houses, going head-to-head, Spain, against Germany gents,
I mean, usually this is like, what a World Cup semi-final or
final, but this is in group E play. Probably the game of
the group stage, right? When
we look at and Germany, Nick Mandola, really, you know, they
are on the brink here, they lost to Japan struggled in that
game. Obviously went one, the up could have put the game
away. Then we're on done by those.
Japanese substitutes who were excellent
and now they're in a position where they have to
be Spain or get a positive result against them just to
keep it going and it's not what happens. You flick for the bin
for seeing and Spain were excellent against Costa Rica
that big 7. They'll win so
wonderfully, expecting here. And
how do you think Germany can actually kind of
adapt and maybe change things around to get this result they
need against paying because it's going to be difficult.
Well, they need to get a hold of the Midfield. They need to
control it
and I think they have the people to do.
With kimmage gun do on. And, of course, a guy who did not start
the first game and the younger eska.
And the think of you can get those three people out there
operating at their best because grechka wasn't great. When he
came in there, then you can start to unnerve, Spain,
a little bit. But if Spain's allowed to be free-flowing
to work through the Midfield to keep those places and have
the ability to cut into the middle. Now, if I want to go right or
I want to switch, I want to go left. I can do it because we're
fluid and we're flowing and we're Barcelona
the way. Luis Enrique wants it. But what's one way to beat
Barcelona? And I say this
over the last few years
is as many Bayern Munich guys, as you can get.
Yeah. That's true. That's true. I mean,
it was interesting right when we watch Germany
in the opening game and it was
there huffed and puffed there was a lot of good work and then
it just all kind of fell apart in the final third. I mean
spine didn't have any issues with that but both countries,
you look at it. And you think what was the clinical forward
where the goal is going to come from and
Spain? 7 will hammer and a Costa Rican. Might just be
a bit of a one-off right, Costa Rica with terrible on the day.
Spain. Pretty much everything they hit went in,
so it's going to be quite tight. I think this Germany,
Spain game, very similar teams slain off, you little bit ahead
in their development
but they both like to one trying to say is possessed
the ball control the tempo and like Nick mentioned there, it's
going to be in Midfield where it's going to be one that lost
and
think Spain has the edge there on Germany. Right? So as
anything else they can do to get the ball to gnabry have.
Hurts Leroy. Sano
just to try and be slightly dark, more direct. It would
seem. Yeah. That would be the key here for Germany.
Yeah. I knew if he kept going long enough, you can, you do?
I answer in the question? Yeah. No, I think that is the way
because
I mean, if you look at the Spanish defense and the way
that they want to play, they do not want to be, you know,
making long runs back towards their own goal dealing with
bouncing balls headers in the air. And it doesn't even have
to
become an aerial battle.
But if you can, if you can start to make runs, The
channels you can open up space for some of those players
underneath Thomas Muller had one of his most Anonymous
games. I felt like in the first game, there was no space
underneath for him to operate Japan,
had a very good setup.
They had a couple defensive midfielders in there and just
said, okay, you're not going to beat us. So we we believe that
if we take you out of the game that everything else around
you, it's not equipped to beat us and it certainly wasn't. And
so now
they faced Spain,
it is an interesting,
you know, kind of similarity. The fact that both of them lack
a bit of a Centre forward. But I kind of Wonder a little bit.
Does Spain need one? Because they're going to manufacture
Chances with their press, no matter who they play.
And if you're manufacturing chances, every five or ten
minutes the way that they do. And again, it was Costa Rica in
the first game, but if you can do that consistently over
the course of a game and a tournament, you don't need
a centre-forward that's going to get you six or seven goals at
a tournament and win the Golden Boot
to make a Deep Run or to win the tournament you
they will. I think they will spread the goals around in a way.
That would be very frustrating for a Fantasy World Cup team
you root. You're not going to be able to predict who's going
to get the goals on the day, but I do think they are.
It's
Spain is explosive. And that is that runs so counter to
everything that we have known about them through the best
period, the best run in their national teams history. And so,
I think trying to wrap our heads around,
they don't play that way anymore. Is a little bit of
a challenge. Yeah, it's interesting. Right, because
they got guys, obviously World Replay that sent to me. Back
against Costa Rica, not sure, do that again but we don't know
but they still have that mixture out of the ticket Acker
the controlled, keeping the ball but then when they want to
explode into life and the final third, I mean make the players
there that they have Petri gavi just running the show and then,
you know, fair and Torres was excellent. You have marotta
coming off the bench. You have an Su fatty in the mix, it's
just, you know, ascencio as well. I could go on and on
there's so many great
players and Playmakers in this team.
And just guys that
I guess, Luis Enrique has been very very clear in what he
wants from the attacking unit and and he mentioned it,
I don't really need that time forward, right? We speak. So
often about
that, lack of it for Spain over the years, can they really
finish teams off and you know, it don't need it. Do they?
It reminds me of another football and you know, being up
here in God's country, Buffalo New York, this very difficult
for me to say, but the year, the Chiefs won the Super Bowl
and you couldn't cover any single player. Because As they
had so many weapons that
could get you. I look at that. First of all across the back.
Listen to the line of the
really play rotaries centre-back.
Next teleport Jordi Alba was back there and saves her as
Blackwater was there and they were still playing for somehow.
Busquets is still going there at Centre mid.
That means you could put whatever other 5 players, you
want there and said, go have fun. And that's why app, a jury
and a gavi, and Ferran Torres can go out there. Despite being
under 22 years old. And in two other cases, basically,
Is and do the job. This is a nice mix for them and what will
be really interesting to see? Going forward is an order to
not that they're going to win, I don't think they
will but in order to be a team that can win two major
tournaments in a row, you got to have the one
at the time where it's not expected of you. Whether it's
because you hold on one more tournament too long to your
prime or you get there too soon. And even though Costa
Rica was poor,
they're still a team that routinely qualifies for
the World Cup and Spain. Absolutely dismantled them. So if they can
get it done against Germany, I think you have to consider them
a real Contender, if not a favorite to win
the thing. Absolutely. And if they can get it done against
Germany and then the earlier game is Japan Costa Rica. So by
that point, if Japan takes care of business, which we think
they probably will do against Costa Rica.
Giving our good Japan
looked against Germany.
The German he's out of the tournament if they lose this
pain, which is again Bonkers. Absolutely, I mean, again, by
the way, in the group stage again, s s going. I mean, and
that's after What winning it in
2014 so really low brightness. Cigar. Yeah, it's ridiculous.
It's ridiculous. And
you know, I don't think anyone really saw that comment but
predictions quickly for this game tomorrow and here was
going to come to you first
31 Spain
naughty but just too much
Nick.
22.
I don't know why I'm saying this but I'm going to go to one
to Germany. I just think never they are backs against
the wall. They pull out our result out of nowhere and
I don't think they're actually that bad against Japan. I just
couldn't finish off and get the killer second goal. So anyway,
it's going to be an absolute Beauty here at pro soccer. Talk
on NBC sports.com will keep you covered
with all the how the watch information preview, team news,
and Analysis from reaction after that massive game between
two European, heavyweights Spain against Germany gents.
This is the World Cup that just keeps on giving love
the Jeopardy of these
second group stage games. Because Germany, we going all
out for the win and Spain. We know how good they are and it's
going to be be an unbelievable watch. So, thanks so much for
joining me. Nick and Andy. Thanks everyone for watching.
Keep the adventure rolling with this world cup has been so much
fun with our watch alongs. All of these shows everyday love,
joining, you all. And this really is a big party
atmosphere. Now, as we get towards the end of the group
stage. So thanks gents pleasure. As
always, I speak to you all very soon, indeed. Cheers, guys.