Latest / Into the Channel ⚽️ A Podcast Primarily About Women's Football / QUARTERFINAL PREVIEW 🏆 UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2025 | PICKS | PREDICTIONS | PLAYERS TO WATCH

Transcript

QUARTERFINAL PREVIEW 🏆 UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2025 | PICKS | PREDICTIONS | PLAYERS TO WATCH · Into the Channel ⚽️ A Podcast Primarily About Women's Football

0:05
OK, welcome to Into the Channel podcast premiered by Woods
0:08
Football. I'm your host Dino de Suspidas
0:10
and as always I am joined by my Co host Mr. Grant Engel.
0:15
What is up man? I'm feeling fantastic, buddy.
0:18
We got four matches on deck. In the coming week, we're going
0:22
to do four straight shows, one after every match, chatting with
0:26
all of our pals out here on the Internet about it.
0:28
Couldn't be more excited to get into some knockout football.
0:31
Let's go. Is this?
0:33
I mean I'm no mathematician, but is this?
0:36
Is this 13 for 13 at this point? You hit record on another on
0:41
another show for the you hit record for the 13th time.
0:45
So I mean, I guess it's hard to argue with that logic.
0:48
Skull Boat. All right, Mr. Gretig, where do
0:52
I get started? Let's do chronological order, my
0:56
Goodman. What other way do we want to
0:58
live our lives? So the first match happening on
1:00
Wednesday, the mighty Norway, winners of Group A versus Italy,
1:07
the 2nd place team from Group B. This one should be interesting.
1:11
So these two teams faced off twice last year in qualifying.
1:16
I think it's part of the Nation's league, A draw in both
1:19
of those matchups, nil nil 11, I think pretty cagey and also
1:25
maybe what you would expect from these two different teams with
1:27
these two different styles. So we've talked about Italy, you
1:30
know, kind of how they want to defend, you know, play physical,
1:34
be super opportunistic when they have chances.
1:37
And then Norway is playing a little bit of, I don't want to
1:40
call it hero ball, but you know, they've got great players that
1:42
could change the game, you know, in a flash.
1:45
And I think we're seeing that. And also maybe we're seeing a
1:49
player like senior Goutsett, maybe elevate to that superstar
1:52
level player that that can, you know, summon a moment, but also,
1:56
you know, uphold the pressure, you know, and uphold the pace.
1:59
And and really kind of like not just make it about, you know,
2:02
these these flash and the band type moments, but really make it
2:05
like, Hey, we're going to make you play all 90 minutes a little
2:08
bit, maybe a page out of it. Italy's book, maybe?
2:10
Yeah, I think that I think that's possible.
2:12
And you know, we are in the knockout stage for all of our
2:15
pals over in Europe who might not always be locked into the
2:19
March Madness tournament, college bad, big college
2:21
basketball tournament over here in the USA.
2:24
And frankly, I don't think Dino and I are ever really that
2:26
locked into it because college basketball is largely terrible
2:28
to watch. But you can see sometimes a
2:32
young player get really, really hot and and take their team far
2:37
into into the tournament for one shining moment, some people
2:41
might say. And yeah, Scenic Outset could be
2:44
that player. I think, you know, it's
2:47
definitely not unlikely that she could put together a great
2:50
performance. We just have to see the manager
2:53
start her, I think. And the performance against
2:56
Iceland, I think it would be difficult to not start Scenic
2:59
Outset. Yeah, I think probably, maybe
3:02
even slightly more than difficult, probably impossible.
3:06
I mean, I think we're at the point now where you can't really
3:09
afford, you know, you make a bad, you know, move in the
3:12
lineup and that that could be 60 minutes of being behind the 8
3:15
ball a little bit and, you know, you fall behind a goal or two
3:18
and there's just not that much time to claw back into a match.
3:21
And a player like upside is, I mean, is a beast physically.
3:24
You know, you, you could play 120150I don't think there's a
3:28
number of minutes where you'll start to see a player like that
3:31
fade. She's just such a tank out
3:33
there. But I want to get into a little
3:35
bit of maybe some, not, not quite players to watch, but
3:39
players that maybe we really love watching.
3:42
We've gotten to know all of the eight quarter finalists.
3:45
We did our homework. We've watched the games.
3:47
Bro, I'll kick it to you. Who is the player?
3:51
We'll go one from each team that you really enjoy watching, that
3:54
you're really looking forward to seeing in this matchup.
3:57
I'm going to start with Italy because I just want to get this
4:01
out of the way. I mean, we've talked about
4:03
Manuela Giuliano for a couple years at this point, you know,
4:09
from her work in the Champions League.
4:11
That's my point. Oh, OK.
4:13
All right. So I guess we have some we have
4:15
some overlap here, So let's go. You know, she's she's leading
4:19
Italy in the last these these euro group stage matches.
4:22
She has 13 progressive passes, the leads that leads the side.
4:26
I also just want to say that she's really ratcheted up the
4:28
shit housery a bit from what I'm used to seeing from her.
4:32
And I think she, you know, she wants to make sure that she's
4:34
playing with that edge while also doing exactly what she
4:38
does, you know, delivering great passes, just like we've seen
4:42
her, you know, do for for Roma. And I think, you know, do I do I
4:47
want to see her do any of that in this match?
4:49
Absolutely not I don't. I want to see Norway limit that
4:52
passing. And I think that would be one of
4:54
their keys to victory. If I may borrow another sports
4:58
radio. Cliche.
4:59
Yeah, no doubt. I mean, I think she definitely
5:01
has the the ability to hurt you. I mean, you look at her
5:04
tournament, though, so far subbed off in all three matches,
5:07
Giuliano, which it seems a little bit of a like a weird,
5:11
you know, factoid for a player 27 years old, one of the leaders
5:15
at Roma, one of the leaders of this team and just kind of
5:18
hasn't really been able to get in rhythm.
5:21
You know, we know what she's capable of from from watching
5:24
her play in Roma. She almost connected with Elena
5:26
Lenari on that corner kick, you know, and Lenari hits the posts,
5:30
you know, got really close there to to notching an assist.
5:32
But I'm with you. I think Giuliano could be an
5:34
absolute game breaker. Has not played anywhere near her
5:38
potential the first three matches so I I I totally agree
5:41
that that could be a player that could be in for a bit of an
5:44
explosion and then I'll. I'll go here on the Norway side.
5:48
I think Ingrid Ingen is somebody that could really be a needle
5:52
mover. Yeah, I think Ingen's going to
5:54
play a huge role in just kind of moving the ball along and being
5:58
like a physical presence, willing to battle, willing to
6:01
duel in the midfield with that Italian side.
6:04
So if Italy kind of overruns Norway in the midfield, that
6:07
could be a really long day. But I'm looking for Angin to
6:10
like really kind of take control that match, control the tempo,
6:13
control the touches, move the ball away from where Italy is,
6:16
make them run around a little bit extra, and then really use
6:19
that to build up some offensive momentum.
6:22
I think that's totally fair. And now I'm sorry, but I'm going
6:25
to break the conceit for for the format that you had laid out
6:29
here, because you say who's my favorite player to watch on
6:32
Norway. Answer all of the above.
6:34
I'm rooting for all of them to do well.
6:36
So let's do a thing. You know, I've had some
6:39
conversation with our some of our Norwegian pals over over
6:42
blue sky in the YouTube comments.
6:45
I talked about giving an 11 in my, you know, wild antics that
6:49
were happening after the Iceland victory.
6:52
I'm ready to give the 11 and I don't think and I and I think
6:57
it's not going to be what you expect.
6:59
So obviously in goal, it is going to be what you expect.
7:02
Fisker Strand. Now the defense, you know, no
7:06
merit proper glund because of the red card.
7:08
We'll live with that. We'll survive.
7:09
We'll go with the same back four that we that we played versus
7:12
Iceland. So from left to right, Hansen,
7:15
Harvick and Melda Voltvic special call out real quick to
7:19
Tuva Hansen. Sophia Cantore is going to be
7:22
occupying that side. Tuva, you got to come through
7:25
for us. You, you got to limit Cantore as
7:28
much as you possibly can. Hansen's played all night, has
7:31
played every minute so far in the group stage.
7:34
She's going to have to she's going to have to deal with
7:36
Cantore in the defensive midfield.
7:39
I'm playing a 4231, if you could believe it.
7:42
I think I've been talked into it.
7:43
I think I want to see Nelson and Boa Risa back there and I think
7:47
I went again coming off the bench and I think it is just
7:51
because Nelson has just shown a level of connectivity with her
7:57
team mates that I think I can trust in this big of a spot.
8:03
And shout out, shout out to our pal Bard, who I think has
8:06
convinced me on some of this stuff.
8:08
My three across as you might, no surprises there, gallops at
8:12
Manam CGH. And now for the large one.
8:18
OK. 24 years old striker Manchester United, Elizabeth
8:23
Turland. I like her work rate.
8:27
I think I've been convinced. Ada Hegerberg's a legend.
8:31
Ada, if we need you for 20, if we need you for 25, we know
8:34
you'll be ready. But I think I I think I like
8:37
Turland's work rate and I think some of our Norwegian pals have
8:41
convinced me. The Turlin call is really
8:44
interesting because I think you think about Italy at center
8:47
back. Not sure who's going to be back
8:49
there, but Linari is probably gonna be back there.
8:51
I feel like Linari maybe struggles a little bit more with
8:55
Turlin than she does with Hegerberg.
8:57
I could be wrong about that. You know, just did a little bit
9:00
of a different profile, but who's to say?
9:02
I mean, you can't really go too wrong with who they've got up
9:05
there. But I don't know, I think the
9:07
lineup could look exactly like what you put forward or it could
9:10
look a lot different from what you put for like 3-4 players
9:13
maybe potentially. So I'm very interested to see.
9:16
What that looks like come Wednesday, I'm confident we'll
9:19
it will look very different from what I put forward.
9:21
But I just want to get on the record.
9:23
That's what I'd like to see. And then if it's not and
9:25
disaster strikes, which it won't by the way, they're going to win
9:28
the match. But let's just say complete
9:30
disaster happens and Italy happens to win.
9:34
Then I can say, well, if you would have played my lineup, you
9:36
would have won. I mean, we keep, we're just
9:37
winning. We know the groups who win all
9:39
the matches. We know the arguments, right?
9:42
That's right. Let's go to head.
9:44
Thursday follows Wednesday in the chronology that is
9:47
space-time. Big one here, Sweden, England,
9:53
we're here. You know, yesterday we had to we
9:56
got to do the fun hypothetical. Would you rather play Germany?
9:59
Sweden had a fun time imagining what what a match up against a
10:02
wooden wounded Germany would look like.
10:04
But now we're here. Sweden is the opponent.
10:07
That one's going down Thursday in that same 12:00 PM Pacific
10:10
Time slot. I wanted to hit you with one
10:12
stat real quick. These are two of the top three
10:15
teams in XG differential through the group stage.
10:18
Sweden #1 + 7.2 England #3 + 6 point O despite the two one loss
10:26
to France to start the group stage.
10:28
So I think these are like, like mentioned, the very, very upper
10:33
crust of the teams that are left in this in this tournament.
10:36
What are you going to be looking for when they lock up Thursday?
10:38
Alessia Russo had the quietest, the quietest, pardon ME3 assists
10:45
existence in football that I can remember where people are like,
10:48
Oh yeah, she had, you know, she had those great assists and I
10:51
think I well, I guess she won player or I think she got some
10:55
consideration for player of the match in her three assist game.
10:58
Or maybe she won. Did she win it over LJ in that
11:01
match? I mean she was fat mom's highest
11:05
rated that game. Yeah, for sure.
11:07
That was the LJ two goal game, which I think was, you know, you
11:10
could definitely make it. And you know, we, you and I
11:12
talked about it. That was the LJ game.
11:14
I cannot remember, Apologies for doing this off the off the top
11:18
of the head here. But you know, Russo, you
11:20
mentioned her and our last show Russo gets on the score sheet.
11:24
She's going to need to compete with Sweden's defense and she
11:28
needs to make herself available for LJ Fortune, Stanway and
11:32
Walsh and and Russo needs to occupy those dangerous areas.
11:36
And whether I don't care if it's a rebound, I don't care if it's
11:39
a counter attack. You know, it's beat one player.
11:41
It's a give and go with hemp or something like that.
11:44
I think Russo needs to get on on the score sheet, which you know,
11:47
is that mind blowing analysis Like, Hey, I think to win your
11:50
number 9 has to score. No, but that's not why you come
11:53
here. You come here because of our our
11:55
shining personalities. So I, I have to say, you know,
11:59
she's leading the team. You talk about that XG style.
12:01
Alessia Russo is still with only one goal and three assists.
12:05
She is leading the team in XG. And I think, you know, she's
12:09
she's still a creator out there. So I want to see her kind of
12:12
kind of pick it back up. And hopefully that momentum from
12:14
the Wales match takes itself into the knockout round.
12:18
Yeah, I'm. I'm glad we're starting with
12:19
Alessia Russo because as a #9 you know, obviously a good, a
12:24
good striker, probably a really good striker, but her ability to
12:28
pass, you know, back to the goal, you know, just see the
12:31
field, understand like, you know, the stakes.
12:35
You, you rarely see Alessia Russo take a bad shot or an ill
12:39
advised shot or shot was like, oh, she had Kelly there.
12:42
Oh, she had Mead there. She had blacks in it.
12:44
You know, like you almost never see that.
12:45
Like it's always, she's always dishing the right way and she
12:49
racks up the assist. And I think you, you know,
12:52
there's a lot of talk about the, you know, the, the modern game
12:54
and the goalkeeper's responsibility.
12:56
I think in the modern game today with what wingers are able to
13:00
do, what defensive midfielders are able to do up field, you
13:03
know, and attacking midfielders and just kind of how wide open
13:06
the game is. I think the modern #9 needs to
13:09
look and play like Alessia Russo.
13:12
You will talk about Koto too in France.
13:14
You know that you just need a player that can see the field.
13:18
Can it? It's almost like running the
13:20
option, you know, then the player can can, can, can strike
13:23
or they can pass and and keep the play alive.
13:26
And as a defender, if you've got to play both, it makes it
13:29
really, really tricky. And then you've got a player of
13:32
of Russo's ability to able to hold the ball that deep and it
13:37
just it just compounds it. Koto as well.
13:38
I mean, I think there's a lot of parallels between those two, but
13:42
I think Russo from that standpoint has been a little bit
13:45
dominant in this tournament. I mean, she she, she just has
13:48
been extremely impactful. We saw it again today with her
13:53
ability to kind of open things up.
13:55
Yeah, that's a that's a great point, man.
13:57
And I think when she has kind of some of that hold up play and
14:00
she can, you know, we we talk about it like you can you
14:03
dribble, pass and shoot? Can she kind of make defenders
14:06
make some tough decisions? She can also force the
14:09
goalkeeper into making some like tough decisions, like in terms
14:12
of her positioning. And you need some of that if
14:15
you're going to try to beat Jennifer Faulk.
14:17
Absolutely. All right, so I had a couple
14:19
players I'm going to be keeping an eye on on the English side.
14:23
It's got to be LJ for me, you know, a little bit of a quiet,
14:26
quiet game versus Wales in the third group stage match.
14:29
But obviously we saw what she was able to do versus the
14:31
Netherlands and there's something to L JS game where I
14:35
think she does save a little bit for the biggest moments, you
14:38
know, and I think you know that it was definitely needed in that
14:41
Netherlands match, little bit W less so versus Wales.
14:43
I think Wales was kind of about opening things up, get getting
14:46
everybody going. But in this one against Sweden,
14:50
a team that defensively has looked like maybe the class of
14:54
the tournament, you're going to need LJ.
14:56
You're going to need LJ to be special.
14:58
You know, in spots in, in, in, in duels and in scenarios where
15:02
maybe she's up against it, you're going to need her to, you
15:05
know, kind of like just be special.
15:07
So I I think I'll be watching, I'll be watching LJ very
15:09
closely. And then on Sweden side, Felipe
15:12
Engel, doll player that you, you, you saw quite a bit 28
15:15
years old Real Madrid. I think she's been crucial, you
15:18
know, winning in the midfield, defending in the midfield, key
15:21
passes, mixing it up, will shoot if you get the shot scores a
15:26
goal versus Germany. This is a player that I think is
15:29
a little bit of a lynchpin because if she's effective
15:33
versus England, I think Sweden is in all of a sudden in the
15:37
driver's seat a little bit. If we see angled all chasing a
15:40
little bit, a little bit behind, a little step slow versus Walsh
15:43
versus Stanway, versus LJ, maybe that could bode really, really
15:46
well for England. So I kind of feel like that
15:48
angle doll position is a position where a little bit of a
15:51
bellwether for how Sweden's going to look.
15:53
That's a great call, man. And I think it it goes to show
15:56
that you and I are somewhat aligned on here because the
15:59
player I had to watch for Sweden is another midfielder who can do
16:02
a lot of those kind of same things, you know, unlock
16:05
defenses. Kosovari Aslani, you know,
16:09
probably the I I would have to imagine, you know, you can never
16:12
count anybody out, but more than likely the last dance for this
16:16
35 year old in a in a Euro setting.
16:19
She has one goal, 3 assists for her, just like Alessia Russo and
16:23
she is absolutely bossed matches in in several spots.
16:27
She has 36 progressive passes, which is nearly double that of
16:32
her next closest teammate, Natalie Bjorn with 19.
16:36
You know, as Aslani. She she passed Steven Blackstone
16:39
is wide open in the last match for Germany.
16:43
And she had a couple like unlocking passes, obviously, as
16:46
as indicated by the three assists.
16:48
I mean, if she's just back there and you're not closing down
16:52
space to kind of limit like her creativity on some of those
16:56
passes, then you could be in for a long day.
16:59
Yeah, and I think just seeing that she's leading the pack in
17:02
progressive passes means that as a #10 she's getting the ball
17:05
very deep in the action, getting involved defensively, you know,
17:09
serving as an outlet. And you know, she's got the
17:12
skills even at, you know, at her age, to be able to run and to be
17:16
able to just distribute the ball up field either, you know, just
17:19
as easily. So Aslani very close to being my
17:22
my favorite player. My bad.
17:25
I broke the format. I wanted to make some picks and
17:27
predictions for. So let's let's pick a winner.
17:30
I, I, I feel like I know where you're going to go for the
17:32
Wednesday matchup, but Norway, Italy, just for posterity's
17:35
sake, who do you got winning that matchup in advancing?
17:38
2 to 1, Norway. I like it.
17:42
I'm going to go 11 Norway and they advance on penalty kicks.
17:46
Wow, OK, that's exciting. I mean, I don't know, my blood
17:49
pressure needs that, but that's fine.
17:52
Yeah, You know, we're still in our prime, sort of.
17:54
All right, Thursday, Sweden, England.
17:56
Oh, this is a tough one. And I'll throw you a little
17:58
curveball because of the way the bracket shakes out.
18:01
You mentioned having gone back and listened to our our our our
18:05
mega preview recently to check in in our picks, you, my good
18:10
man, predicted Spain and Sweden to appear in the final.
18:14
That could happen. The way the brackets have shaken
18:17
out. We could see Sweden, we could
18:19
see Spain. Me on the other hand, I did pick
18:21
Germany from the bottom of the bracket in England from the top
18:24
of the bracket. So from a take integrity
18:26
standpoint, a case could be made that I I've got England in this
18:30
match and you've got Sweden, But we'll we'll just shove that off
18:33
to the side for a second, you know, make make some picks with
18:36
somewhat of a clean slate. Who you got this one?
18:39
No, take take integrity always rides.
18:43
I I won't you know, I'm I'm an England supporter.
18:46
I haven't since I was 12 years old playing FIFA97 being like,
18:49
oh, this team looks good and like, oh, my, my ancestors, even
18:53
though I really don't care about this at at I haven't cared about
18:56
this for a long, long time. But like, apparently, you know,
18:58
my ancestors are from that part of the world, if you can believe
19:00
it from looking at me. But no, no, man, I care more
19:04
about take integrity. It's why we it's why we do the
19:07
show. I pick Sweden to win, to make it
19:09
to the final. Pardon me.
19:11
And I'm not just going to back out of it just because they're
19:13
they're playing the team that I've supported for a long time.
19:16
So give me give me Wow. I I said all that.
19:23
And now, as I'm about to say it, I hate saying it, hate saying
19:26
it, hate saying it. I'll do Sweden one, England nil.
19:34
Wow. Unreal.
19:37
Wow. OK, I'm in shock.
19:39
I'm. I'm in.
19:40
I can't believe it. You did it.
19:42
You did it. I can't.
19:43
Pick him to make the final and then pick him to lose in the
19:46
quarter final. Yeah, it's our show, man.
19:48
We can do whatever we want. And obviously, you know,
19:51
learning. We learned some new stuff, you
19:52
know, between the other yesterday and today.
19:54
I mean, I don't know, England looked pretty good.
19:56
You ask me no, but I understand you know Sweden.
20:01
They've looked unbeatable defensively, fully locked down
20:04
offensively they they've definitely start to put it
20:06
together attacking from different angles.
20:08
You know Rofo, they've been able to work her into the line up.
20:12
You know to to to some positive effect for sure.
20:16
So I can see I can definitely see Sweden one nil.
20:19
But if you're asking me to make a pick and you're telling me to
20:22
pick against the holders, the defending champions, my pick.
20:28
To appear in the final, give me England.
20:31
Never a doubt from one of the care hosts on the ITC.
20:37
England to Sweden nil. I feel like they slam the door.
20:42
Sweden unable to breakthrough. I think we see a little bit of a
20:45
JRK Black Stenniest struggle fest a little bit.
20:49
And I think we see some some big England breakthroughs.
20:52
And yeah, I think the Champs get it done.
20:55
They send Sweden home again, unfortunately.
20:58
So yeah, give me England 2 nil. Take integrity.
21:01
OK, no, it's a good pick. I I like it.
21:04
I like everything. I like everything about that
21:06
pick. And if it happens then then my
21:09
slate, my dance card is empty. I just get to hop right back on
21:13
England. So that's totally fine.
21:14
There we go. Love it.
21:15
All right, let's go ahead. Friday, match up the world
21:19
champs here, Spain take on the host country, Switzerland.
21:24
I mentioned it, this one, this one got some could get ugly
21:28
potential. I don't see a ton of ways
21:30
forward for Switzerland in terms of being able to make this
21:33
competitive, let alone be able to get past the world champs
21:36
here. But I don't know what.
21:37
What do we need to be looking for when Spain takes out
21:39
Switzerland on Friday? It's going to be it's a tough
21:44
Rd. for Switzerland here. I think they should be thrilled
21:49
with how they've played in this tournament.
21:51
They should be thrilled with the way fans have come out and
21:54
supported them. They're running into a
21:57
juggernaut here, so it's hard to ask a lot from them.
22:01
I think, you know, I think a relatively close competitive
22:05
defeat. I think everybody goes home and
22:08
kind of shrugs and goes, what are you going to do against
22:10
Spain? I'm not sure how you say that in
22:11
Swiss. What what can you do against,
22:14
like you said, the world champs? So, you know, Spain is going to
22:19
go in there. They're going to play their type
22:20
of football. They're going to press the
22:21
absolute hell out of Switzerland.
22:23
They're going to have to try to do the thing where it's OK,
22:26
what's our third pass here? Let's not just think in terms of
22:29
what the next pass is to try to beat this Spanish press.
22:32
And, you know, I think if they keep if they keep it competitive
22:35
for 45 minutes, I think outsiders, no, like no
22:39
professional athlete is going to be happy with that.
22:41
Like they're going to be absolutely furious and, and say
22:44
that they could have played better and said that they could
22:45
have won a match. Totally understand.
22:47
But I think if if Switzerland keeps it competitive for the
22:50
first half, I think fans should be relatively satisfied.
22:53
With that, yeah, you could probably make the case just
22:55
being able to show up and take on the Champs under these
22:59
circumstances, the the last 8, the Elite 8, you might say like
23:03
that. That is an achievement in and of
23:05
itself. And then just even being able
23:08
to, you know, be competitive or or just kind of compete with the
23:12
Champions for a shot to get in semi final.
23:13
That's that's huge for a country like Switzerland, who if they
23:17
weren't the host country, there are there are absolutely
23:20
scenarios where they might not even make this field.
23:23
You know, I think they were where they were in the Nations
23:25
League. I think they were in that that
23:26
League B mix didn't have to qualify.
23:28
So I don't think we would have. I don't think we would have
23:30
known either way. But I think just getting to
23:33
getting here a big step for this team and they have they have the
23:37
young players and they have the athleticism and they've got some
23:41
leadership and some experience on the roster as well.
23:44
They've got enough to put together some moments within the
23:48
match. Now, whether that means that
23:51
they can make this like A3132 type, you know, maybe
23:55
interesting. All right, well, we're we're
23:56
watching on the stretch and, you know, the doors slightly ajar,
24:00
you know, that's still left to be seen.
24:02
But I think I'm leaning more toward the five nil 51 variety
24:08
of Switzerland, maybe just not being able to break all the way
24:12
through. I can see like a player like
24:14
Geraldine Roy Tiller, who's going to be the player that I'm
24:16
watching. I think on Switzerland, just
24:17
because her tenacity and then her ability to find gaps and
24:22
find opportunity on the pitch when there doesn't look like
24:24
there's any have been really impressive and really inspiring.
24:27
But I think Reutzler and the rest of that Swiss attack just
24:31
not going to be able to put together any answers or any
24:34
formula or any solutions for what that Spanish defense is
24:37
going to be able to do. And I think they're going to
24:40
spend most of the day, to be honest, defending and trying to
24:43
keep Spain from from pulling the ball out of the back of the net.
24:47
You know, So I, I feel like it could be that kind of day for
24:50
Switzerland, but I think absolutely something to be
24:53
celebrated this entire run. Yeah, no doubt.
24:56
So I'll I'll give my Switzerland player to watch it.
24:59
I think it has to be Olivia Peng in goal.
25:01
You know, you you get signed from Chelsea out of out of Virta
25:04
Bremen for a reason. And if they're going to keep it
25:08
close at all, I think you'll you'll need a supernova
25:12
performance from Peng. So you know, I'll be I'll be
25:14
watching that closely. And like even if you avoid the
25:18
five nil, I think again, I think everybody goes home happy.
25:22
Yep, absolutely. Yeah.
25:25
So we'll be watching Pang for sure.
25:26
My my Barcelona player to watch. I don't know if you if you
25:28
dropped yours, it's got to be Claudia Pina for me.
25:32
So stupid. But I I got the you can't spell
25:36
you can't spell 2 nothing without tune In my head.
25:38
I was just like, what a stupid joke.
25:39
But I'm definitely going to say it on the show.
25:41
And when I was writing down Claudia Pina, I'm like, you
25:44
can't spell pain without Pina, you know, and I think that's
25:46
just what other what other teams face when she steps on the
25:49
field. Yes.
25:51
I mean, she's just such a devastating player.
25:54
You look at her FB ref and she's 99th percentile on shots, 99th
25:59
percentile in shot creating actions and 99th percentile and
26:03
just kicking the other team in the testicles at the worst
26:06
possible time. So give me Claudia Pina, you
26:09
know my my player to watch and one of my favorite players I
26:13
think on the planet right now. Yeah, totally fair.
26:16
You know, I got to point out, just because it's been a theme
26:19
of the show, you did refer to her as one of the Barcelona
26:23
players to watch at the top of that, but she's still a
26:27
Barcelona player and we will be watching her.
26:29
So I think that tracks. I think you're totally fine.
26:31
I think you're covered there. I at least I got the continent
26:33
right. There you go.
26:35
And she plays for Barcelona. So, I mean, you know, what are
26:38
we doing here? Getting closer.
26:40
So let me get, I'll give you my Barcelona player to watch too.
26:43
And I'm, I'm, I'm really, I'm really going to dig deep into
26:48
into the dossier here. I'm going to be watching Alexia
26:52
Puteas 2 two time Balandor winner.
26:56
It all starts with the queen, I think three goals, 4 assists in
26:59
the group stage. She's leading the team in
27:01
progressive passes and expected assists.
27:04
And I, I'm really bought in to the narrative that we've been
27:08
talking about since the very first match that I think she
27:11
wants this to be her tournament. And I think she's making it her
27:15
tournament. And, you know, she has another
27:18
opportunity against an opponent that's going to be overmatched.
27:21
She's another opportunity to put up another two goals and an
27:25
assist or two goals and two assists.
27:27
You know, it feels silly to kind of predict that thing from a
27:30
player. Not her though.
27:33
I'm so jealous of the the Alexia comeback take.
27:36
You know, we, we love to make our NBA comps here on the show
27:39
and it reminds me a lot of Kawhi.
27:41
You know, Kawhi wins the title with the Spurs looks
27:44
unbelievable. You know, devastating injury,
27:47
just kind of career gets derailed much more so than
27:49
Alexis did. But then he comes back for
27:51
Toronto and then reaches the absolute apex mountain top of
27:54
the sport again. In in a sport where that doesn't
27:56
usually happen. You don't usually get there,
27:59
fall, get back there. I mean, there's just too much
28:02
competition. And I think a real shocker, not
28:05
a shocker, but a a moment where you have to kind of just reflect
28:09
on the greatness of an all time great player to say, wow, this
28:13
person got here suffers the injury, you know, like has, you
28:17
know, the the bondor switch with with Beaumati, you know, the CGH
28:21
in the mix. And I think like there was some
28:23
real, you know, tumult in that midfield.
28:26
You know, there was some static with Gidaldos, you know, at the
28:29
end, you know, playing time where, you know, Potesta wasn't
28:32
getting really playing time down the stretch in the Champions
28:34
League. So it wasn't really a clean, oh,
28:38
she's back like all right now flip the lights back on into the
28:42
theme music, right back to to where it was.
28:45
She really had to work her way, weirdly enough, back onto that
28:49
Barcelona side and the Spain side.
28:53
I think same thing, you know, really the team has kind of
28:56
slotted in as the group stage has has kind of like rolled on
28:59
here around her, you know, and she's just become the absolute
29:03
hub. The absolute focal point of the
29:05
offense, and that's with a ton of other great players
29:08
surrounding her. Yeah, and she and her minutes
29:11
are significant. I mean, obviously Bone Mati was
29:13
out with the meningitis like at 1st and then only played like a
29:16
couple minutes in the first match, but with those minutes
29:19
overlapping with Bone Matique, you know, arguably the best
29:22
player in the world right alongside her.
29:24
So yeah, I mean, you can't say enough about her.
29:26
She's an all time great and she plays next to another all time
29:30
great. And I think it's they're going
29:32
to demonstrate that for the remainder of this tournament.
29:34
No doubt. Yep, great pick.
29:36
I really dug deep there, but I appreciate it.
29:39
Thanks. Our fourth quarter final match
29:42
up closing out. Real quick, are you, so are you
29:45
official 5 nil Spain or what are we, what are we doing there?
29:50
I'll, I'll go 51 just because I think Nan Clatus and goal for
29:55
Spain has been a little shaky with the caveat that if it's got
29:59
that goy, it could be 5. No, if it's not got that goy it
30:01
could be 5/1. OK, give me 41 all.
30:03
Right. I like it.
30:04
OK, shifting gears. One team that's looked
30:08
incredible and one team that's looked a little less so.
30:12
France, take it out Germany on Saturday.
30:14
I mean, it's going to be a star-studded match.
30:16
You know, the basic, the All Star players up and down the
30:19
pitch. But two teams definitely in.
30:23
I don't know, arrows point in different directions.
30:24
Safe to say that. I think so.
30:26
I mean you, you, you convinced me that Germany was definitely
30:30
the arrow was there. Not Even so much that the arrow
30:33
is pointing the wrong direction, because I I know you believe
30:35
that, but also abandon all hope on the arrow switching
30:40
directions. What are you supposed to do?
30:42
Like if you're, if you're that German defense, that struggle is
30:46
kind of with Sweden, that that France team.
30:49
And, and I want to just kind of like use this to springboard
30:51
right into my player to watch, which is Sandy Baltimore.
30:55
I'm going to go with the Sandy pronunciation just because that
30:57
seems to be where the wind's blowing and I'm with it.
31:00
It sounds kind of cool. Doesn't sound, you know, so much
31:03
like a Philly mob boss. Sandy, Baltimore.
31:05
But Sandy, let's just kind of, you know, respect that, respect
31:08
the pronunciation. Baltimore, obviously 25 years
31:12
old from Chelsea, wrecked England in that first match up.
31:15
And I just want to hit a couple stats, you know, and these are,
31:18
again, a courtesy of FB ref. How about 95th percentile
31:21
progressive passes received for Baltimore, 97th percentile for
31:26
touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 and total shots per
31:30
90. How about 99th percentile for
31:34
non penalty goals per 90 and progressive carries and
31:38
successful take ONS? So let's just look at those
31:41
three. She's 99th percentile in taking
31:43
you on progressive carry, just blowing right past you and then
31:48
non penalty goals per 90. So she she could do all three of
31:51
those things, you know, in a swoop.
31:54
And not only can she do them, she's doing them in the 99th
31:57
percentile versus all other footballers at her position.
32:01
She is an absolute phenomenon. And she is a player that if
32:06
you're Germany, I don't, I'm not sure how you're able to even
32:09
sleep, you know, trying to figure out how you're going to
32:11
game plan against this player just has the absolute ability to
32:15
kind of turn off your lights. I think that's a great pick.
32:18
I mean, I get, you know, we talk about her a lot.
32:20
We've talked about our sensor PSG days.
32:23
You know, I think she's a genius too, man.
32:25
I mean, I love her ability to to pick out the pass, to know when
32:29
to cut in, to know when to stay out, to know when to pull up.
32:32
She's just like a prototype winger with speed and smarts and
32:38
skill and style. I just, I mean, you can't you
32:41
really can't say enough about a great pick.
32:44
I will. I'm going to go and part of her
32:47
threat on that left wing is the reason I picked this player that
32:52
I'm going to be very closely watching.
32:54
And for Germany, and I think it's got to be Yanina Minga.
32:58
She's going to have to cover some ground, you know, in that
33:01
center back spot. She's going to have to provide
33:03
some backup to. I think it'll likely be
33:07
Katherine Hendrick who we who we talked about last show or the
33:10
the Group C closing show. You know, you're you're working
33:13
with your third choice right back and you have Sandy
33:15
Baltimore out there. Sandy Baltimore, Pardon me.
33:18
And so so Ming is going to need to cover some ground, provide
33:23
some backup, be a calm presence down there for the for the times
33:27
where you actually where a France possession doesn't end in
33:29
a shot to be able to to get the ball and not like totally freak
33:35
out and then just turn it back over or just blast it out of
33:37
bounds or like do anything like that.
33:39
So I think Ming is going to going to loom very large here.
33:44
And then also, oh, by the way, make sure you're staying in that
33:48
central channel as well so you can try to muck up the the
33:51
attack against, oh, I don't know, a pretty decent player,
33:53
Marie Antoinette Koto. Oh my God, yeah, Kototo almost
33:57
my pick. You know, we talked about her on
34:00
yes on the Group D show. Like her ability to.
34:03
I mean, the first goal says it all.
34:05
You know, when Toleti scores the first goal against the
34:08
Netherlands. So on that one, if you remember,
34:11
Koto's got the ball on the left side of the box and, you know,
34:14
not really in her normal spot, but sort of in, in in range.
34:17
And she's so dangerous and just kind of like dances away with
34:21
it. Away from goal, away from goal
34:23
again, inside, back outside. And just before you know it,
34:26
there's four defenders within 4 yards of koto and where koto is
34:32
their primary assignment. You know, once Koto's kind of
34:36
moved into that space so she's not drowning 4 players.
34:39
Casparino on the other side has drawn in two players.
34:42
So now you've got 6 defenders covering two players and then
34:45
you've got Taleti at the edge of the box who just has time to
34:48
kick it, you know, take a look, you know, check or watch, you
34:51
know, and just place it not, not even that hard, just just place
34:54
it perfectly in a spot. You know, we we talked about
34:57
this game, you know, yesterday, but just to kind of rehash it in
35:00
a spot where that's a nervy moment, man, 20 ish minutes into
35:06
a match, nil, nil against the Netherlands.
35:08
And like, sure, you're in the driver's seat if you're France,
35:11
but there are scenarios where you get eliminated.
35:14
I mean, they're they're doomsday scenarios, but it is possible.
35:17
So big moment for Katoto to make a perfect pass to let's see,
35:21
great touch and, you know, great finish.
35:23
But yeah, to your point, Katoto, like Alessi Russo that we were
35:26
talking about just an opener up of things.
35:28
Yes, no, it's a, it's a great call.
35:30
I mean, I just think, you know, I, I understand your German
35:36
pessimism here or your pessimism around Germany.
35:40
We'll, we'll call it like I, I, I mentioned after Group C when,
35:45
when Vomser gets the red card, it's just like, how on earth are
35:48
you going to be able to cope with France and their attack?
35:53
Which leads me into my player to watch for France.
35:55
You mentioned her there briefly as somebody who has gravity
35:59
herself, Delphine Cascarino, we talked about her in the in the
36:02
recap of of Round 3IN in Group D.
36:07
She looked like the absolute superstar that she is.
36:10
She has two goals, 2 assists so far in the tournament.
36:14
There's just, there's just too much for Germany to worry about
36:17
in this match. I mean, we know they have
36:20
players who can produce in This is Speaking of Germany.
36:23
We know they have players who can produce great quality in
36:27
moments. I just don't, I can't.
36:30
I'm having a hard time thinking that over the course of these
36:33
next 90 minutes when these two teams play that Germany will be
36:37
able to produce that quality consistently enough to to cope
36:41
with this this France attack. Yeah, I totally agree with you
36:46
and I think I'm glad you kind of set it up that way because the
36:49
player that I'm going to be watching on the German side is a
36:52
player that I think could be a little bit of an unlock,
36:56
especially through that central channel.
36:57
Shuka Nuskin, who plays for Chelsea, 24 year old player who
37:01
we just kind of haven't seen get busy.
37:03
And like what's Nuskin's strength is like ripping shots
37:07
from the outside of the box, kind of acting a little bit like
37:10
a forward and spots are just like, oh what what They've got 5
37:13
forwards now up here. Like they're all like kind of
37:15
like playing, you know, aggressive and and looking to
37:18
score and then have that ability.
37:20
Nuskin does have that ability. On her best day, she can score
37:25
like a striker or like a winger. I mean, she can't hit from
37:29
distance too. And she can put pressure on on
37:33
your back line like in the box. Like she's just that kind of
37:35
player that, I don't know, can keep you, you know, put you on
37:38
your heels a little bit because she can be that aggressive.
37:41
But on the flip side, we have seen Nu skin look a little
37:45
disengaged. You know, it doesn't look like
37:47
the ball's coming our way and like those chances score are not
37:49
going to happen. But I think if Jeremy's going to
37:52
have any shot versus France, you know, to your point, they're
37:55
going to have to lock down defensively and they're going to
37:57
have to do more offensively. That's not just boule on one
38:02
side and you LeBron on the other.
38:04
You know, so it's going to have to it's going to have to have
38:06
some something that happens through the middle or inside out
38:10
or you know, something that that France has a little bit more of
38:13
a problem seeing coming. And I think for me that the key
38:16
to that probably going to be Nooskin in the midfield.
38:18
Yeah, I think, I think that's their best chance.
38:20
If you can get if you can get a great game from Nooskin and
38:23
Senz, they might be able to make it a little interesting.
38:28
I agreed. All right, let's hit a
38:30
prediction here. What are you thinking?
38:33
Give me 3, one France and just just for fun, I think we'll get
38:39
a, a Ulibrand, another Ulibrand moment where she just uncorks
38:44
one. Maybe it's late, maybe they're
38:45
already down by two, maybe they're already down 3 at that
38:48
point. But I, I, I think Brond has one
38:51
more thing to say before this tournament ends.
38:53
Interesting. Yeah, I, I am in full agreement
38:56
with that. I kind of was was swinging back
38:59
between 3:00 one and three two. And I think I'm with you.
39:03
I can I think I could see it 31 late and then maybe Germany
39:07
scratching 1 back and maybe it is the Eulebron moment, you
39:10
know, like on the way out the door.
39:12
But I I just don't think I could also see like a four two type
39:16
scenario where just France, you know, has their run of things
39:20
offensively. And the other key thing about
39:23
France that I didn't mention, over the three group stage
39:27
matches, three group stage matches, France has nine
39:31
different goal scorers, no goal scorer with more than two.
39:36
Koto Cascarino have two. And then these seven players
39:39
have a a goal each. Toletti Karshawi, Clara Mateo,
39:43
who needs more minutes, by the way?
39:44
By the way, I'd love to see some Clara Mateo minutes.
39:46
She's a whole other. I mean, talk about another
39:49
matchup problem for Germany, potentially Kati, Diani, Amel
39:52
Majri, Grace Galloro, Sani Baltimore.
39:55
So nine different goal scores through, we might get 9
39:58
different goal scores against Germany and with that, with that
40:00
defense, but hopefully we don't. Hopefully we get a little bit
40:03
more of a competitive matchup. Yeah, no, that's a that's a
40:05
great stat, great call out on Mateo.
40:07
And you know, things are going really, really, really well for
40:11
France when we have not talked about Cadi D and EI mean my God,
40:16
like how how stacked is this team?
40:19
Unbelievable. No, they, they're, they're
40:20
loaded at every position and they've somehow figured out a
40:24
way to kind of balance the minutes pretty nicely.
40:28
Like I can't it it seems like now it's like, oh, now we're
40:31
getting the, the a minute, the minutes with, you know, this set
40:34
up and like, you know, these attack.
40:35
I don't know, I, I feel like teams are always on their heels
40:39
and it's going to be tough to scout this French team down the
40:42
stretch because they have just so many different moves they can
40:44
go to, you know, you know, and Dungola like down the stretch
40:46
draws the you know, it's like we that wasn't in the scouting
40:49
report. So it's like, I don't know, just
40:50
so much you have to account for playing a team like this.
40:54
But it is Germany. And as mentioned, I think their
40:56
tournament is a wrap. So I mean, I think they could
40:58
just probably, I don't know, put those those fitness trackers on
41:02
there, go out there, log some kilometers and then call it a
41:07
tournament. If I know anything about
41:10
Germany, I mean, we saw when they played all their players
41:12
against Sweden, they're going to go out there and and, and play
41:16
their asses off. So I'm looking forward to seeing
41:19
it. I mean, you know, you don't want
41:21
anybody to get a red card because then your guy Burke
41:24
might throw throw out the white flag there.
41:27
I know you didn't like those those quotes.
41:29
It's funny, when I went back and listened to the to the preview,
41:34
the predictions, the predictions part, you said something very
41:37
close to and I quote, I'm riding with my guy Christian Burke.
41:41
And then I thought about the last show when he had those
41:44
quotes about how like we didn't have a chance against Sweden.
41:47
And I believe your quote yesterday was get this fucking
41:51
guy out of here. So good.
41:55
You know, let that be a testament to how much you mean
41:58
to me that I would never turn on you so quickly as as I turned on
42:02
Christian Buck. I appreciate that.
42:04
That's good. We got a little more of a
42:06
rapport, I think, yeah. Yeah, yeah.
42:09
But yeah, I mean, you know, I, I don't know.
42:11
I like to move quickly, man. You know, I learned some things
42:13
and I'm ready to. I'm ready.
42:14
I'm ready to pull the cord quick.
42:16
I'd be, you know, that's the kind of GM I'd be also.
42:18
I'd just pick get her out of here.
42:21
That's Doug. It's over.
42:22
Yeah, explore the transfer market.
42:24
Let's go. Yeah, yeah, no, I'd be terrible
42:27
about that job. So thankfully I've got this job
42:29
there. You go anything.
42:31
Else you want to hit before we get out of here.
42:33
I think we've done it, my good man.
42:34
I'm, I'm extremely ready for these four matches coming up.
42:39
I just, I think we're in for some bangers.
42:43
Absolutely. All right, man.
42:44
Quick episode calendar. We'll be back Wednesday.
42:46
It's been 13 days in a row. I don't want to elongate this.
42:49
We'll see in a few days. Just hang in there.
42:52
As soon as Norway, Italy wraps, you know what?
42:54
We'll be in the lab cooking up these takes, getting ready to
42:57
come back and circle back with you, share our thoughts.
43:00
And here's some of your thoughts.
43:01
So we definitely appreciate you hanging out and chiming in.
43:04
This has been another episode of Into the Channel.
43:06
Thank you, thank you, Thank you for hanging out for enduring
43:09
this very mini truncated quarterfinals preview with your
43:13
boys. We really appreciate it.
43:14
If you enjoyed the show or love ones football as much as your
43:16
boys do, make sure you're keeping with us each and every
43:18
single week, sometimes twice a week, sometimes 7 * a week.
43:22
Like subscribe, follow YouTube, Spotify, Apple podcast, wherever
43:24
you like to watch or listen. Leave us a review over your
43:26
favorite podcast app links to all of our socials except one in
43:29
the shows of this episode. And a big thank you, Michael, as
43:32
well, Mr. Grant Angle for what do you know, man?
43:35
We made it knockout football. We're here.
43:38
We won every group that we took part in.
43:40
And you know, we're not going to stop until, you know, we're
43:43
lifting that trophy as a team. So I appreciate you bro.
43:46
Likewise, buddy, nobody I'd rather do it with and you know
43:48
what I've I've thought more about the take integrity point.
43:52
I I, I'm sticking with I, I picked Sweden to make the final,
43:56
but I'll just throw it out there.
43:57
You know, I, I still think England could win the
43:59
tournament. So I'm going to I'm going to
44:01
play both sides on this one. Why not?
44:04
So that's my, that's my final thought is I'm going to go real
44:07
controversial and say I still think England can win this
44:11
tournament. So it's all my, all my fellow
44:13
English supporters out there. Don't turn your back on me.
44:16
Don't call me a coward. I made the, I made the pick
44:19
before any, any match was played.
44:21
I, you know, it's hard to win €2.00 in a row, but we'll just
44:24
see how it all plays out. And we're going to reconvene on
44:26
Wednesday, like Dino said, Norway, Italy, another
44:30
opportunity for me to step on a rake and everybody to make fun
44:34
of me for my Norway optimism. So we'll see that too.
44:37
We appreciate you guys tuning in, always dropping knowledge in
44:39
the comments and we will see you all next time.
44:43
And all you rejected England fans come over to come over to
44:46
my side of the pod. It's basically where we're over
44:47
here. Plenty of put.
44:49
It to put it to a pole. I appreciate you.
44:53
Likewise.