the last 16. This kind of put a timer minute for each game and
in rattle through them, they can give our sort of
predictions.
I'm going to go to you for Netherlands, USA, the kick this
off, the Dutch of favored, but obviously the u.s. I feel
something really fancy a shock in this game, but it's going to
be tie evenly matched. Can we see what extra time
and penalty kicks. In this one. I'm a
I'm sure that or
make the nerves jangled just a little bit Across America. I've
got myself to 50/50 on this joint.
I told you guys, I was 40 60 and then the Dutch got the flu
and one of those players is Frankie too young
and he is so important to what they do. And so I've talked
myself into a win in regulation
while you have okay? I'm thinking
Andy, when it comes to this game in particular, there are
just key battles, right kilo individual battles, that are
going to decide it and maybe it is the manager that maybe that
will decide the outcome of this one will ever
know. And the biggest,
what are you? You don't rate Greg versus The experience and
bravado, shall we say of loot? I don't, you agree. Is
especially in a knockout scenario. It does feel like
the intangibles may be favored, the Netherlands a little bit, but
I think if you just kind of look at form and you look at
the trajectory these teams are on and the overall health, to
Nick's point. It does
feel like this is the opportunity for the u.s. to get
back to the quarterfinals. And we've already talked about how
its set up from there and maybe do something more.
Absolutely. Alright, so
we're kind of going for, it's going to be Those,
so be fun. It'll be fun with talk a lot more about
the Netherlands in u.s. game later on the show, Argentina against
Australia, Nick Mandola, messy, and colder, and proven, you
think,
Alexis McAdams. So, Rodrigo de Paul just kind of holding down
Midfield and getting their fullbacks,
sorted up and higher pitch, but the socceroos there. Sit back.
I mean that counter, they've got some decent players and
Aaron more
Maggie. Ryan suits has been good,
and then lucky, obviously scored a great goal to get them
into the lockout rounds and It's just that playing with
house money, right? The Aussies, so Argentina, I've
already been shot once in this tournament can happen again.
Yeah, I was going to say what are the odds that the upset of
the century, which I didn't really think it was against
Saudi Arabia could be upstaged by the actual upset of
the century. If Australia wins this game it will be
very much in the discussion for the biggest shock in
the history of the World Cup. Oh wow, we're going that father,
you don't think so.
It will be out there. It will be up there. You're right,
actually,
I actually think it's Australian. Team is better than
a lot of people think and they are just the horrible team to
play against. I think in the history of the game. I'm
thinking they're like a Stoke City from 10 years ago in
the Premier League who were just all for the play against but
got some great results and
just under appreciated.
Let's move on to France against Poland, Andy.
Surely, if friends with here, Poland were all for, when
the group stage, he got a BAP, a Griezmann dembele, clicking
through the gears, you're rude, just looking Background ready
to probably bury a header in this one. So
job done for the French. Right?
Should be just just have not rated Poland kind of this
entire time. That Reverend Robert Lewandowski has been
the Talisman there. They've never supported him and real
meaningful ways, chance creation a second score.
Someone to get on the end of his chances,
I know they've been very, very solid defensively for the most
part, but I look at this France team and we already talked
about, you know, best team at the tournament so far. It just
seems like this is way too much. Firepower for Poland. And
Bob, a is going
to have a great day, Greece, Monson, incredible form, which
we didn't expect. I mean that you talk about house money,
having Greece, mon at the level he's at right now that is that
is a, you know, a True Ace in the Hole for Diddy of a show.
I know open makana of the ran,
you know, moving on
back and then rabiot and chow. Mein team is filled with
excellence and some of the area's, you fought France, much
struggle and actually been really good. So, yeah, they're
going to be pretty fast Poland,
but this tournament
are saying that probably
One
angle against Senegal, Nick Mandola three lines of favored.
But this is gonna be a tight one. Senegal on the counter is
Miley Cyrus look dangerous. Yes, the missing side, your
Mane,
I'm just looking forward to see Harry Kane can actually
get off the mark in this world cup, just some good assists, but
I think if he can score, then
that would do his confidence and England team's confidence of
a load of good. And if they get through this one then
maybe we'll just kind of reignite their tournament.
Yeah, my big question is. Can England dictate what kind of
Game it wants to play because I can see it hanging with and
beating Senegal in both ways, right? A very physical slow
plodding possession way or in the track meet way but which
way does England wanted? I imagined possession which way
is Senegal going to try and make them play.
You know, a lot of this probably comes down to Declan
rice asserting himself along with Bellingham as you
mentioned in the Midfield or will it be Jordan Henderson in
there if they want to Slug It Out because I think at his
heart, Gareth Southgate,
Wants to Slug It Out often,
which is funny because they can play with anybody.
Yeah, he's a cool twist manager, but I think now on The
Knockout rounds, let's see how far this team has developed.
And I guess How brave Gonna Be Right. Have to be smart as well
because we've seen upsets, but I think it's a real fine
dividing line for England and you're right. They're better
when they go for it and hopefully they set themselves up. Well,
in this came in and Senegal. I'm speaking purely from a
just I like England and
no emotional connection whatsoever.
Andy Japan, against Croatia. I mean, you know that top half of
the bracket is looking decent for like survival teen in
Brazil, but
these two teams
they'll be in and around there but for Japan, I think
they are real on
underdogs in terms of the tournament but now they're
getting a lot of respect after beating Spain and Germany
in the group stage so do you fancy Japan to beat Croatian L
as well.
Yeah, I really do like and and Nick was Nick was on this
before the tournament started and they've gone out. And
I think aside from the game against Costa Rica, which how
do you even possibly explain what happened there,
they have been one of the best teams at this tournament
knocking off. Spain. Knocking off Germany. The way that they
did
and they have the ability. I think to play
to keep a clean sheet against just about anyone
and but for them, like the key is going to be, do they give
themselves?
Opportunity on the counter-attack and they've not
done that, from the start of games, they started slow. If
they can start quicker in The Knockout rounds and I see them
as someone who can make a Deep Run, especially in that top
half of the bracket.
We got the next game coming up here, Brazil and South Korea, -
tell us out. They kind of took care of business pretty easily
even though they lost the Cameroon after a lot of changes
but their comments on
and South Korea, they really deserved it. They were decent
the whole tournament obviously left it late in the final game
got through. I think that Euphoria and momentum for their
might, it's almost a
feeling of Destiny, a little bit with them,
I think because they were just knocking at the door. So many
times throughout the group stage, never gave up while
organized finally got through, right? At the end and be
Portugal.
But it's Brazil. Just kind of a
step up too much for them or can they really frustrate this
Superstar? Brazilian team
now. I think they can frustrate him. And we have seen young men
song
Take games over.
And he I'm not saying that'll happen against Brazil, but if
he goes to his those days where we look at him and Kane, and we
don't think, well, it's Kane. Won a and and Son one be. There
are days where it just looks like. Son is
son is Son s un. He is the fire behind that team. If he can
manufacture that they do have a puncher's chance of getting out
of it. It's a team that lost just once in
qualifying, I know that, you know, in Asia and a group with
around and the UAE isn't the same thing at all, but
a puncher's chance, although, of course,
not of course. But I am picking Brazil the win.
Yeah, I think me to
be fun to see South Korea, go Adam,
Andy Morocco against Spain. This is a really intriguing
game obviously. We
can Spain refine regain that clinical touch that they had
against Costa Rica because in the the two games against
German Japan, since it just looked a bit
sluggish and kind of what we expected in the final third. A
lot of good build-up play but having all that Cutting Edge
and obviously from rockers yes is the key leading? They won
their group which was exceptional, Grant fan base
that's going to be
raw in the month.
Roman demonic and Spain,
I've got upset alert going in my head here when I'm talking
about this game of you. Or is this kind of, maybe You were
just reading that Japan winning in Spain, a little bit too much
there. You read my notes, Joe
but literally upset alert, was the first two words coming out
of my mouth as soon as he gave it to me there, it's it sets up
perfectly I think from Morocco and even tactically the way
that these teams set up
Morocco strengths are out. Wide Hakeem has raw, we on both
sides that fullback, they've got a really, really sturdy
blunt object to put in front of the back line. And I'm robot
who will go and win the ball and break up as
much of that span is
Session. As they can, as he can
and Zs up top. You mentioned in Joe, he's kind of the X-Factor
for this team. There will be chances to counter for this.
I don't know. It sets up absolutely perfectly.
And if I had to pick one of the eight games in the round of 16
to say, this is definitely going to be an upset. I would
pick this one.
Nick final game, Portugal against Switzerland. They met
recently and the Nations League split those games. I think
quite evenly matched when it comes to some of the talent but
Portugal,
probably favored, right while, definitely face.
But I just I never know with that never know with Portugal
you mentioned earlier they can just put in some really bad
displays and Ronaldo Factor just kind of worries me
a little bit for them. It's almost like if he doesn't turn
up like we've seen
remain United so far this season
then that they're playing with 10 players basically. So
the Swiss very organized always seem to go further than we all
think they're going to do it every single tournament.
It's chilly in December in Buffalo, but give me one of
those fans for that day of the tournament I think for
Morocco's Spain and Portugal and Switzerland
to go back-to-back as well as the ensuing game
for teams that want to play soccer. They want to get after it.
I think it's going to be a thrilling game. I think Switzerland
lends itself a little bit. I mean, even I'll tell you
something, a guy I loved and it's been one of the bargain
buys of the Premier League about five years ago
as Fabien charts at Switzerland.
They have developed big, strong backs and midfielders
shock included manual, akagi who can play the ball to
and And
you could tell me that either of these, any all four of those
teams in the bottom, Rocco, Spain, Portugal and
Switzerland. They're all finalists caliber. I really
mean that.