Turkey one. recipe was kind of there for Turkey to do it again. They got another early goal. um They took the lead in this match. They hang on to it for quite some time, but they never got the second goal. And that was the difference here because the Netherlands to their credit put on well, of course, and they put them on very early. They put them on right at halftime as they were a goal down. The plan B. work to perfection. They scored two goals. They won this match to one. Um, yeah, Turkey was kind of right there, but they needed a second goal because we always knew that they wouldn't be able to defend a one mill lead. Yeah. And we, we had, this is exactly what we've come to expect from the Netherlands. They are very effective and well drilled into attacking
00:24:41
Speaker
with low risk in a decent game state, but they do not sit back. As soon as they are down a goal or when they want a goal, they are very aggressive without veg horse. They're very aggressive with their rest of their attackers filling in space in the box. We saw it again. Cody Gackpo is just a really great winger forward at like getting into that back post run or spacing himself to receive the ball and shoot.
Netherlands' Tactical Comeback
00:25:07
Speaker
And, you know, Depai is really smart mover in the box off of that course.
00:25:13
Speaker
I mean, this is a really hard team to defend a one goal lead against because they're they're just, they're really good at set pieces and they just put it in the mixer. And it's what we talked about to start this show with, with Germany, Spain. It's just really hard to deal with all those mixer balls for all that time when there it's this level, right? There's levels to this. We're throwing everybody forward. we We're lumping into the box and we're seeing what happens. And Netherlands are right near the top of playing that style right now. Yeah, it's very effective. And I think Louis Van Hall was a very good Netherlands manager. And I think you're seeing Ronald Komen like grow into this role. He knows his team. He's Netherlands again. They're always very sweaty in these knockout matches. And this is kind of another iteration of that team. Went down a goal to a very, you know, a Turkey team that was going to like fight with every ounce of warrior spirit to hold onto it.
00:26:10
Speaker
It just kind of, kind of warmed down in a half, like. Yeah. And I think it was super smart from Cole. He didn't wait around. Like it was like, all right, we're down to goal. We need to score. I'm putting a big horse on at halftime. Like there was no like, okay, well, let's just, it was like, nah, man, I have a better chance of scoring playing this style for 45 minutes than I do playing it for 25 minutes or playing it for 20 minutes or playing it for 15. And that's like, it's so basic, but it makes sense. And that's what they did. And it works. Yeah, I have full credit. like That is what we want to see. Be aggressive with your subs. Really well-managed match. And I think Turkey showed. you know they They had a formula. It was set pieces. They needed they needed that second. And Art Aguilera was also really great in this game. you know they Turkey troubled the Netherlands. A very good defense troubled them. But the Netherlands center backs, at the end of the day, could deal with those crosses. Turkey just
00:27:06
Speaker
you know, you look around the pitch player for player, not the quality. And they, they really maxed it. They they got a goal up and they were here in this game. And they had some chances for two, two at the end. Like they were subscribe did. they can have pounced on Yeah. This was just a really high level game where both teams are good. One team was a little bit better and they, they kind of run it out. And that's just what Netherlands do. And I think what makes them very good and suited for this format. All right. Let's talk quickly about these Euro semi-finals a minute. Let's start with Netherlands, England. This is a really interesting proposition because hey, guess what? You know what England's going to do in this game. So all of the pressure for lack of a better term, or I guess the intrigue is here with how the Netherlands choose to approach this game and what they look to do over the 90 and potentially 120 minutes here. What should we expect from, from, from Coleman's Netherlands?
00:28:04
Speaker
I'm with you. It's on him to decide. It's really tough question because I think Southgate is conservative and he's asking you to come beat him. And it's the question of, do we, do we take his game, try to come beat him? And and maybe you can win that game or do we play his game and sweat it out with you and then, you know, wait for our moment and veg horse looms over all of this. I think 100% because at what moment do the Netherlands decide to change their tact, right? So yeah and if it got and it's 00 100% because obviously you're down one, yeah of course you know, you know, that game goes but if it's 00 in the second half or tied some other way,
00:28:48
Speaker
Is he going, are you going for it? Are you waiting? Um, and this England's are great defensively in structure, but like you can score on them. Slovakia did it, Switzerland did it, and not from like set pieces, like from relatively open play, like their back line will make mistakes. So that's the intrigue of this. And I think, given what we've seen from England taking penalties, I don't think the Netherlands want to take England to penalties. So I think even at a neutral game state, in a tie game at some point here, the Netherlands should probably kind of twist the knob a little bit and and go for this. um And I think that's what makes it very interesting. Because like you said, England haven't been super defensively solid in this tournament, particularly in the knockout rounds. like
00:29:39
Speaker
They're defensively solid because of the game style that they choose to play and they just don't give up a lot of opportunities. But like you said, Slovakia got at them from open play, Switzerland kind of pressured them and pinned them in for a little bit in the second half of that match. I think the opportunity is there for the Netherlands to say, all right, this game is nil, nil. It's the 65th minute. We're going to go for 25 minutes and we're going to try to score and we're going to try to finish this in the 90 and send them home. And I think almost maybe favors them a little bit. And I think they need to be aggressive enough to try that. Because I think if you neutral game state England into this, we have five at the back, they're attacking with four, they have four at the back, we're attacking with three. That's gonna take this all the way right to the end and maybe even the penalties again. And I don't think you should back yourself in penalties against England at this point. Yeah, I think well said. i And I do think we're gonna see Netherlands at some point go for it and put pressure on England.
00:30:34
Speaker
And they're going to have to live with maybe some England attacks the other way. And it's going to be, I think, it could get good. It might be sweaty the whole time. I don't know. Like, we don't know. It could get good. And I think for for Southgate, he walks into this match very scared of the Netherlands attackers. He walks into every match scare you scared. He's scared of everybody. And Dumfries, who, as the wide player here, if they could get that with, and Kieran Tripper, Kieran Tripper is your left back. That is like a plus mismatch for the England's defense. So that's one there, right? Like if Gumfries can help flood that channel and create more space and trouble and make the England players think. Yeah. Let's see. We'll see. It's.
00:31:22
Speaker
It's got potential. You know, I think Harry Kane will see what he can do. I think for England, as as always, is the case. They've gotten those goals. the Like the star player does start the goals when they've been down a goal. But they're hoping and Southgate is always hoping is that happens early on a low xy chance and they go up one and then they play the rest of their game the way they want to play. And I think, yeah, I mean, you look at Netherland Centerbacks. I'm not sure what England is going to find in the box playing the way they play. So I think you're you're trying to get Sokka shot from distance, Foden shot from distance. Kane, if he does anything, Kerry Kane. Yeah, if you can. And, you know, England set piece, maybe they're they're bouncing around. I think Netherland set pieces is also the the area where obviously when Vout comes on, but even before then,
00:32:08
Speaker
you know, get those center backs up in the box and and try to put england England's players under pressure. It should be, it has the makings to be fun, but it's going to depend on on how the Netherlands look to
Spain vs France: Semi-final Preview
00:32:20
Speaker
approach it. And if they want to to play a game or not, Spain, France, a bit, uh, we know how this is going to go, right? Like we talked about it in the preview of Spain, Germany, that we didn't know who it, we know who's going to have the ball here. Spain's going to have the ball. France are going to play their style. They're not going to put numbers forward and attack. Can Spain trouble France in an Illinois game is the the overarching question of this, right? Yeah, it's a great question. This is a very,
00:32:45
Speaker
very high level clash of the ideological soccer versus the practical soccer. And everyone's a little tilted like this is not your ticky-tock of Spain as we've said all tournament. They've got the attacking talent to really make France sweat. But it's hard because France individually and structurally are as good as it gets defensively at this level. And you sell out with a few outside backs or a few defensive midfielders and you're in trouble the other way. um So I think we're going to see Spain use possession, I think a little more as a as a crutch than they have in the past out of respect is what I would do because but I think the last thing you want to do is be caught up the field with Mbappe and Dembele running behind you and also
00:33:32
Speaker
Danny Carvajal picked up a red late in that game against Germany. I found a good red for him to take. Tremendously tactical foul. Just like, yeah. You love it. You love it. Yeah. And so who does Spain play it right back? It's a great, it starts there because Jesus Navas at his age is, is just fodder for, for Killian Mbappe. I can't, I don't think you could do that. You could play a left back there. You could switch Kukureya. you could put in Grimaldo, you could put a center back there, you could put in Nacho Fernandez. um Maybe you move, I don't think- Man, I'm looking at the Spain squad here. Yeah, it's tough, it's tough. We've got ran a couple of Saudi all-stars hanging around. Also, I don't know what you do it right back. like It starts there. I would probably
00:34:22
Speaker
play Grimaldo, even though he's wrong-footed, he's fast and physical. Kukureya is just a physical mismatch for Simbape. And I think for France, like this is a very simple game plan. Get in your shape, play our great defense, attack and transition. When we are when we are attacking in structure, as as limited as we are, we're trying to get one-on-ones for dribblers at the Spain outside backs. And that's what we're going to do. and put the Spain center backs and keeper under pressure. Those are weak, relatively weak points. Unaisimán, he's not looked convincing at all for Spain. I mean, his he's a real weak point here. So it's a really finely poised game. I think Spain have the attacking talent, especially with Lamal and Williams um to to hurt them. And, you know, big game for Rodri. It's always a big game for Rodri, but he's got
00:35:14
Speaker
Last game, France won, I think, full suffer ball and put Ciao-Mani, Kama Vinga, and Kante. I mean, I don't think you could roll out a better defensively inclined midfield three in the world at this point. like That's really hard to score on. So it's I think Spain have to be very careful and the way they approach this, but they could do it and do the crosses and the shots. Don't just pass two. that's ah That'll help them. i think Final point here, France are gonna do what they're gonna do, it's obvious. that There's no reason to to fight that. They need their individual guys to do a bit more. Like the style that they're playing.
00:35:55
Speaker
really relies on those individual guys doing things and they really haven't done that and Bape kind of hasn't been great and everybody else has been pretty poor. Like what is Antoine Griezmann done this tournament? He he hasn't come up ah to the level and he's supposed to like link with everyone, play those neat little combos, arrive in the box. He can dribble, he can pass, he can shoot. He just hasn't flown, and Dembele has been quite bad, I think, not reliable. So much so that sometimes they don't play him. um And Taram has been bad, and he's supposed to be more of a finisher in this setup, but he hasn't done that. So like it goes back to Mbappe, and he has done some dribbling, but he hasn't had the the moments where you're like, oh yeah, he's the best. Well, if Spain has a backup right back, I think that's where it all starts and ends, and then things go from there.
00:36:46
Speaker
We'll see, I mean, at some point like Deschamps and Southgate are gonna play a game where it doesn't go their way, right? But that's what there's a good sign of them is they they win those ugly games over and over again. Yeah. Let's see what the individual guys can do for France. I'm i'm intrigued by by that aspect of this as well. All right, let's shift gears a minute and let's head to the Culpo America where it was also a penalty fest. Let's start with what we saw on Thursday night.
Argentina's Narrow Escape
00:37:10
Speaker
Argentina threw on penalties against Ecuador after a 1-1 match. ah Ecuador are never going to get a better chance than this to dump Argentina out in the quarterfinals. They equalize late. They had a ton of this game. They controlled this game. Their midfield played to perfection. They had a penalty that they missed in regular time. They got to penalties. Lionel Messi missed his penalty and Argentina still went through in this match. Absolutely gutting for Ecuador. Like this is just one that you have to get over the line somehow. Yeah, they played the
00:37:46
Speaker
perfect formula kept within one physically met the challenge of Argentina. I thought play them really well, did well to chase the goal, got the goal. Argentina's talisman misses his first penalty. He's one of his weak few weaknesses. I mean, it's, it's tough. You know, it's not easy to be France and England and be nails at penalties and also debo martinez like I'm not sure he's a very good goalkeeper, but I think in this format, he has got something that we cannot like evaluate. We talked about it. We talked about it with Jogo Costa, right? Like anybody can come up big in one shootout, but to be a penalty legend like this, like just consistently, basically since the 2021 Copa America has been absolutely stones in penalties and did it again here.
00:38:37
Speaker
with his team behind, right? Like it wasn't, that's it doesn't get, it doesn't get a higher degree of difficulty. The diva Martinez bailing his team out after messy misses. And he just, he, he made it look like, oh yeah, these are easy saves for not easy, but like, sure. No. Yeah. The best, the best goalies in shootouts and being a goalie in a shootout is a different skill than the rest of goalkeeping. There are some things that apply like you're, you're diving skills, but like, right you can be a good penalty shootout goalkeeper and that can be, extra value for your team in a major tournament in a way that is harder to see something play out over the course of a domestic campaign. And also, you can make a lot of mistakes in open play, like Deebu does. But he i what are we supposed to say? The guy's very good at this, isn't he? Yeah, no. He's probably the best there is right now. If you're going into a penalty shooter, I can't imagine you're picking anybody but him at this point. Yeah. and like
00:39:33
Speaker
It's easy for us to say that, and like, you know, maybe he's just been on this hot stretch, small sample sizes, but like... I think the sample size is big enough at this point. Only two doubts are inherently small. you show If you show us that you've got it, you've got it, so... Like, Columbia, Columbia and the Gulf of America in 21, Netherlands, France, and like, that's four straight penalty shootouts. Like, that's, as far as penalty shootouts are concerned, that's a huge sample size. Like, I think he's just gonna be really good at this. I'm with you. I'm, I'm saying cautiously to Argentina, you know, don't, don't keep showing up to them so and say this same think france and the same thing to England, but they believe they have an edge and that maybe is all that matters.
00:40:12
Speaker
So that's that's kind of the point here. Argentina were not good in this game. like They got the goal, and it was pretty peak Argentina, and it looked like they were going to get away with it in normal time. But they kind of got overrun in the midfield in this game by Ecuador, and there were a ton of chances for Ecuador. Argentina didn't really control this. They never really took it over. Rio de Paul needs to not do the cornrows. I don't know if he played bad because of the cornrows, but I don't think they helped. Yeah, maybe maybe a different look for him. I think this was a really good example, and all of these games were, of the format of 90 minutes straight to penalties being good. Inherently, it is a pro underdog move. There's less time on the field, penalties are much more random chance, you can get to them faster, you can also run longer, and that helps physical teams, and ah Ecuador physical teams.
00:41:06
Speaker
Canada physical team, Uruguay. Well, I can't wait to talk about how physical that was. But like, so you could also play in that gear. And then I think what you see in these euros is they're just inherently stretches of the match and especially extra time that are walking pace, like You want to talk about fair? OK, yeah, it it hurts the Argentinas and the Brazil's of the world. But for a viewing quality, and especially I think at a tournament like this, this isn't a World Cup. It's still a major tournament. Let's let's see you win these games. It it it introduces a much better ah question of who who wants the penalties and who doesn't. um And Argentina, man, they just they were they were jumped by Ecuador physically in this game and did not
00:41:54
Speaker
to to either of our minds, look up for it, right? Yeah, I think, yeah, there there was a lot here. So I think they weren't necessarily up for it. And I don't think they really responded. And then they got the goal. And I think they got fairly complacent with being ahead and thought, all right, we're going to get through this. We're going to see it out. And they didn't. And then they got bailed out by the penalties. Count me as a proponent. You were close to seeing it out. Of course. Yeah, I mean, they got into stuff. Sure. That's what we say. Like, it's hard to see out these leads now. Yeah. like um Count me as a proponent for 90 minute penalty. I think the only time that you should go to extra time is the final. I'm perfectly fine with the final going 120 minutes, but I think round of 16 matches going 120 minutes is just too much. Like let's play 90 minutes. It's good. I think it makes for better football. ah Are you worried about Argentina going forward? Is this going to happen again?
00:42:41
Speaker
You can't like answer questions about Argentina well. Sure. Because currently for the last little bit, the answer is, does anything matter? and the answer right No, it doesn't matter. ah So like, yeah, when I'd be worried about the quote unquote favorites, like having sleepwalk their way through four games, like, yeah, I would be. And then like, who's next? It's Canada. Like, party damn that they can just play poorly and win again. Like, yeah, if they play poorly against Canada, would I be worried that Canada could hurt you? sure but like they just kind of like are exactly at the moment and then right when it matters right above the moment like they're so good at this um and some of this is all like luck and hindsight bias like well they keep winning their survivor bias like oh well they've what have they done well it's like well they're probably a bit lucky in all this but like they're also very good they're also the
00:43:34
Speaker
grab like kind of the best team in the world. like They win when they don't play well. And that is the hallmark of them, France, and England more than anyone else, is they win when they don't play well. And they did it here. And theyre they could do it again. They should do it. And they're going to be in the final. So am I worried? like ah You're still picking someone. You're picking Argentina. Right, yeah, no, for sure. Quickly on Ecuador, Felix Sanchez-Bass out as Ecuador manager after this. It sounds like he's been making some moves to to go back to the Middle East. Obviously, he was a guitar manager. I don't think this is a performance-related move. I think this is a, hey, you were negotiating to go to Qatar. Anyway, like here, out the door. What happens next for Ecuador is very, very important because I think you're seeing the signs of this all coming together. And I think it's absolutely critical. They get the right manager in the door.
00:44:22
Speaker
because there is a big opportunity to jump in 2026 for them. I think this was a fine tournament. They probably could have gotten to a semifinal. They can feel a bit unlucky that they didn't, but they're going to make the World Cup in 26. They're going to head to the World Cup with all of these young players that we've been talking so much about starting to hit their prime and starting to peak. And they have to get the moment right. Yeah, they do. They had a good chance in 2022. They were ahead of schedule. They were a football hipster dark horse. I think if you've been paying attention, you you want the teams outside of your your favorite five to six teams in 26. It's the teams we've loved this summer. It's Uruguay. It's Austria. It's Ecuador. Ecuador should be prepared to make a quarterfinal run at the World Cup, see what happens. And they are good enough to do that. Everything has to go right. Like if you said to me, like, do you think Ecuador will? What's the value on it? They probably won't.
00:45:21
Speaker
There's the talent here to punch above their weight and the scheme and the players. So I'm with you. This is a big, big two years for them. And they, they're, they're getting there. I mean, they've, they've, they just outran Argentina. Like team does that is a dangerous team. For sure. For sure. All right. Let's move to the other quarter, final admit Canada one, Venezuela one, the dark horses ride no more.
Venezuela and Canada's Tournament Journey
00:45:43
Speaker
Yeah. Like I love Venezuela. This was a amazing run and I think they showed two things. One, they showed that they could do everything right to collectively punch above their weight. This was a very good managerial job. It has been all year for them. um they've They've maxed every, every ounce of their talent and know how and they've like in a way that for Venezuela, it has an all gel together.
00:46:11
Speaker
All of that came together at once, and at the same time, they were also incredibly lucky with other teams' poor finishing ah in this game, in other games. they Despite all of that, it got them to the sixth round of penalty kicks away from a Copa America semi-final. Did they deserve to win this game? Absolutely not. They were the worst team. But did they do the things we talk about that make Venezuela good? They can attack with less. They can hurt you with less. They can you know chase a game when they need it. Their mentality is strong. All of that, and they were but they were close. But at the end of the day, they just it this to me was more of like, oh, hey, a penalty shootout between two teams that aren't that good at it. like That feels a lot more chaotic. but Like two teams that maybe had not practiced the penalties in the way that England and France had. ah Let's talk about this game in and of itself.
00:47:00
Speaker
Canada created a ton and they couldn't really finish it. And I think that's one of the things that they'll need to figure out going forward. Big picture. Definitely need to figure that out against Argentina. Jacob Schaffelberg has had a really good tournament for Canada. Like he's created a lot for them so far, at least four games they've played. Yeah, I think he speaks. He runs a ton. Yeah, he runs a ton and he speaks to Marsh's style, which is give me athletes and I'll generate chances. The issue is you have a lot of athletes. Maybe they're not so good at finishing. But that's what Jonathan David is for. Schaffenberg himself is like the perfect player. And I think overall, a side point is that this Copa America has been great because it shows you like there still is variety and different ways to do things in international football. It doesn't have to be all boring. And maybe at the highest level, it trends towards that way. But like look at the managers that have been successful this summer.
00:47:56
Speaker
Marsh, Bielsa, Ragnick. There are different ways to play this game, and you can play it with athletes. Canada had athletes, and Schaffenberg is a great example of that, and they just run their way to the chances. And on another game where the 90 minutes helps them. Yes, for sure. And listen, like it's high risk, but like watch them play. It's the same way Red Bull Soccer works in club soccer. They're on you, on your butt, like even if you are 10 yards from your own goal. They don't care. They're going to press you, constrict the field, and force you to kick it long and then win those duels because they're physical. it's like It all works very well. This is a great Jesse Marsh project. It still has limits when you don't have like elite level finishing or elite defending, but
00:48:47
Speaker
This all like sags into the American manager conversation or any conversation. Like there are different ways to approach the question of international football. This is one way it works. And it's going to be very interesting to see what happens when Jesse Marsh gets more time because this is very fresh. This is all very new. These are the first games that he's had with this team and to get these sort of results already, I think is very, very promising for them. How about that Solomon Renaud equalizer? And this, ah, man, loved it. Great stuff. Yeah, I mean, it's a low XG chance that he makes it look like a layup, because he's that good of a striker. This is the side of a, when we say, when you say, some guys just score goals, he's 50 yards from goal, it's one on one, and he just gives him just a little shove. And then he sees the goalie, Kerpel doesn't know what he's doing, is out, and he's like, he just picks his head up, doesn't take a touch, and just like, oh yeah, I need a 40 yard lob.
00:49:44
Speaker
just got it. so I got that in my bag. I got that in my bag. like ah what like What a goal. like just it's i was I've been so like thrilled to watch Rendon play because like he doesn't do this all the time in League of Max. He quite literally turned back the clock for Venezuela's tournament to to be the holdup one on one just bump the ball and I will make something happen. ah That level in his bag, and you said last time, he can't do this against you know if you're playing a team where there's much more running on the field. But again, what a beautiful gift of the Copa America to show us that this strike, like you can still play striker different ways. just It was a treat to watch. I i was cackling at this goal.
00:50:33
Speaker
It was great, it was great. I also, I owe an apology to the the population of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. I thought there was gonna be nobody at this game, and and the Venezuelan fans showed up for this game, more than 50,000 at AT&T Stadium for this. You have my full apology. That was a great crowd, great atmosphere. ah The penalties here, Amit. This just, this felt like an old school kind of 50 50 coin flip penalty shootout in that neither of these teams were particularly good taking penalties. Neither goalkeeper was particularly good saving penalties. And in the end, it's Canada who go through. Karpo committed early and to give himself credit when you're not as good, you got to guess a lot more and just throw yourself. And it was very clear if you could wrong foot him, you could score, but you get to the fifth, the sixth guy, okay, well,
00:51:20
Speaker
They are not going to be trying to wrong foot them. They're just going to put their head down and shoot. And then it gets saved. Like, it was a bummer. I think credit to Carpo and Romo had been good for Venezuela and and even got some stuff here. But yeah, it it just the balance on the sixth one didn' went one way. It didn't go credit to Canada. I mean, they just announced of better pens. And that's sometimes how it works. Let's talk quick, Argentina, Canada. We saw this game already with a bit more time in the Jesse Mar system. Can Canada trouble Argentina here? I think the answer is yes. This comes down to to two things for me. One, Argentina gonna wake up. They wake up, they're probably not gonna have trouble here. Two, can Canada take their chances? I think Canada are gonna create chances in this game because they've created chances a lot in this tournament. They have to finish them because they're not gonna create as many as they did against Venezuela.
00:52:11
Speaker
Yeah, I think this will look very similar to the first game they played. Even though this is a semifinal, and that was a group stage game, that blueprint for Marsh worked. They were down one, and they still had plenty of chances to make it one-one. So I don't think they're ever out. The 90-minute helps them. They're going to run. It's like you said, OK, Argentina, we can't keep watching you get bullied by teams worse than you. um And you know worse as it worse on talent, they're going they're running harder than Argentina, but like stop getting punked. And if they don't do that, they should be fine. But like, I think it's hard for Argentina to manage that level against teams that are just like kind of rabid and frothing. And that's what Canada are like. That is the absolute definition of how Canada are going to play this. Yeah. like Look at Jacob Schaffenberg. Like he's the guy. Um, I think Argentina should be fine, but like,
00:53:07
Speaker
If they repeatedly do this, they're going to have trouble at some point. And Canada has enough here that they could be the team that gets this across the line and actually troubles. They could. And the last note is what's hard is that Canada need to be up to because as good as they can create chances and as bad as Argentina can play. up one against Argentina when you're Canada is not safe at all they're just they're not really a great like sit on a goal lead right like and and marsh I think knows that go get the second if you can like go go keep going don't don't settle for to to protect the game state they're not built to play that way I don't think they will but like that's where
00:53:48
Speaker
Argentina, if you're just going to back off, yeah, they can really hurt you. We also have not seen Argentina in a bad game state for them yet in this tournament. And so that would be interesting if that happens at any point in this tournament so far. They played what, like 90 seconds against Ecuador where it felt like they really needed to score. So let's see what happens if Canada can actually take a lead. But I think Argentina are going to be fine here. Anything you want to say in bit about Colombia 5, Panama? No, this kind of went exactly like we expected it to do. Panama couldn't hang on for very long. Colombia were good from open play. They were good for set pieces. There's a gap in talent here. It doesn't take away from what Panama were able to do in this tournament. Very successful tournament for them. But this was a one-way traffic for the majority of this match.
00:54:29
Speaker
It was.
Colombia's Dominant Performance
00:54:31
Speaker
Colombia are just very good in this format, as we keep saying. They're built to batter you, and their set pieces are built to hurt you. And um Jamez Rodriguez is has really like, we say his name, but it's because of how incredible he is. And but it leads to results. ah he He contributes to goals over and over again. He's playing like a superstar at this level. So a he just kind of, he and Colombia just kind of didn't mess around at all. And that's what we were expecting. Yep. This is the benefit of winning the group for Columbia, right? This was their quarterfinal. The team that they're going to play in the semifinals just went through an absolute 90 minute bloodbath as we get to the last quarterfinal here. Uruguay nil, Brazil nil, Uruguay through on penalties.
00:55:18
Speaker
41 fouls in 90 minutes called fouls, it should be said, because there were probably another 15 or 20 that weren't. Oudwai committed 26 fouls in this match. They played the last 10 to 15 minutes, a man down. This was not the game that I wanted it to be. I was expecting and hoping for something different here. What we got was just an absolute physical street fight where football was really hard to play. It was, and I think that's credit to Uruguay. That's what they wanted. Bielsa has leaned into his team, and his team has leaned into him.
00:55:56
Speaker
and it has kind of made for explosive results. I mean, they they looked at this Brazil squad and they go, who's that up top? That's that's a teenager? Who's that on the wings? There's no Venetius? That's Rodrigo and Raffina? Oh, great. We're going to maul you. like they i What was the game plan for Uruguay? It was to just beat the crap out of Brazil for 90 minutes. And it worked, didn't it? You, uh, you ready for this, uh, this cross sport reference. You think they called, uh, Bill and beer and the, the bad boy pistons for some advice here. A little bit. It was like, like, you're not going anywhere important and for for how long in this match Brazil didn't even get a touch in the box because it was like, Oh, you're anywhere, even up the field, they were pressing and just being like, this was Uruguay. And you know, the bill suppressing added with the physicality or require a bunch of like,
00:56:49
Speaker
really strong dudes, really athletic dudes, especially their midfielders. Um, they just, they were like, we're going to make every ball a 50 50 challenge and we're going to come in and I'll give this much to Brazil. Most of their players were ready for that too. Like, and then it just turned into two teams being like, well, I'm tougher than you and I'm tougher than you. And then a player got sent off. for Uruguay, which I thought was on the balance of it had to be a red. Yeah. And so, like, there's also this element to it for Uruguay where you're challenging a referee to call everything, right? like
00:57:28
Speaker
Referees in, I think in their general nature, they like games to flow. They want, like referees don't like calling all these files. They want a game to flow. They want to give teams an opportunity to play. And so, Uruguay are directly challenging that kind of baseline and when they do this physical style of play, when they commit all these files, because they're essentially saying, you want to call fifty fo you want to call us for 50 fouls, call us for 50 fouls, cause we're committing 50 fouls. And that plays into their favor. I i get what Uruguay we're doing here. It worked, obviously. They took this match to penalties, especially down a man, and they they they went up.
00:58:03
Speaker
I kind of feel like they could have done a bit more here because when they did try to play I think they created a decent amount and they could have done a bit more with with those opportunities when they did try to play and Darwin unions had a couple chances and missed them as as we've come to expect I was almost a bit Disappointed in this from what do I because I think they were better than they showed it works So you can't really fault them for that, but they could have played a bit more and had some success. I think Yeah, I think those Nunez chances were the the way they wanted this to go. right He needed to score one. They could have done a little bit more. And again, the Brazil fullbacks are not that good. And Uruguay, I think, did well to target that and get crossing opportunities and flood numbers. And they got some chances. And Brazil, really, until the game switched with the card, were not really getting chances. They had a one or two. The only chances when Uruguay gave them the ball building up, yeah.
00:58:58
Speaker
The only chances Brazil created at 11 versus 11 in this match were the ones that Uruguay gave them. And that's baked into this game. Uruguay are always going to give you chances. That's very obvious. But Brazil didn't do anything from open play. Absolutely nothing from open play. yeah they They were missing Vinny. And like that's where that yellow really hurt them. And I think he's their creative hub. And yes, they have a bunch of good players. Rafinha and Rodrigo are very good. And they did their best to like dribble past Uruguay in one-on-ones. And we said, this is a match for one-on-ones versus physicality. Well, on this night, Uruguay, they beat up Brazil, even when they did get beat by a step. OK, great. We'll tackle you. Set piece. like it was It was like, in that sense, very smart. i'm I'm with you. I'm a little bit disappointed. But after the red card, which on the night for the way Uruguay played, like yeah someone was getting a card in that game, um a red card in that game. To survive depends great. i mean
00:59:55
Speaker
They took good pens. They took better penalties than Brazil did. There's no doubt about that. There's there's no doubt about that. And yeah, I mean, this is this is kind of what we had circled this at the very beginning of the tournament. We think Uruguay is better than Brazil right now. yeah It shouldn't have been penalties, but even then, I think Uruguay was better than Brazil. And so for Brazil, what happens now? And that I think is, is what makes this very interesting. Um, I don't think Dory of all juniors cut out for this. Like just like, I don't think the tag, the tactics are like fine. The players obviously aren't at the level, but like, dude, you're the manager of Brazil. Like you can't be moaning and whining for every single foul. Like you should be better than that. Right? Like it's a weird thing to say. yeah but Um, I'm curious to see what they do. Brazil are no longer top five team in the world. I like.
01:00:49
Speaker
It's borne itself out in 22 in this Copa America. um If they have a healthy Richarlison, that's still like saying, we're like, oh, this guy is a good Premier League striker, but like, that's not, doesn't fix you overnight as well. um They have structural issues. They don't have fullbacks in the pool. Their central defensive midfielders are just fine. Good, but just fine. They can reconfigure their identity with a healthy team and a fully firing Venetius who doesn't take a stupid card. And again, the card rules are what they are ah to being better. And they'll certainly be a danger in 26, but they're not as good as the best teams anymore. And I don't think in two years, like this generation is really going to fix that. so
01:01:39
Speaker
so theyve That's the crux of this now for Brazil is it kind of goes back to what we talked about in the last show with the US and Mexico. Brazil aren't suddenly going to become significantly better in two years. The players just aren't there. Like there are good young players. I think Endrick probably takes a step up in two years. That's going to help them. Maybe they get to a point where Esteban, who's another really heralded young player is good, but like still, man, Endrick's going to be 19 at the World Cup. Esteban, if he goes, is going to be 18. Yeah. Richarlison is good and he scores good goals for Brazil when he plays. but
01:02:15
Speaker
if there's other structural issues too. And so that leads to, okay, are Brazil gonna admit that they're not at the level and they need to figure it out? Or are they gonna keep trying to kind of play this style that worked when you had all the best players and when you were better than everybody else that you played? And that is the huge question for them. ah don't no if I if, I haven't read the press, like this game finished late, we're recording early. I haven't seen if there's, if there's rumblings about D'Orival, I don't think D'Orival Jr. should be the manager for Brazil in 2026. And if he's not, I don't really know where they go because there's not another Brazilian manager for them to go get. There's nobody who, they tried the Fernando Genese thing and that didn't work. He's out of a job at Fluentense. So there's just a lot of real intrigue with what Brazil try to do and what's coming next for them. And it feels like this is a big turning point for them as a Federation in everything um and And we'll see what happens.
01:03:12
Speaker
Yeah, I, like you, there's not a lot of obvious answers. It was easy with the United States to to name some names because I'm in the discourse, but there just aren't any like easy Brazil managers. If they limit themselves to Brazilian managers, which they've done throughout there and the entirety of the history, it's really, really difficult. And so that's, it's a whole nother thing. All right. minute Let's close out the show with this Columbia would have liked Copa America semi-final. This is a great game. I think we're both very excited for it. The intensity in this game is going to be incredible. I think Uruguay are going to do similar things. I think they're going to circle Jamez Rodriguez and shadow him and be up touch tight on him as much as possible. I think they're going to do the same thing with challenges. And I think Colombia are going to have to respect Uruguay and play pretty defensively and be measured when they can get forward.
01:04:06
Speaker
try to have Luis Diaz as a counter-attacking threat the other way. Kind of felt like Luis Diaz got going a bit in that Panama. yeah I think he had been ah a missing piece here a bit for Colombia, and they didn't need him to their credit in the group stage. But it felt like he got a little bit of rhythm, and I think that could help them. 100%, because it can't just be all Jamez crosses and set pieces. like They're going to need some attacking threat elsewhere. Again, they haven't had the finishing, but Darwin Nunez is a volume finisher, too. so like Yeah, this is a really finely poised game. I think either side could talk themselves into winning it. I think Uruguay have got to be feeling battered. I think that helps in Colombia's favor. um Yeah, I don't like, I think this is going to be a really great game and the set pieces are going to be huge. I think it's.
01:04:52
Speaker
gonna probably be really choppy again because I don't know if the you know if you're Columbia you don't want to let Uruguay come run at you and Columbia aren't scared like these are yeah I think are really amped up to like to hit each other yeah well and that's the thing with Columbia is a scrappy, hard, foul-filled game. I don't know if it favors them, but they can play that style. they're yeah right like that style If you're going to be touched tight, if you're going to foul us 40 times, if you're going to give us, you know, I don't know, 10, 12 dangerous set pieces, we're going to score one because that's what we do. That's our bread and butter. And so if what do I want to play that style? And if they want to give Columbia numerous opportunities to rip set pieces into the mixer, that is probably going to come back to calling you at some point.
01:05:41
Speaker
Yeah. And so Uruguay should probably maybe not go as street fighty and more like, you know, can we attack and they should. I mean, Colombia's center backs are great on set pieces, but like, you know, Dovinson Sanchez can be gotten out. He's not great positionally. Like this is a game for Nunez to like really run those channels and score a header when he's open at the back post. Uruguay know how to get their chances. He needs to finish them. And let's see what, what, what Columbia can do in the midfield because we've talked a lot about how otherwise midfield is, is a big thing. Thomas Rodriguez has played great. He's not going to contribute to them being defensive in the midfield. So what do, do players like, like Richard Rio. So I think it's had a ah really good turn that for Columbia, you know, what do they do? Is is it Larimer? Is it, is it a rebate? Is it audio? You know, what are Columbia trying to do in the midfield to try and counter from getting kind of overwhelmed by what do I, which could potentially happen in this game?
01:06:38
Speaker
yeah they've got they Yeah, that's a great way to put it. I think that would be the match up to watch. And we'd probably guess that Uruguay will tilt that in their favor, but it won't be so one-sided. So they could you know they they could do things both ways. That's why they're that's why they've been good this tournament. And to to finish off the the conversation of this, there's a lot of strikers in this game who are not super efficient at finishing their chances. Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, talk about players who could come off the bench for Columbia, same for Uruguay. I almost think, Amit, there might be a Luis Suarez moment somewhere in here for Uruguay. Yeah. I mean, you need an extra goal score. You need a guy with little class in the in a game that could be pretty
01:07:22
Speaker
you know, high volume, but like begging for the class. Yeah, he's a guy. Like the moment wasn't there in Brazil. I think you could have talked me in to bring on Suarez for the last 15 minutes had it stayed a lot down 10 men. You're not putting Louis Suarez in the current state on the field. I completely get that. But if this is nil, nil in the 76th minute and Darwin Nunez has had like two and a half chances and hasn't done anything with them. i don't know i'm wi out I think one thing we've seen with the 90th minute is managers can get really aggressive in the last 10 minutes for whatever game state they're playing. All right. Get everyone that you want to to try to change this now. So like, yeah, if, if you need Louis Suarez, this is, he's going to, he could make a cameo and get you something. I, I, I wouldn't be afraid to. This is going to be fun. I'm really looking forward to this. I'm really looking forward to all, to all four of these semi-finals. All right. i
01:08:14
Speaker
We have gone on plenty long on today's edition of World Cup After Dark. We will be back later to talk about these two semi-finals. If you like what we do, you can find us WCAD. No, that's not that website. The website is patreon dot.com slash WCAD. We don't have our own website. We're not paying for hosting. ah You can support us monetarily there, $3 a month um for access to exclusive podcasts and and all our World Cup qualifying stuff. So ah that's how long we've gone on. I couldn't even remember the website I was trying to apply. We'll be back this week and we'll talk to you guys soon. Thanks for listening.