England is set to face off against Mexico in the FIFA World Cup, and excitement is growing.
This will be a big test for England, and concerns have been raised over the altitude at the Azteca Stadium.
TVNZ football commentator Nathan Alleyne joined Piney to discuss ahead of the match.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talk, ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Carp In Today's games and Morocco too good for Canada
winning three nil. They'll play France in the quarterfinals after
they needed a second half penalty given under var review
to beat Paraguay one nil. England have a massive task
tomorrow if they're to join those two in the last eight.
They take on Mexico at the Azteca in Mexico City,
(00:35):
one of the most intimidating arenas in world football. That's
before you even start talking about the altitude. To preview this,
we're joined by a football commentator with TV and Z
and FIFA plus Nathan Eleene. Nathan, just how big a
test is this for England.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
It's a big one. In that Piney hey doing Yeah.
I think this is possibly a defining moment for Thomas Tuchel.
He's got to get his tactics absolutely spot on. He's
got it all kind of against him at the moment,
haven't they. As you've already mentioned, the altitude is going
to be a problem, the atmosphere inside the stadium, and
no doubt the Mexican fans will be trying to keep
(01:14):
the English players the for night outside the hotel like
they did with Equidor and the fact that England haven't
been able to prepare properly for this altitude change I
think is really a big factor. And you know, you've
kind of seen some of the commentary are from the
England camp already coming out saying it's far from ideal
(01:34):
and it doesn't help us and fever having help to
sort of, you know, prepare properly. But that being said,
I take a little bit of solace from the fact
that Brad Friedel was on the Rest of Football show
on Netflix the other there and he was saying, how
much better miles better England are than Mexico really, and
they've just got to hold out of opening twenty minutes,
(01:56):
which is when the altitude really apparently impacts you.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Harry Kane dragged them into this round where his two
goals in the last round almost single handedly got them through.
Is it as simple, Nathan, as if Harry Kane plays well,
then England will progress.
Speaker 4 (02:14):
It's well, it's not necessarily because look, Harry Kane is
obviously the main man for England and without him and
his goals, they yeah, you're right, they wouldn't be where
they are and he is having an amazing season.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
But you know, what we've seen in this tournament so
far is that you're not particularly solid at the back.
They don't seem to have quite got their combinations sorted
out in midfield either, and so while Harry Kane can
drag the team forward in terms of scoring goals and
splitting defenses, et cetera, that England really are going to
rely on their defense tomorrow. And I think if they haven't,
(02:52):
they aren't bang at it, then that's going to be
a big issue for them because you know, we saw
against Croatia how they've been a little bit, a little
bit loose.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
We saw in the last game how they have they against.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Congo, had to let that goal in against seven months,
could have been two nil down when they hit the
post as well, and you just think their defense has
really got to step up to the play to enable
Harry Kane to do what he does without all the
jets and whatever. But it's exciting, it's a really cool matchup.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Oh Look, without doubt, Look it's one that everybody's looking
forward to. Me even more so Nathan, Unlike you, I
don't have any skin in the game, so I can
just watch it as a It's somewhat of a neutral
the fever pitch that Mexico will come into this game with,
because I get the feeling this crowd will just be
absolutely raucous when kickoff arrives. Do you feel as though,
(03:42):
and you mentioned it before, England have to really sort
of soak that up for the first twenty minutes and
take the crowd out of it.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Absolutely. I think that's that's gonna be one of the
biggest factors, isn't it. I Mean, the thing with the
thing that England have got on their side with this
is that they are all you know, they've all played
Champions League football, They've played you know, the majority of
the squad played in you know, the Euro Finals. They
got to the court of ones of the last one.
But they're used to beig games. They pend the Premier
League or the Legal or bunder the atmospheres and intense atmospheres.
(04:13):
It is something that they'll be used to. I think,
so in a way, that's kind of something that I
think they can deal with. It's the altitude that worries
me a little bit. But as as as ral Jim
Andez is saying, you know, their kind of game plan
for Mexico is go hard for first the first twenty minutes,
(04:34):
and I think that that means that England really have
to be solid that first twenty minutes, to quiet in
the crowd, to keep things that an even keel, and
then hopefully push on from there.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
See peace has been been a strength of England at
major tournaments. Mexico very good defensively in fact, I don't
think they've conceded yet. So might see peace be an
area that England made target if they are to get
some big goals one, it's a target Mexico on this one.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Oh, I think, I think so. I think what England
have scored at least two goals already from set pieces
this tournament, and they and you kind of think again,
with the physicality of the England squad that it's going
to be important. They've got really good set piece delivery
merchants in that the likes of Rice if he's playing soccer,
if he's playing you know, Rashford can deliver a good ball,
and you've got people like Harry Kane we've already talked
(05:24):
about who can get on the end of things in
the box and nine times out of ten score goals.
It was interesting to actually see piney that England have
are among the top two teams I think to have
created chances in this tournament so far, they haven't scored
all those big chances. I think Franca are the other
team that have created the most big chances. But England
seemed to be able in this new two chill ball
(05:45):
sile of play to creat a openings and it is
going to be about putting them away and from dead
ball situations. You're absolutely right, that's that's going.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
To be key a German in charge of England. You know,
it was always going to be an interesting narrative, wasn't it.
I mean, if he wins the World Cup, he'll be
he'll be given the keys to the palace forty. But
how do you think he's regarded by by English football
fans in general?
Speaker 3 (06:08):
Well, look, I think I think there was an element
of when he was appointed of you know that some
of the tabloids gave him a bit of a hard
time and whatever. But the point with Thomas tuccill is
that he's been there and seen it and done it
all at club football. He's done it in knockout competitions
such as the Champions League before. He knows how to make,
(06:30):
you know, big substitutions and to alter tactics as a
game's going on. So he's a big he's a big manager.
He knows what he's doing. And I think the majority
of England fans would just be I don't care who
who's in charge, as long as England can win the
World Cup. You know, sixty six is a long long
time ago now and if it is, if it is
a German that takes it to the world title, then
(06:52):
I'm all for it.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
It's fantastic. England haven't played at the Airs Tikas since
nineteen eighty six, the quarterfinal against Argentina. Sorry to break
over these old coals with you as well. The famous
hand of God games something almost almost symbolickers and they're
about returning to one of the most famous stadiums in
football history four decades on.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Yeah, returning to the scene of the crime. It's very interesting,
isn't it that this particular stadium for England has gone
down in folklore for something that happened in world football history.
Is one of the most recognizable moments in the World
Cup and so yeah, I think it's it's you know, well,
the echoes of World Cups past come back to haunt
(07:35):
England or or can they write a new history. I'm
hoping it's the latter, But yeah, I mean from all
the games I've seen there, I think anyone who's watching
the World Cup, who's seen the games at the Azteca,
and you know some of the imagery of it. It's
incredible stadium, isn't it. And and it looks like a
proper footballing theater, so it should be. It should be
(07:57):
a heck of a heck of a game.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
All right, prediction time. I know this isn't really very fair,
but ninety minutes extra time penalties? What are we looking
at tomorrow? It's midday start New Zealand times, a very
friendly viewing time for us. What are we looking at?
And in our England marching into the quarters?
Speaker 3 (08:13):
I think, listen, I'm going to go with Brad Friedel here.
I think if England, no question, are the superior slide
technically and bility wise, and if Thomas Tucor gets his
tactics correct and we hold out for the first twenty minutes,
there's a lot of caveats here, aren't there. I would
I would probably probably go for a two Neil England win,
(08:37):
but that's going to be very difficult, and you know
it's going to be it's going to be very very
tight all the way through. But I'm going for an
England win.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Fantastic, Nathan. Thanks for your insight this afternoon, mate, Really
appreciate you joining.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
Us all right, planning nice to sere and YouTube by bye.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Nathan Eleen there you're recognized the voice from his commentaries
on TV and z' end on FIFA Plus. So yeah, tomorrow,
actually it's a credicker of a day tomorrow the World Cup.
Two big, big games. First of all, eight o'clock tomorrow morning,
Brazil against Norway. Anybody who's watched the Football World Cup
knows how iconic that yellow jersey of Brazila's up against Norway,
(09:12):
who have one of the most dangerous strikers in the
world in Earling Harland and their ranks. That game is
at eight o'clock and then midday tomorrow Mexico against England.
The respective winners of those two games will meet in
a quarterfinal at nine o'clock next Sunday. The World Cup
is really starting to reach its business end.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk sed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talk, ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Carp In Today's games and Morocco too good for Canada
winning three nil. They'll play France in the quarterfinals after
they needed a second half penalty given under var review
to beat Paraguay one nil. England have a massive task
tomorrow if they're to join those two in the last eight.
They take on Mexico at the Azteca in Mexico City,
(00:35):
one of the most intimidating arenas in world football. That's
before you even start talking about the altitude. To preview this,
we're joined by a football commentator with TV and Z
and FIFA plus Nathan Eleene. Nathan, just how big a
test is this for England.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
It's a big one. In that Piney hey doing Yeah.
I think this is possibly a defining moment for Thomas Tuchel.
He's got to get his tactics absolutely spot on. He's
got it all kind of against him at the moment,
haven't they. As you've already mentioned, the altitude is going
to be a problem, the atmosphere inside the stadium, and
no doubt the Mexican fans will be trying to keep
(01:14):
the English players the for night outside the hotel like
they did with Equidor and the fact that England haven't
been able to prepare properly for this altitude change I
think is really a big factor. And you know, you've
kind of seen some of the commentary are from the
England camp already coming out saying it's far from ideal
(01:34):
and it doesn't help us and fever having help to
sort of, you know, prepare properly. But that being said,
I take a little bit of solace from the fact
that Brad Friedel was on the Rest of Football show
on Netflix the other there and he was saying, how
much better miles better England are than Mexico really, and
they've just got to hold out of opening twenty minutes,
(01:56):
which is when the altitude really apparently impacts you.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Harry Kane dragged them into this round where his two
goals in the last round almost single handedly got them through.
Is it as simple, Nathan, as if Harry Kane plays well,
then England will progress.
Speaker 4 (02:14):
It's well, it's not necessarily because look, Harry Kane is
obviously the main man for England and without him and
his goals, they yeah, you're right, they wouldn't be where
they are and he is having an amazing season.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
But you know, what we've seen in this tournament so
far is that you're not particularly solid at the back.
They don't seem to have quite got their combinations sorted
out in midfield either, and so while Harry Kane can
drag the team forward in terms of scoring goals and
splitting defenses, et cetera, that England really are going to
rely on their defense tomorrow. And I think if they haven't,
(02:52):
they aren't bang at it, then that's going to be
a big issue for them because you know, we saw
against Croatia how they've been a little bit, a little
bit loose.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
We saw in the last game how they have they against.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Congo, had to let that goal in against seven months,
could have been two nil down when they hit the
post as well, and you just think their defense has
really got to step up to the play to enable
Harry Kane to do what he does without all the
jets and whatever. But it's exciting, it's a really cool matchup.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Oh Look, without doubt, Look it's one that everybody's looking
forward to. Me even more so Nathan, Unlike you, I
don't have any skin in the game, so I can
just watch it as a It's somewhat of a neutral
the fever pitch that Mexico will come into this game with,
because I get the feeling this crowd will just be
absolutely raucous when kickoff arrives. Do you feel as though,
(03:42):
and you mentioned it before, England have to really sort
of soak that up for the first twenty minutes and
take the crowd out of it.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Absolutely. I think that's that's gonna be one of the
biggest factors, isn't it. I Mean, the thing with the
thing that England have got on their side with this
is that they are all you know, they've all played
Champions League football, They've played you know, the majority of
the squad played in you know, the Euro Finals. They
got to the court of ones of the last one.
But they're used to beig games. They pend the Premier
League or the Legal or bunder the atmospheres and intense atmospheres.
(04:13):
It is something that they'll be used to. I think,
so in a way, that's kind of something that I
think they can deal with. It's the altitude that worries
me a little bit. But as as as ral Jim
Andez is saying, you know, their kind of game plan
for Mexico is go hard for first the first twenty minutes,
(04:34):
and I think that that means that England really have
to be solid that first twenty minutes, to quiet in
the crowd, to keep things that an even keel, and
then hopefully push on from there.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
See peace has been been a strength of England at
major tournaments. Mexico very good defensively in fact, I don't
think they've conceded yet. So might see peace be an
area that England made target if they are to get
some big goals one, it's a target Mexico on this one.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Oh, I think, I think so. I think what England
have scored at least two goals already from set pieces
this tournament, and they and you kind of think again,
with the physicality of the England squad that it's going
to be important. They've got really good set piece delivery
merchants in that the likes of Rice if he's playing soccer,
if he's playing you know, Rashford can deliver a good ball,
and you've got people like Harry Kane we've already talked
(05:24):
about who can get on the end of things in
the box and nine times out of ten score goals.
It was interesting to actually see piney that England have
are among the top two teams I think to have
created chances in this tournament so far, they haven't scored
all those big chances. I think Franca are the other
team that have created the most big chances. But England
seemed to be able in this new two chill ball
(05:45):
sile of play to creat a openings and it is
going to be about putting them away and from dead
ball situations. You're absolutely right, that's that's going.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
To be key a German in charge of England. You know,
it was always going to be an interesting narrative, wasn't it.
I mean, if he wins the World Cup, he'll be
he'll be given the keys to the palace forty. But
how do you think he's regarded by by English football
fans in general?
Speaker 3 (06:08):
Well, look, I think I think there was an element
of when he was appointed of you know that some
of the tabloids gave him a bit of a hard
time and whatever. But the point with Thomas tuccill is
that he's been there and seen it and done it
all at club football. He's done it in knockout competitions
such as the Champions League before. He knows how to make,
(06:30):
you know, big substitutions and to alter tactics as a
game's going on. So he's a big he's a big manager.
He knows what he's doing. And I think the majority
of England fans would just be I don't care who
who's in charge, as long as England can win the
World Cup. You know, sixty six is a long long
time ago now and if it is, if it is
a German that takes it to the world title, then
(06:52):
I'm all for it.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
It's fantastic. England haven't played at the Airs Tikas since
nineteen eighty six, the quarterfinal against Argentina. Sorry to break
over these old coals with you as well. The famous
hand of God games something almost almost symbolickers and they're
about returning to one of the most famous stadiums in
football history four decades on.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Yeah, returning to the scene of the crime. It's very interesting,
isn't it that this particular stadium for England has gone
down in folklore for something that happened in world football history.
Is one of the most recognizable moments in the World
Cup and so yeah, I think it's it's you know, well,
the echoes of World Cups past come back to haunt
(07:35):
England or or can they write a new history. I'm
hoping it's the latter, But yeah, I mean from all
the games I've seen there, I think anyone who's watching
the World Cup, who's seen the games at the Azteca,
and you know some of the imagery of it. It's
incredible stadium, isn't it. And and it looks like a
proper footballing theater, so it should be. It should be
(07:57):
a heck of a heck of a game.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
All right, prediction time. I know this isn't really very fair,
but ninety minutes extra time penalties? What are we looking
at tomorrow? It's midday start New Zealand times, a very
friendly viewing time for us. What are we looking at?
And in our England marching into the quarters?
Speaker 3 (08:13):
I think, listen, I'm going to go with Brad Friedel here.
I think if England, no question, are the superior slide
technically and bility wise, and if Thomas Tucor gets his
tactics correct and we hold out for the first twenty minutes,
there's a lot of caveats here, aren't there. I would
I would probably probably go for a two Neil England win,
(08:37):
but that's going to be very difficult, and you know
it's going to be it's going to be very very
tight all the way through. But I'm going for an
England win.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Fantastic, Nathan. Thanks for your insight this afternoon, mate, Really
appreciate you joining.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
Us all right, planning nice to sere and YouTube by bye.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Nathan Eleen there you're recognized the voice from his commentaries
on TV and z' end on FIFA Plus. So yeah, tomorrow,
actually it's a credicker of a day tomorrow the World Cup.
Two big, big games. First of all, eight o'clock tomorrow morning,
Brazil against Norway. Anybody who's watched the Football World Cup
knows how iconic that yellow jersey of Brazila's up against Norway,
(09:12):
who have one of the most dangerous strikers in the
world in Earling Harland and their ranks. That game is
at eight o'clock and then midday tomorrow Mexico against England.
The respective winners of those two games will meet in
a quarterfinal at nine o'clock next Sunday. The World Cup
is really starting to reach its business end.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk sed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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