Looking ahead and vegetable updates

This is the Guardian This episode is supported by Boss, former weear provider for the US men's nationalccer team. For soccer's biggest event this summer, the US is playing on home soil and Boss will be dressing the US players and coach Mauritiia Podicino in Boss performance businesswe for their off pitch appearances. Boss and the USMNT share the same values, discipline, precision, and the confidence to perform under pressure US fans can look sharp too in the boss pererformance collllection and wear their passion with special fanwar capsule and embroidered badges in national colors. Own the moment with confidence, discover the boss pererformance Collection as worn by the US men's National soccer team and the fan capsule of jerseys, polos and jackets in national colors. Wear your passion, your way. Available now at boss dot com orr at your nearest boss store, hashtag, be your own boss. And welcome to the Guardian Fotball We week. What a brilliant day, so much tension, so much drama. The biggest story, Germany losing a penalty shootes out for the first time in World Cup history. Paraguay tried really hard to let them win missing two in a row to let the Germans back in. but Jonathan Tar spooned one into RoseZ. Jose Canalle hammered home the winning spot kick. Cute unadulterated joy, the biggest win in their history. Game of the night was in Montererey, the Netherlands and Morocco, two teams going at it from the off an exhausting breathless mess of sliding tackles amazing saves cramp bloodied heads, an emotional Cody Gakpo gave the Dutch the lead some great getting it launch to vout. A last g equalizer from Isa Dop, of course, another dramatic shootout with Morocco Victorious Feels like weeks ago that Brazil beat Japan, we all thought Japan had a chance, but everyone also thought Brazil plus Anchlotti equals a team that will just win games because it's meant to happen. Right at the end, Gabrielle Martinelli squeezing home the winner. Even without Mark Langen, all the correspondence is from comedians about vegetables, will'llswer your questions and that's today's Guardian football Wek. today in LA. Barry Glen Denning. welcome. Hi, Max. A Big shoes to Pil. Artie you Rintartate. Hello and on the night shift in Brighton, Nikki Bandini, Hey, Nickki. I need to know if she's coming and to started eating his vegetables right away. I need to know you from England. Well, well look, we will start with the football and we'll end with the vegetables. That's how this podcast should be. The Guardian Vegetable Weekly Does it the other way aroundound. Let's begin then with Germany getting knocked out by Paraguay one all and then Paraguay winning four three on penalties. The Paraguayan government's already called the national holiday for today. Dwayne says is it time to write off the Germans? Ben said when did Germany get so bad at taking penalties? asking for David Sieman and Peter Schilton The first World Cup knockout game in twelve years, they last another four at least. first time they lost a penalty shoot out at the World Cup Their first shootout defeat since the original Panenca in the Eururos in nineteen seventy six. So thanks for joining us and goodbye, are. But before we get ont to the fallout from that, probably the greatest result in Paraguay's history Barry, and it was some shootout. Yeah, it was fantastic. I mean, it was worth The game was not good. It was a hard watch, but it was worth it to have this penalty shoot out at the end Because Paraguay looked like they had it one, they scored their first three Germany missed two of their first four And then Paraguay let them write back into it by missing two in a row and you're just thinking, o my god, they're going to do it again But Jonathan Tyre, as he said, spooned his into Roseed and Jorose Kanalle. stepped up S Manuel Noir the wrong way and won it for Paraguay. and it was quite fitting, I think, in a way that Canale scored the winning penalty because he was just outstanding throughout himself and the Paraguay skkipper Gustav Gomez were absolutely sensational in the heart of the Paraguay defense. And I don't particularly like watching them play, but I think they deserve this Yeah. I mean, credit is well to Orlando Hill, the keeper Archie, he is massive. This is absolutely enormous man. The goal looks so tiny for that shootout. I think that was the thing is when you saw him stretch his arms and you saw them go above the crossbar, you're like oh, he really is very big and To manager Gustavo Alfaro as well because after the opening game against the USA, I think you could have been tempted to change that backline And he stuck with it in the following group game think that also w want really tested that much by Germany in this game Germany gotot themselves into positions where you were thinking, okay, now is the time to try a killer part Paraguay didn't have to clear as much as you would have expected them to. That I think was a surprising thing For me, they They were kept at an arm's length And credit as well to Matias Galara who seems to be everywhere on the pit. Yeah involved in every tackle And yeah, you can't you can't begrudge Paraguay this at all because As much as one or two voices in Germany will say, but what about the disallowed goal for Jonat and Tar in extra time the fact is and none of the conversation really is around that in Germany because they didn't deserve to really win. Yeah. and Nkki that as I actually alluded to, like the way Paragis was so bad in their opening game. to he and to knock out Germany is I mean, you see you may have seen the video so many amazing clips around, you know, the whole of Paraguay people weeping and crying and cheering and everything. This achievement is extraordinary for them Yeah, it feels like that moment, doesn't it at the World Cup where it accelerates. obviously, we're out of the group station now it matters. you can get knocked out and all of those feelings, those emotions get intensified so much and I think even though they have quite recent experience of doing pretty well at the World Cup. and we'll get to Morocco later. I thought some ofar the things watching the celebrations just now with that, the emotions you see from back home in the country are so huge And you love it. I mean, that's why we love the World Cup. That's what we get excited about But I was just thinking there with Archie talking about by Jonathan Tan having his gold dis allowed. I was when he came up to take the last penalty in the shootout I was watching him and thinking I mean, on the one hand, a second ago, you thought your teams really lost the shootout. They thought they lost the shootout But is there a tiny party that thinks, o go, now it's me who can lose the shootout. After having had my girl Rubed off in extra time, I just wondered how that mentally was for him and then of course he does misss. Penty. of the amazing videos, Archie, you You showed me the best video I think I've seen from this World Cup, which is a bar in Paraguay somewhere where the TV goes into you know, standby mode. we've all been there in the pub where you're going, no, the whole pub is yelling. It's literally as Kanali is taking the penalty. And as he takes it, the standby thing disappears for a second and I think a couple of people think the ball's gone in, but then the screen goes totally black and then the guy is fumbling with the remote to get it back and you see the celebration It's so, so brilliant. honor L Gil, the guuardian have that guide for every single player and his is really interesting, you know, just a little paragraph on each of them In twenty eighteen, he was playing amateur football. Even last year, he was a backup goalkeeper for I think called San Lorenzo de Al Marga Magro. He sold some of his gear to cover the costs his wife said so that they could eat with tears in her eyes after he'd made his international debut in the World Cup win for Paraguay against Peru He was never trusted in domestic football in Paraguay, He moved to Argentina in twenty twenty four San Lorenzo were trying to sign Kaylor Navas, but they couldn't for financial difficulty. So he was given a chance and play to that guy What happens now for Germany? I mean there's so much chat about Nogsmann and everyone on German TV, say This is it, I guess You've got to look at who is this on And it's a mixture of factors It's about how this generation of players is obviously not as good as the twenty fourteen World Cup one. and That generation doesn't come around every cycle. You can't expect that even in a country like Germany The problem is Yulian Nagsman has not made things easy for himself when you look at the strategy Today, could you recognize one was going on in the. I mean I thought Binging N Undav was weird because it worked so well him coming off the bench. And then if you're taking out Musiala, that seems I mean, okay, it's easy to talk in hindsight, but that seem odd to me I think it made more sense in the Musa Vaviat, Hat all think quite similarly And sometimes they need a bit more ego to their game They're all wonderful technical players, but do they all fit in the same team? And this is part of the problem with Yulin Nagos'man. It feels like it's always about I'm going to show you how good a coach I am by making this This unlikely formula work And in the end, it doesn't work. And we've seen a similar pattern with him Byon where they can smash smaller teams quite comfortably, but then in these underdog scenarios they get into these awkward positions that They can't quite find a solution to and Yeahah, that attacking imbalance, I think has cost him and Yuli Nsman has said to the game that look I'm ready to keep going in the Nations League and for the Eururos. but if the GermanFA want to have a word, then then we will have to. There is no way he can continue. I can't see that at all Jogen Klop has been lurking on German TV. He was lurk with those teeth. He was asked After the game and he said wive I've not considered it. J Jimy Recon. and the fact that he's standing here is just a curiosity. I don't think it is difficult to believe But yeah. A Rapael Honningstone in his book, Das Reboot, he chronicles how Because their football was so awful and tortured in sort of the late nineties, early two thousands, there was a complete overaul of every single way German football was run and it worked because they won the World Cup in twenty fourteen, but they've now gone three World Cups without making the last sixteen has that overhaul can that now be deemed a failure or did it just stop or did it get complacent or what's happened? I just think that talent production doesn't work as perfectly as as that all the time. and sometimes in Germany you look at the amount of players who are coming through and Dennis Undf stands out because he is not of an academy, because he was Eating unhealthy pasta meals some five years. V much the Mark Langdon of. So I think It's difficult to say that's the whole system has failed because there are players there with talent. It's just a problem that, for example, with this generation, you look at Floreian Viatz andiman Musala, Musciala coming off the back of a long term injury this season and struggle to find form his move to Liverpool has not worked out at all. I find it it's too much to say, well The whole system is broken. I think that there is an answer there in the middle. and that they overvalue how good they are and they need to adjust and play football accordingly. They try and dominate games in a way that big team with a lot more quality wood, and they maybe look at the individual quality there But when you look at how they come up as a team They fall well short. and I found it interesting that Mattss Hommeles was pointing out albeit very much having to look between the lines that there are a couple of players in their early thirties, as he put it, who have been at four or five, six tournaments now and they need to think about letting the next generation come through effectively is what he say and Yeah in between the lines, he's having a go at Yosua Kimish, Jnga Etska Antonio Rudiger The fact that he's going after to Kimish, someone of his generation doing that with his standing is interesting. But also there is the other side of it, which is Matt Films didn't go to the Euros under Yulian Nuglesman two years ago So you wonder how much of it is just want to make sure because he's also called for Yul Nugsman to go. Just on the defensiveness of Paraguay Barney writing on the shootout itself going watching Paraguay see this out. you hoped vaguely that they would at least remember to kick their penalties forward and not backwards to run forwards. to run towards the ball on its spot, not away from it to cover any possible quick breaks the other way. It is worth pointing out, Nicki that you know, they've got and Cisso, who is the sort of real bright light in this very rugged defensive team Yeah, ably I've actually thought like the first few Paraguay penalties were brilliant. and this was the whole thing, wasn't it? Because Germany historically never losing penalty shooters. And I thinking o all it took to beat Germany in a penalty shootout was to just take magnificent penalties. And then it turned out actually you don't keep doing that and it still works out. But yeah, listen, think the emotion again and see so many scores, the full plged commitment to getting to penalties and it felt like a team with a plan for penalties, even though that plan then went a bit wrong. I kind of wanted to bring up because this is going to be foreshadowing another game, but this idea of bringing a substitute on just to take a penalty that always seems to go wrong.. missing what ends up not being crucial penalty, but that could have been because it was the last one I'd love someone to do a real like statistical deep dive into this. I think it's probably like hard to do because How would you ass certain that a player is just being brought on for a penalty? But it does feel like the ratio of specialists assumed to be brought on to make it and then missing it in my mind feels much higher than what it should be.ute Ivan Tony, M see one on Wednesday. Finally, Archie, worth mentioning Manuel Nouer because it looks for a brief moment like he would be the hero. And that would have been a real narrative change for Germany as well. But that's one final point to make about this generation of players, I would say to Barry's question, which is the fact that before the euros, Germany had Yuli Ngman said, I need to go and get Tony Croross becausecause we don't have that Before this tournament I need to go and get Manduel Nooya. These are moves which say, I do not believe that we are good enough right now. So We can't forecast how good the next generation will be But there will be big questions which are being posed in Germany right now. We should mention Jonathan Tar's disallowed goal because that was That was soft. I think so. I don't think there was any foul to be honest. I think Orlando Gill ran into Waldemar Anton. and fell over. I don't think there was a foul. Anton had a couple of minutes previously got a ticken off for messing around at a corner. I think that might have influenced the referee' decision or the Var officials decision. but that's lowed as it should have been, I think. We're having a Totally different conversation probably, but I still think we would be extremely critical of how poor Germany were even if they had won the game And it's France or Sweden for Paraguay and that'll do for part one, part two. That will do the brilliant game between the Netherlands and Morocco High interest debt is one of the toughest opponents you'll face. Unless you power up with a so far personal loan A so f far personal loan could repackage your bad debt into one low fixed rate monthly payment. It's even got super spepeed Since you could get the funds as soon as the same day you signed. Visit sofi. com slash power to learn more That's sOFi d. com slash PW ER L loans originated by Sofi Bank NA, member FDIC, terms and Cnditions Apply andMLS six nine six eight ny one Every story is a technology story in one way or another. And on the interface, we decode the tech that's rewiring your week and your world. On this week's episode, is AI pushing us towards an infinite workwk This year's World Cup is the most technologically advanced ever, but is it making the game better or worse Listen on bBc d. com or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to part two of the Gardian Fotball Wekly. So Morocco, we've just watched it winning that penalty shoots out three two against the Netherlands after the game finished one or Cody Gak post scoring, very emotional afterwards then Isa Diop who I obviously I still thought it was at West Hand. That's how far behind I am But before we get to any of that, Barry, I just thought this was an absolutely sensational game of football. Yeah, it was a really entertaining game. I think we all notice that on the Fox TV coverage here in the States Teronry and Zatan were incredibly critical of the Netherlands and the way Ronald Couman set almost as if they were accusing of treachery of betraying the D style of play and I suppose to an extent he did because he set up with five at the back That's how they started. Boss For most of this game Morocco were really trying to win it, whereas the Dutch were trying not to lose And obviously, it was the Ddge who went ahead, completely against the R ona play. dirty long ball are so excited gets to flick on Chresentio Somervills on the ball is Aada falls over there is tackle. but performs, I think, a mere miracle to get a toll to to poken in the direction of Cording Dackpul who finished it And then, um I think Morocco got the equalizer that they deserved in added time. Is Gov's good header getting between Cooper miners and Virgeil Van Dyke And then Bartth for Brooen pulled off this inccredibible safe from Sufan Rahimi in extra time. the first period of extra time Rahimi he's got a score of that, but it was a brilliant save for Bruen and Morocco Julie went and won on penalties. I think they were deserving winners as well on penalties. because it would have been a bit of a travesty if the Netherlands were this. It didn't feel to me that the Dutch were it didn't feel so obviously like defensive from the Dutch because like Some ofel was running everywhere. timber was run everyw. I don't know Nicky it was It was just sort of this. It was so incredible P peopleople running everywhere, are'm not articulating as well. issue for a issue for a podcast, I guess. but seem you take my point. Like this idea that you can't in a counter attacking way T me it felt like it felt like actually it' sort of thing where Antonio Coni would get angry and say, we're not counter attacking. We're playingast, break footballs and then completely different. But if you've got Cryresenio Somerville, who in this game looked to me like You know, on YouTube, when you I try to speed through some highlights and you click it up to one point five speed. Every time he was on the ball, it was like that happened. He suddenly is just moving at a different speed to everyone else on the pitch Barry said the set upp on the goal It almost feels like something between a footballing miracle and something out of a car too, like his body's all over the place but somehow he's still angled one foot to kick the ball to where it needs to be for Gakfo to score. So I think if you've got incredible rapid players like that playing to their strengths and inviting a team onto you be a perfectly valid way of approaching a game and and I I think Morocco absolutely deserved to go through Pase The Netherlands had gone through. I wouldn't have been looking at the m team that was going on the next round either. I think they looked like a team that could hurt you on the counter and that could do things. and I think That was what made this The most compelling game of the knockout so far is I thought both of these teams could have won against bothoth teams and some of the other ties. Yeah, I totally agree. I mean, I was writing before Ds. you know, the Dutch side looks really well balanced. They've got depth, they have good substitutions. In the end, I didn't need to write any of that down. orll say it out loud. But the shoot at as well was I mean the sh I was thrilling actually. the way that penalty which Rahimi struck and for Broggen looked to have saved it. but actually for Brouon, just by moving his body He wasn't sure whether Ball had gone after he'd saved it and he knocks it in. The amount that hit the post go narrowly wide. Also because the goalkeepers were sent completely the wrong direction. And then the goalkeepers get up And a kind of strutting as if, yes, of course. this is what I did. And you're thinking yeah, okay. But but bono in penalty shootouts you saw it, I think Most of all on Justin Cllyvert's penalty. where Crivate is so close to taking such a good penalty, but just by seeing Bono in the corner of his eye, he overcooks it just that little bit too much And yeah that's sa say from Somerville, right? becausecause he doesn't die. he just sort of shifted Yeah inside and stuck up a hand. Yeah. Yeah, it was it was like some sort of funfare ride in some you just kind of Iron fist comes out of nowhere And especially for Morocco, we can't forget that This was there was a great article on The Guardian describing how much meaning there was to this game because of The the large Moroccan diaspora in the Netherlands and let's not forget that this game was on three AM there as well. So that would have been quite a night of noise ot quite a late equalizizeer that, could you imagine? And but also I guess Some of the Morocco players have had to put up with some pretty ignorant comments about d your nationality of why would you go and play? For Morocco, you don't need to justify who you play for if you have a dual nationality. It should be said I'm sure that it is that much sweeter when you win it in this fashion. I look Morocco got some great players N because. I mean, there were just so many Amazraawi was brilliant. Taly that cross was amazic Sibari was superb as well Yeah, I mean, that is the thing makes it in a completely different way. It was another really good goal, wasn't it? I mean, the cross is perfect. Diop gets up so well. I do think it was one of those tiny little glimpses of I think a lot of us are known for a while that Van Dyke is not quite Van Dyke of a couple of years ago and could have been closer on the market. But yeah, they've got so many ways to get at you. They've got so much momentum going forward with those fullbacks that they get up, they've got so much power and speed out wide, I think they're a really strong team and it's hard to escape the conclusion now that they have got through this one. When you look at the draw that they're on course for another collalition with France who knocked them out in the semifinals last time. I think may would be the quarterfinals didn' me this time around. and looking at the other teams that they each have to get through, I think that seems very likely to be what's going to happen to them as well under coach Mhammed Ubi since the Afican final and since that tournament, he's taken over and they've successfully managed to take the handbrake off compared to how they play at the last World Cup. Because if you look at the amount of possession that they were having and those games, it was around the thirty percent mark. They were having to Execute difficult game plans against the likes of Portugal and Spain successfully, but now They ran that game. against against the Netherlands tonight So it they are such a fun team to watch with The intensity that they play with, it's difficult to get away from that as a concept with them. team that No matter when you watch him in this tournament, it feels like it's going to be fun And you made the point by credit to the Morocco Manag as well for taking Barham Diaz off before the for any chance of of a shootout. We should mention Cody Gakpo incredibly emotional when he scored that goal. his partner had announced the news on Saturday they'd lost their unborn son a couple of days ago. They're expecting their second child in October and Noah Van Der Bj And she posted online withroken hearts. We share the devastating news that our baby boy passed away uring pregnancy. Thankk you for your love and support Elijah Rapfael, Gapo, forever loved forever our son. And it is that cliche, you know, footballs are human beings too, but it's a very stark reminder that you know, they're going through this incredible, you know, they're all going through their lives at the same time. they're just they're sort of away for work. That's, you know, like like that's what they're doing And it was incredibly moving actually. I just thought hed got injured when he took that shot but the you know, all the players coming around him incredibly moving for him Morocco then went on to play Canada in Houston. and as Nickki said, look, that is a nice draw. We talked about how brilliant yesterday was for Canada we can throw Langon under a bus now because he said, you know, those players have been mocked for playing football in the school playground and lots of Canadians said, it's the biggest participation sport for kids, you know But that is for Morocco, they'll be pretty nackeed, but There would be strong favourites for that. There will be strong favorites. I give Canada I give them more of a chance than Mark does Yeah, I would be surprised if Morocco didn't beat them, but I think Canada give them a game. I don't think they'll embarrass themselves. I mean just worth mentioning this game had everything, didn't it? You know, Van Hecker's head covered in blood and then there' a take off Morocco player because he'd used up all his four shirts. I mean sure there was another reason, but there was just like no more shirts left for you. You can't play anymore One of their guys was covered in blood just amazing sliding tackles and you know I just love the whole thing. I if anyone has any more strong thoughts before we move on? I was just going to say I noted down that it seemed like each of the Dutch defenders had their star moment Van Dyke's coming in with a crucial defensive intervention as well Van der Ven Van Hecker who smashed in the head or face three times in the first off and eventually drew blood I do feel a bit of sympathy towards the Dutch, especially for The strength of their performance both physically and with the timing of their performance. It was a great game, I can say it again. We got some liver game with lots of running around. It was Yeah. And if you want a great show with no running around, come and watch Guardian Football Weekly live first of September in Dublin, ninth of September in London. goo to the guuardian d. com dot uk slash football weeekly live, come along please They'll be great. and that'll do for part two. partart three, we will do Brazil's late win over Japan Today we'll attempt a feat once thought impossible, overcoming high interest credit card debt. It requires merely one thing, a soopi personal loan. With it, you could save big on interest charges by consolidating into one low fixed rate monthly payment. Defy high interesterest debt with a soFi personal loan. Visit sofi dot com slash stuck to learn more Loans originated by SFi Bank NA member FDIC. Terms and conditions apply NLS six nine six eight nine one Every story is a technology story in one way or another. And on the interface, we decode the tech that's rewiring your week and your world. On this week's episode, is AI pushing us towards an infinite workwk? This year's World Cup is the most technologically advanced ever, but is it making the game better or worse Listen on bbc d. com or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to Part three the Guardian Fb Weekly. It is hard to believe that this game also happened today. but Japan won Brazil two Brazil in the last minute Tanaka who under hits that pass just before, you know, and it ends up to Gimarh and he plays that beautiful ball to Martinelli and Suzuki just can't get enough on it And Nkki was saying yesterday, we can't work Brazil out But if you add Brazil and Anchilotti, they'll win football matches they don't necessarily deserve to win or maybe you did think they deserve to win this bothoth get that narrative and like can't run away from it too far because I feel like I've also fueled it myself sometimes. but I also think it's overplayed. I sometimes feel like The English media almost portrays Angelotti as this somethingomet almost accidental. He just shows up and things happen to go well with him. likeike he's not actually one of the great tacticians of European football in the last two decades. I sometimes feel like he's treated like this lucky uncle who's not actually a fantastic football coach. And I think In this game He actually quietly just turned things around. I thought Japan started the game stronger and in the second half, Brazil were far the better team. Brazil had far more of the pitch, far more of the ball, far more of the chances. I think they did not steal anything at all here. It was this almost pre written narrative that, oh look the Japanese are more of a team. they're going to outwork them, outplay them. And because that started that way you could hold onto it. But no, I thought Brazil were really good after the break and that did come down to substitutions that came down to bringing Endrich that came down to bring in midway through the second half Martinelli who if you look on social media, my goodness, people were roasting him for bringing in Martinelli saying, how are you ever going to get a winner now? you've taken off you center forward and put Marie in and guess you get to the winner. so I think I think this idea that he's just muddling through is a little bit ridiculous at this point. But but Vke I thought I thought the right team won this game and I was sad for Japan because they were great value at this tournament and started this game so well, but I thought Brazil by the end who'd flex their muscle a little bit and said, actuallyually listen, don't take us too lightly That's me Toles. But yes, I know now you've explained it. I think you're absolutely right. I'm not sure why I said that. because I guessed Barry, Japan was so superior in the first half And we just talked about the psychology of it and the mentality of it, and all those things that are quite hard to quantify And they just couldn't keep going Well, I'm going to throw Langdon under the bus now. Because he did say on a couple of occasions in the past week that suspected they may not have the mental fortitude to beat this team of Brazilian shirts regardless of who's wearing them And the more I think about it, I thought Initially, yeah, he was right battled it, but I don't think that's the case They were very good in the first half and Brazil were very poor in the first half. really bad No creativity in the final third at all And then And we were both saying, Casamiro, I wrote Casamiro is pulling a car. You said he's pulling a caravan. You couldn't insert any of your own heavy slow moving wheel vehicles. We both wanted him hooked Yeah, I was very surprised he wasn't hooked because he wasn't playing well and I think he was on a yellow card again, wasn't he? So I was very surprised. I think maybe he might have gone if Picetta hadn't been injured So who knows? But he was left on. I thought that was very odd because he looked like he was one of those days where he's a liability He scored a goal. He played he had a good second half and Brazil won. So yeah and Don Carlo does it again. Yeah he does it again and went I think the main reason Brazil won And it's not really an act of tactical genius. they just started slinging crosses into the box and Japan couldn't deal with them. That goes my point Yeah. sorry. I was going to say Anceloti' changing approach at halfime because that's the only time I'd say we've really seen Japan look vulnerable in this tournament To date, is or that defensively vulnerable before was the game against the Netherlands where they were putting balls into the box and struggling to cope with that And it was quite a departure from what Brazil had been doing because I checked out in their first three games of the competition, twelve, nine and sixteen crosses alone and then over thirty, I think it was. today So credit as well to Ryan, saying creditible a lot. But there's lots of credit to be handed out for him justifying his presence He has been having to fill the role of Rafinia in this team which is very big shoes to fill alsoso worth mentioning Japan really be gutted about Junior Ito's chance on fifty four minutes. just before this wave of Brazilian pressure, he has the option to play the ball into the center, one nill up with Daishi Kamada there alone in front of goal and instead he shoots. And after that that's when that wave of Brazilian pressure really starts to build and Japan weren't able to change the flow of the game from there. That will be the real disappointment because they have been so efficient in front of goal. They had the highest conversion rate of any team in the competition in the group stages, but they weren't able to carve out enough chances, particularly in that second half. I you've got a feel for Japan, haven't you, Nickki? becausecause you know, they've never won a game in the knockouts. this could be they could have got a much nicer draw and they were missing a couple of really key players through injury So just sort of feel it's it's got to come, you know nexte World Cup surely they you know, because the psycholic, you know, I really believe there is a bit like Sit, this is Brazil. and That's part of the reason as well as you know all the changes that Brazil made why they they couldn't do it. I mean, that's yeah, I think they've played M World Cup knockout games without winning one than anyone. now, haven't they? I think it's five, they've played without ever winning one. and this team was easily good enough to win a Wor Cup knockout game with a different draw, isn't it? I think that's the thing when you look at some of the teams that especially with this expansion to thirty two teams in the knockouts that are in the knockout stages, there are quite a few of them he would have put Japan ahead of and given them a good chance agains and they could have won this game. I think Archie just made a really good point about it one nil. if you can get that second goal, it completely changes the dynamic of it. But yeah they're an easy team to feel sorry for because they're a likable team. They're an enjoyable team to watch and they've been obviously an enjoyable fan base to watch as well, which goes for lots of countries to be fair. but They're easy to root for Yeah, it's not happened for them five times now they've been the knockouts ag that twenty once. Party would love it if they just left the dressing room absolute for on Gone.'re not we're done with this. I mean, not quite a dirty protest, but you you know take my point. Eactly everywhere. So Brazil will play Norway on the Ivory Coast That's a nicely poised fixure tomorrow, isn't it? Two teams who best thing they do is attacking Hopefully We will see lots of that and especially to see what will happen with Norway after the amount of stick that Stoler Solbachen has taken for making those ten changes in the France game Given the amount of travel that there is at this World Cup to see if that's going to pay off because Ivory Coast didn't have that luxury in their final group game because of what happened in the Germany game. there were on three points. they needed to win against Curisau. So seeing if that has any payff This should be a real good game to watch. Nikky, can you make a case for Sweden beating France, tomorrow