We're now getting towards the business end of the Football World Cup with the last two round of 16 matches scheduled for tomorrow before diving into the quarter-finals over the weekend.
Paul Ifill is a former Wellington Phoenix player and currently covering the tournament on TVNZ+, he joined D'Arcy to discuss all the action.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildegrave
from News Talk Zed be.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Let's talk football now, getting toward the business end of
the world to cut last more two round of sixteen
matches set to go tomorrow morning. Then it's into the
quarter finals, so father playoff stage of the tournament. Bill
it's some pretty cracking contest. And this is from a
self confessed non football fan. But I paid the money
(00:36):
to watch the knockouts, to watch it when it's important,
and it's hard not to be taken by some of
these matches. I know someone who is Paul Eifel, former
Willing and Phoenix player, currently covering the tournament on TV
and Z Plus. He joins us now to discuss the
action and good evening, Paul very well, looking forward to
the real pointed end of the Fiefoot World Cup twenty
(00:58):
six because that's what's happening now. She's starting to get
a bit on the serious side, isn't it a sensing
that tension in the games have been watched so far
and TV and DID.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Plus, Yeah, I think so. I think you've got rid
of the minnows, which is no disrespect. I think it's
actually been fun. The new expanded forty eighteen format has
actually worked, which has been great. But I do think
now the big hitters are just starting to warm up,
and you're gonna get some really big games over the
next week or so.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
I'd expect. I can't speak for your political thoughts, but
I know you love football. You'd be reasonably happy that
Belgium managed to get rid of the USA for one today,
Because they had gotten the other way, it would have
been a bit average.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
Yeah, I was over the moon. I think the whole
Trump getting involved, I knew he'd get involved at some point.
I didn't think it would be as public as it
has been with the red card situation. I think it's
a shamble. So pleased that the result went the right way.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Yeah, and it did, and it was it was fairly comprehensive.
Did you put anything out of that from Belgium that
it will put them well into the when it really
counts in the quarters.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
Yeah, I just think they've been They just got better
as they've gone along. I don't think they were great
in the group, but found a way to get out
of it, and they've just built and built and built.
And what I like today is he was able to
leave his arguably his best players on the bench. I
don't know if that was a plan or there was injuries,
but Kevin Debourne didn't play a minute. Doc who played
limited minutes. Look I could came up the bench and
did what he always does and impacts the game and
scored another goal. So I think he's managed is squored
(02:22):
very very well.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Difficult thing to do when you consider the import of
the fixture you lose, you're gone to actually raised some
of these guys. It's pretty bold, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Paul, Yeah, I'm not convinced. It was definitely a rest situation.
It was a case of he thought that it might
work into his favor, manage the game and then bring
on the big hit hitters later if he needed them.
And he only needed to out of the three, So
maybe he got this one right. So Rudy Garcia has
managed to squad very well. And then when you look
at some of the other managers, I don't think they've
managed to do that.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
And it's just back tracked still more before we look
ahead to tomorrow and we go to this morning when
you look at Portugal Spain, and I know that he's
got a huge fan base out there, but unfortunately it's
no longer go along for the prettiest and richest men
in football. A damn shame about there, right, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
But that's what I'm talking about managers there. I think
that Roberto Martinez couldn't manage Cristiano Ronaldo. He's forty one
years old. He needed to play in limited minutes and
be a force sometimes off the bench. You know, I
think there was games he could start. Clearly, there is
a Pakistan game where he scores a double. But the
other games where you're playing against bigger nations, I think
he would have been better coming off the bench. But
(03:27):
did he have what it took to have those tough
conversations with his star player?
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Well possibly not. But out of that fixed and it
wasn't the most exciting and stimulating game of football, but
Spain managed to get the Bescuits. They got enough to
carry on further. Or have you think you've seen at all? No?
Speaker 3 (03:45):
I think they've been excellent. I think they're again they're
very well coached and they've not learned any goals and
they've looked potent enough going the other way. I don't
think they're ever going to wallop a team at this stage,
you know, the latter stage of the tournament. But I
think they're good enough to beat anybody one now, so
you don't really want to draw them at the moment.
They look pretty good.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Right. Let's just go back further as well, and we
look at the Brazil Norway game and I won't say shocking,
but I think that a lot of people I love
footballer maybe engaged falling it want to see Brazil go
well because they've got this wonderful history and the way
they play the game. But they didn't have anything up
against Norway. And you look at that striking Viking. What
(04:22):
a freak so he is.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
He's ridiculous, you know, I was. I'm a big fan
of Harland and I'm now a big fan of Norway.
I actually hope they go deep into the tournaments. Obviously
they're going to probably come up against England at some point,
so that will be or that is that the next
one isn't actually what I'm talking about. Yes, that's going
to be difficult, but I think they've been they've been
a breath of fresh air. Everybody loves seeing the famous
(04:44):
yellow shirt. Later on in the stages of the tournament,
but it's not going to be this time. And I
think that's a lack of creativity in there in their team.
Normally there's a go to guy over the years. You've
got you know, the original Ronaldo, You've got Ronaldinho, Rivaldo,
the name's just endless. But you know, you're talking about
a Vinnie Junior who's a good player, but I don't
think he's the same ilk as the ones I've just mentioned.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
They watching the striking Viking is out. I've seen a
lot of clips now on social The speed at which
he travels, he can traverse the terra firma for such
a big man, that's a weapon. And before one of
his goals he was basically doing nothing. Is kind of
sniffing around, looking up in the air, and he saw
someone across, then sading Bam, he's in the box and
he scored. He's an absolute lightning striker.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
And I think that's the that's the big thing with him.
You expect that from somebody smaller, you know, Messi's still
got that even at thirty nine. He's got that level
of explosiveness. Jeremy Doccu today for the Belgian same thing,
but for somebody at six foot five, god knows what
he weighs to be able to move like that is ridiculous.
So he's a different He's a different kind of weapon,
that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
And we talk of England, that Mexico and that big
game coming up next with England that sensational. If you
want someone to start watching football, you give them a
match like that to say this is how good it
can get. Although at three two, do you think England
maybe lucky it went their way? Could have lurched the other.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Way, right, I could have lurch the other way, But
I thought they managed the game really well. And I
always say, if you are going to win a tournament
of this magnitude, you need a tough game somewhere that
you show a bit of adversity and resilience to get through.
And I think Matt's hopefully England's won. They've done it.
They found a way to get through with ten men
against the host country at altitude. Everything was against them
and they found a way to get through to the
(06:26):
next day. So hopefully that's their moment and we just
kick on from here.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
I'm not going further back in history, but Morocco got
the job done over Canada, and of course France put
Paraguay away tomorrow the round of sixteen. The last two fixtures,
Argentina take on Egypt, Switzerland's take on Columbia. Who do
you like in those fextures and why?
Speaker 3 (06:46):
I think obviously Argentina, I don't think you can go
pass On or Messi at the moment, I think he's
on flames. And then you know, on the other side,
you say it would be a really good matchup with
Mosella if he was fit, but he's definitely carrying a hamstring.
Can he manage that against the current champions? I don't
think he can. And then the other one, the other one.
I love this matchup because I don't know who's going
to win it. Columbia have been great, Switzerland continue to
(07:07):
do the job and get better and better, so I
think that could go either way. But I think you're
going to see a really, really good game in that one.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
And you don't have a crystal ball. And I'm not
expecting you to answer this with any form of absolute knowledge,
but from what you've seen, the suggestions are what comes
to the final? Who are the two teams not the one?
Who are the two teams do you think are shaping right.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
I've got to get the draw right because I'll mess
this up completely. But I think it could be an
England France final if England can get past Argentina. I
expected to be Argentina France, which it was last time,
but that means somebody's got a tough the Spanish out
as well, So let me go. I'll go to Argentina
France final, same as four years ago.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildegrave
from News Talk Zed be.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Let's talk football now, getting toward the business end of
the world to cut last more two round of sixteen
matches set to go tomorrow morning. Then it's into the
quarter finals, so father playoff stage of the tournament. Bill
it's some pretty cracking contest. And this is from a
self confessed non football fan. But I paid the money
(00:36):
to watch the knockouts, to watch it when it's important,
and it's hard not to be taken by some of
these matches. I know someone who is Paul Eifel, former
Willing and Phoenix player, currently covering the tournament on TV
and Z Plus. He joins us now to discuss the
action and good evening, Paul very well, looking forward to
the real pointed end of the Fiefoot World Cup twenty
(00:58):
six because that's what's happening now. She's starting to get
a bit on the serious side, isn't it a sensing
that tension in the games have been watched so far
and TV and DID.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Plus, Yeah, I think so. I think you've got rid
of the minnows, which is no disrespect. I think it's
actually been fun. The new expanded forty eighteen format has
actually worked, which has been great. But I do think
now the big hitters are just starting to warm up,
and you're gonna get some really big games over the
next week or so.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
I'd expect. I can't speak for your political thoughts, but
I know you love football. You'd be reasonably happy that
Belgium managed to get rid of the USA for one today,
Because they had gotten the other way, it would have
been a bit average.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
Yeah, I was over the moon. I think the whole
Trump getting involved, I knew he'd get involved at some point.
I didn't think it would be as public as it
has been with the red card situation. I think it's
a shamble. So pleased that the result went the right way.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Yeah, and it did, and it was it was fairly comprehensive.
Did you put anything out of that from Belgium that
it will put them well into the when it really
counts in the quarters.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
Yeah, I just think they've been They just got better
as they've gone along. I don't think they were great
in the group, but found a way to get out
of it, and they've just built and built and built.
And what I like today is he was able to
leave his arguably his best players on the bench. I
don't know if that was a plan or there was injuries,
but Kevin Debourne didn't play a minute. Doc who played
limited minutes. Look I could came up the bench and
did what he always does and impacts the game and
scored another goal. So I think he's managed is squored
(02:22):
very very well.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Difficult thing to do when you consider the import of
the fixture you lose, you're gone to actually raised some
of these guys. It's pretty bold, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Paul, Yeah, I'm not convinced. It was definitely a rest situation.
It was a case of he thought that it might
work into his favor, manage the game and then bring
on the big hit hitters later if he needed them.
And he only needed to out of the three, So
maybe he got this one right. So Rudy Garcia has
managed to squad very well. And then when you look
at some of the other managers, I don't think they've
managed to do that.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
And it's just back tracked still more before we look
ahead to tomorrow and we go to this morning when
you look at Portugal Spain, and I know that he's
got a huge fan base out there, but unfortunately it's
no longer go along for the prettiest and richest men
in football. A damn shame about there, right, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
But that's what I'm talking about managers there. I think
that Roberto Martinez couldn't manage Cristiano Ronaldo. He's forty one
years old. He needed to play in limited minutes and
be a force sometimes off the bench. You know, I
think there was games he could start. Clearly, there is
a Pakistan game where he scores a double. But the
other games where you're playing against bigger nations, I think
he would have been better coming off the bench. But
(03:27):
did he have what it took to have those tough
conversations with his star player?
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Well possibly not. But out of that fixed and it
wasn't the most exciting and stimulating game of football, but
Spain managed to get the Bescuits. They got enough to
carry on further. Or have you think you've seen at all? No?
Speaker 3 (03:45):
I think they've been excellent. I think they're again they're
very well coached and they've not learned any goals and
they've looked potent enough going the other way. I don't
think they're ever going to wallop a team at this stage,
you know, the latter stage of the tournament. But I
think they're good enough to beat anybody one now, so
you don't really want to draw them at the moment.
They look pretty good.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Right. Let's just go back further as well, and we
look at the Brazil Norway game and I won't say shocking,
but I think that a lot of people I love
footballer maybe engaged falling it want to see Brazil go
well because they've got this wonderful history and the way
they play the game. But they didn't have anything up
against Norway. And you look at that striking Viking. What
(04:22):
a freak so he is.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
He's ridiculous, you know, I was. I'm a big fan
of Harland and I'm now a big fan of Norway.
I actually hope they go deep into the tournaments. Obviously
they're going to probably come up against England at some point,
so that will be or that is that the next
one isn't actually what I'm talking about. Yes, that's going
to be difficult, but I think they've been they've been
a breath of fresh air. Everybody loves seeing the famous
(04:44):
yellow shirt. Later on in the stages of the tournament,
but it's not going to be this time. And I
think that's a lack of creativity in there in their team.
Normally there's a go to guy over the years. You've
got you know, the original Ronaldo, You've got Ronaldinho, Rivaldo,
the name's just endless. But you know, you're talking about
a Vinnie Junior who's a good player, but I don't
think he's the same ilk as the ones I've just mentioned.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
They watching the striking Viking is out. I've seen a
lot of clips now on social The speed at which
he travels, he can traverse the terra firma for such
a big man, that's a weapon. And before one of
his goals he was basically doing nothing. Is kind of
sniffing around, looking up in the air, and he saw
someone across, then sading Bam, he's in the box and
he scored. He's an absolute lightning striker.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
And I think that's the that's the big thing with him.
You expect that from somebody smaller, you know, Messi's still
got that even at thirty nine. He's got that level
of explosiveness. Jeremy Doccu today for the Belgian same thing,
but for somebody at six foot five, god knows what
he weighs to be able to move like that is ridiculous.
So he's a different He's a different kind of weapon,
that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
And we talk of England, that Mexico and that big
game coming up next with England that sensational. If you
want someone to start watching football, you give them a
match like that to say this is how good it
can get. Although at three two, do you think England
maybe lucky it went their way? Could have lurched the other.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Way, right, I could have lurch the other way, But
I thought they managed the game really well. And I
always say, if you are going to win a tournament
of this magnitude, you need a tough game somewhere that
you show a bit of adversity and resilience to get through.
And I think Matt's hopefully England's won. They've done it.
They found a way to get through with ten men
against the host country at altitude. Everything was against them
and they found a way to get through to the
(06:26):
next day. So hopefully that's their moment and we just
kick on from here.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
I'm not going further back in history, but Morocco got
the job done over Canada, and of course France put
Paraguay away tomorrow the round of sixteen. The last two fixtures,
Argentina take on Egypt, Switzerland's take on Columbia. Who do
you like in those fextures and why?
Speaker 3 (06:46):
I think obviously Argentina, I don't think you can go
pass On or Messi at the moment, I think he's
on flames. And then you know, on the other side,
you say it would be a really good matchup with
Mosella if he was fit, but he's definitely carrying a hamstring.
Can he manage that against the current champions? I don't
think he can. And then the other one, the other one.
I love this matchup because I don't know who's going
to win it. Columbia have been great, Switzerland continue to
(07:07):
do the job and get better and better, so I
think that could go either way. But I think you're
going to see a really, really good game in that one.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
And you don't have a crystal ball. And I'm not
expecting you to answer this with any form of absolute knowledge,
but from what you've seen, the suggestions are what comes
to the final? Who are the two teams not the one?
Who are the two teams do you think are shaping right.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
I've got to get the draw right because I'll mess
this up completely. But I think it could be an
England France final if England can get past Argentina. I
expected to be Argentina France, which it was last time,
but that means somebody's got a tough the Spanish out
as well, So let me go. I'll go to Argentina
France final, same as four years ago.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
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