Italy expected to be too strong for Austria in last 16 as we enter knockout stages
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NewsTranscript
00:00I'm just chuckling at an England fan saying he's going to be looking forward to a penalty shootout.
00:04That's...
00:11Good morning and welcome to Golf News Kicking Bag, the chat show all about football.
00:16I'm Imran and I'm joined by Matt and Shamsir.
00:19Right, as ever, let's bring you up to date with some latest news, or rather rumours actually.
00:23Liverpool could bid for French superstar Kylian Mbappé as the forward has told PSG
00:28that he wants to leave the club this summer.
00:30Does that mean Mo Salah's going to be leaving?
00:32There's been rumours about him possibly moving on, so we'll have to wait and see what that means.
00:36Real Madrid's French defender Raphael Varane wants to join Man United,
00:40but a stumbling block could be his wages.
00:42They're believed to be about £400,000 a week. Crazy money.
00:46And finally, Arsenal are monitoring the progress of Lille midfielder Renato Sanchez,
00:51who is currently in pressing for Portugal at Euro 2020.
00:55Now, speaking of Euro 2020, it's about to get properly exciting now.
00:58The group stages have been concluded.
01:01The teams have been whittled down from 24 to 16.
01:04The knockout stages begin today.
01:07If the games are tied, after 90 minutes, they're going to go into extra time.
01:11If they're still tied, they're going to be decided by a penalty shootout.
01:14Can't wait for that.
01:15OK, we've got two games today. Let's start with Wales against Denmark.
01:19Denmark are the favourites. They've won six of the last ten meetings against Wales.
01:23And they're going to have most neutral support because, obviously,
01:28because of the Christian Eriksen incident, he's recovered from cardiac arrest.
01:31So everyone's on their side, basically.
01:33But Wales manager Rob Page has said that his side are going to be attacking
01:37and they're ready for battle and that the gloves are off.
01:40Well, it's going to be good games in this, guys.
01:42Yeah, I'm just chuckling at an England fan saying he's going to be looking forward to penalty shootout.
01:48That's a new one.
01:51Glasgow, Wembley, Germany.
01:54Thank goodness you're not playing Germany.
01:57Yeah, no, Wales, they're doing the right thing.
02:01Obviously, you can be sympathetic to a point, but you can't become an overarching theme of the whole match.
02:09You're still out there to win.
02:11It's the same as, say, a player on an opposite team gets a serious injury, breaks a leg.
02:16You don't all of a sudden take your foot off the gas and let them score a goal.
02:19No, Finland did the right thing.
02:21They played the game.
02:22OK, it was subdued whether it went ahead.
02:24It was a debatable thing.
02:26But they got on with the task ahead of them.
02:28That's exactly what Wales will do.
02:30They know it's been an emotional time for Denmark.
02:33They know that as well, and they've been very sympathetic.
02:36But as soon as that first whistle goes, they've got a job to do.
02:38Otherwise, they'll get absolutely pilloried in the media.
02:43It could cost people their jobs.
02:45They've just got to get on with the job and put emotion to one side.
02:50Yeah, when it comes to the Denmark thing, they started their campaign pretty pragmatic.
02:57Then it became dramatic.
02:59And after that, it became euphoric.
03:02And it's going to be emphatic going forward.
03:05I wish Denmark progress.
03:09Because for that side, they have quality in them.
03:11And obviously, the loss of Christian Eriksen, like what you guys have said,
03:15the neutrals are with them.
03:17But the problem is that now they are moving out of Copenhagen.
03:20The 12th man won't be there with them.
03:22But still, I think Denmark have enough quality within them to progress,
03:27even without Christian Eriksen, which we have seen already.
03:30Yes, they have only won one game in the group stages.
03:32But that was an emphatic win against...
03:35Who was that?
03:37The last game they played.
03:38And it was great.
03:39Russia.
03:40They just dismantled Russia.
03:42And you can see how he changed the system after that Eriksen thing.
03:48He moved the changing formation from four at the back to three at the back.
03:54Which played well for them.
03:56And playing a little magician in Damsgaard as a false nine.
03:59It all worked well for Denmark.
04:01And coming to Wales, they have a certain Gareth Bale who can do a bit of magic.
04:07And we have seen how he is instrumental to that Wales team.
04:11And what he has done for Wales in the game against Turkey was absolutely scintillating.
04:16But it was a subdued performance from him in the first game against Switzerland.
04:20But then, he showed he is capable of doing something magical.
04:23Which we all know how he is.
04:25So, for Wales to progress, they need their bigger boys.
04:28Like Aaron Ramsey or Gareth Bale to step up.
04:32But I think Denmark will have enough within them to progress against his Welsh side.
04:37Now, we've got some team news for Wales.
04:40There's no new injury concerns.
04:43And they're going to be bringing back Kaepernick Moore, Ben Davies.
04:46These two were both...
04:48They didn't play their last game against Italy because they were one yellow card away from a suspension.
04:52So, they sat out.
04:54But they're going to be missing Ampadu.
04:56He got a red card in that Italy game.
04:58How do you think they're going to get on?
05:00I mean, we're looking at Bale and, obviously, Ramsey to really get them going.
05:04But have they got a chance against Denmark today?
05:09I think, again, it all depends on...
05:11We've seen the Ramsey-Bale show, both sides of it.
05:17In the first game, they were both fairly anonymous.
05:20And it showed how it affected the rest of the team.
05:24But then they clicked.
05:26And it just showed how...
05:28I think it was 2-0 against Turkey.
05:32Like I said, they rolled back the clock.
05:34It was 2016 all over again.
05:37And they were just running the show.
05:41If they can do that again, then they've got a chance.
05:46They do have a real chance.
05:48But I think the big feeling of Wales, as I've said over and over again,
05:52is the over-dependency on key players.
05:55Or key player and a half.
06:00Like we saw with Poland.
06:02One man tries to drag a team across the line.
06:05They come up short.
06:06I think it's going to be the same scenario again today.
06:08Denmark have got class throughout that whole team.
06:11Even minus Eriksen.
06:12And they'll be too strong in certain areas of the field
06:15where Wales will be lacking.
06:17And try as they might, Bale and Ramsey won't be able to get them over the line this time.
06:22Ampadu's miss is going to be huge for Wales.
06:25That red card was absolutely horrendous.
06:29It was never a red card.
06:30I don't know why they haven't resigned it.
06:32But still, he has to miss this important game for Wales now.
06:35But then, with that, I think he'll have to change his formation back to 4-2-3-1.
06:40I still think it's going to be an entertaining game.
06:44Because Wales will try to attack.
06:46You know how fast and pacy Daniel James is there on the left flank.
06:50So, it's going to be entertaining.
06:52But I think with the three at the back that Denmark is playing,
06:55they can keep them at bay.
06:59The Wales swingers at bay.
07:01And I think it's going to be Denmark's way.
07:03They are a good, strong team.
07:05And they have more motivation.
07:06With that Eriksen thing.
07:08I'm sure they really want to progress into the tournament.
07:12I'm not taking anything away from Wales.
07:15They have done it in the past.
07:17But I think it's Denmark's game.
07:21Denmark are probably going to stick to, like you say, Shamsu, three at the back.
07:25But going forward, they are quite a threat as well.
07:28Pierre-Emil Holberg, he's got three assists in the last three games at Euro 2020.
07:33You mentioned Damsgaard.
07:35He's got three goals and three assists in his last five games for Denmark.
07:39They are going to be looking at these two in particular to make the difference to get him through, aren't they?
07:44Also this guy, Paulsen and Brathwaite.
07:47They are also good at attack.
07:50Playing Damsgaard as a false nine is going to work out well for Denmark.
07:54It's going to be difficult for the Welsh defenders.
07:56Although they are very good defensive-minded players.
07:59Like you have Rondon and Mepham.
08:02They are all good defenders.
08:04But it's going to be difficult for them when these guys are moving.
08:07You don't know who to track.
08:09Who is there.
08:10Because that's the thing with the false nine.
08:13This guy will be drifting around.
08:15And Brathwaite could be playing as a number nine at times.
08:18Then Damsgaard will be playing as a false nine.
08:20Then Paulsen could be there.
08:22So, it's going to be an interesting battle up front.
08:24And I think they have enough to score goals there.
08:26I think Paulsen or…
08:28It's going to be a 3-1 for Denmark.
08:30That's what I am going to say.
08:31Oh, predictions.
08:33I think Denmark are going to edge this.
08:37I think it will be decided within 90 minutes.
08:40I don't think we will need extra time on penalties.
08:42Wales obviously need Bale and Ramsey to shine.
08:44But I think Denmark are just testing now.
08:46After what happened to Everton to progress.
08:48I think…
08:49Not too many goals in this.
08:50I think 1-0.
08:511-0 to Denmark.
08:52Matt, what do you think?
08:53Okay.
08:54I think you are quite right there.
08:56I am obviously just saying about the talent throughout the team.
08:59And Heuberg, he really thrived at the end of the season for Tottenham.
09:03And he is taking that.
09:04He is one of these guys who is taking his form into this tournament.
09:07And he seems to be peaking just at the right time.
09:09Because he had a fairly anonymous first half of the season for Tottenham.
09:12And then he just kind of got better and better.
09:14He was getting on the score sheet as well.
09:16And people are like, how do you spell that?
09:19So, yeah.
09:22Those sort of guys are going to come in.
09:25And that will make the difference of what makes a complete team.
09:27So, I will say 2-0 Denmark.
09:29But for Heuberg, he will have to keep playing as a defensive midfielder.
09:36He will have to vary about going forward in this game.
09:39Because there is the threat of Ramsey and Bale.
09:42And he has to track them back as well.
09:44So, I don't think he will be moving forward a lot in this game.
09:48But still, Heuberg is a very crucial figure in that Denmark side.
09:53Yeah.
09:54And Shamsour, you are right about the full-stamina in Wales.
09:58I mean, yeah.
09:59Denmark, I think they are going to really pull Wales apart in this one.
10:01And the funny thing is Wales have had the most shots against them in the tournament.
10:05So, they are a little bit – well, I wouldn't say soft.
10:09But you can play against them.
10:10And with Denmark deploying that false nine.
10:13With Poulsen getting forward.
10:15Braithwaite there as well.
10:16We have mentioned Heuberg.
10:17It could be – well, we will see how they get on.
10:20But we are all thinking – we are all going with Denmark, are we?
10:23Yeah, I think so.
10:24Although, unless Wales play their mastermind young midfielder called Matthew Smith.
10:32You better get your kit on.
10:35The helicopter is waiting.
10:38We can all go with all these predictions.
10:47But it requires just one moment of brilliance.
10:50One moment of inspiration.
10:51Or one moment of losing your head.
10:53One moment of absolute madness.
10:56Could decide all these games.
10:58So, we can go with the prediction.
11:00Hopefully.
11:01But if it changes, I am all for it.
11:04If it's against it.
11:05Right, you are right.
11:07Let's see how they get on.
11:08The other game today, or tonight I should say, kicks off at 11 o'clock.
11:12Is Italy against Austria.
11:14Now, Italy for me, I think for all of us, have been the team of the tournament.
11:18They play attacking football.
11:20They are on the front foot.
11:21They don't just settle for a single goal like the old teams, Italy of old, used to do.
11:26Roberto Mancini has really transformed them.
11:28And he says the best is yet to come.
11:30How impressed have you been with Italy so far?
11:34I have said it over and over.
11:36It's just, you know, you start to run out of superlatives, Jeff.
11:42They are really good.
11:44The way that they go forward, the cohesion, everything is just brilliant.
11:51The worry for me is, you have seen this with, you know, Dutch teams of the past.
11:56They are just such a joy to look at.
12:01But then one day, they either come up against a tough tackling team that kicks them off the park.
12:06Or, as you said, as Sam said, one bizarre decision or one moment of madness.
12:12And all of a sudden you could be down to 10 men and their game plan goes out the window.
12:16My worry is that they will have one off day and then all of a sudden they will be out.
12:21And people will go, oh my goodness, you know.
12:23So, you know, my concern is the outside factors of that that could have an impact on that team.
12:34Because a plan B with 10 men against the likes of Austria or whoever they may be meeting in the next round.
12:42That would be a lot tougher challenge for these guys.
12:45Maybe because they don't have that superstar talent, they can step up and have that wonder moment.
12:52Because they've got a lot of great, great, great players there.
12:55But they don't have the Mbappé or the Ronaldo, you know, the superstar guy that likes to grab all the headlings.
13:06So, yeah, to me that's the concern.
13:08I think they'll have no problem today.
13:09But like we've seen before in the past, these cohesive, ground-breaking unit teams always seem to come up that little bit too short, you know.
13:20And never quite get all the way there.
13:24Yeah, the thing is that now they have the burden of the expectation on their shoulder.
13:28Now everyone tips them as the favourites to win the tournament after seeing their performance in the group stages.
13:35But you can see the team spirit within that score.
13:38Right from the national anthem, you can see how they are going about this game.
13:43They feel so much pride in wearing that shirt.
13:46And you can see that on the ground as well.
13:48And the unity among that group.
13:51Yeah, and the unity among that group, man.
13:53It's absolutely great.
13:54You can see even the substitution Mancini made in the last game.
13:58He substituted the goalkeeper for Sirigu to give him that taste of that Euro 2020.
14:04That itself is incredible.
14:05That shows that the team is so united.
14:08They all want to win.
14:09They all want to perform well.
14:11And they have records at sides.
14:12If they win this game, it's going to be a record which will last for like a century or something.
14:19It's going to be...
14:24Oh, did we lose Jossier there?
14:27I think he just put himself on mute somehow.
14:30Yeah, sorry guys.
14:31I just got a call from someone.
14:35Just taking the rhythm out of my Italian praises.
14:39But yeah, the thing is that yes.
14:42But you know like what Matty mentioned.
14:44One moment of madness or one moment of inspiration from the other team can spoil their party.
14:48But I don't think that's going to be this game.
14:50Because Austria, they will be too strong for Austria, man.
14:54And Italians scored.
14:55They are all fighting for their places.
14:58We have seen the changes that Mancini made in the last game.
15:01But they all want to prove a point.
15:03And I think Locatelli, Barela and Verratti, all these guys will be back in the midfield along with Jorginho.
15:10And it's going to be a great headache for Mancini to pick his team for the round of 16 game.
15:16But there is another boost for them.
15:19I think Chiellini is back.
15:21Which is going to be a great boost for them.
15:23And he is like a leader for them.
15:25I can't see anything other than an Italian win in this game, man.
15:29Can't see anything else.
15:30You mentioned their record chumps here.
15:32If they don't lose this one, it will be 31 games unbeaten.
15:36They have currently won their last 11.
15:38They haven't conceded a goal.
15:40They are on superb form like you mentioned.
15:42Chiellini should be back.
15:43They have got Bonucci at the back as well.
15:45They have got Jorginho in midfield.
15:46Locatelli, Verratti.
15:47Those guys dictating playing midfield.
15:49They have got Insigne and Immobile getting the goals.
15:52Austria don't stand a chance.
15:54But a quick word on Austria.
15:55They have been solid.
15:57But they haven't been spectacular.
15:58And a lot is going to depend, like I mentioned before, on where David Alaba plays.
16:02If he is playing at the back again as a three, we are not going to see much of him on the ball.
16:07If he plays left midfield, he is going to give Italy something to think about then.
16:11He can whip in really dangerous crosses into the box for the forwards.
16:14So, a lot will depend on where they play Alaba, won't they?
16:19Again, I feel like a bit of a broken record here.
16:24The one-star player in a team of average-ish players.
16:32They are in the last 16 on merit.
16:34I think the worry for the Austrian team is if they play Alaba in that creative position,
16:43they then have more of a hole at the back that they have to fill.
16:48And they know that he is probably the most capable guy for that position as well.
16:52So, it is like, do we keep him in the defensive place and make sure that we don't concede silly goals?
16:58Or do we put him in the midfield and then we try and attack this team?
17:01And I think, personally, if it was me, I would put him in midfield.
17:04Because these guys, Italy are going to come at you anyway.
17:08So, you might as well go back at them and give as good as you get.
17:12Because there is no other way that you are going to beat this team.
17:15I really doubt you are going to get them nil-nil on penalties.
17:18Because they are just going to keep coming at you for 90 minutes.
17:21And the only way you are going to overcome that is to get goals yourself.
17:25Alright, let's have some predictions then.
17:27I am going to go with a comfortable night for Italy.
17:29I think they are going to be too good for Austria.
17:31This one as well is going to be settled, I think, in the 90 minutes.
17:34We are not going to need extra time on penalties.
17:37I think Italy can put three or four past us.
17:40I am going to go three-nil Italy.
17:43I was waiting for you to go ten-nil the way you were talking earlier.
17:49Yeah, okay. Right, I will give you two scores.
17:52If Alaba starts in midfield, two-one.
17:55And if he starts at the back, three-nil.
17:59Ah, okay.
18:00You know, for Austria, I just have to put some words for them.
18:03It's an incredible achievement for them to get past the group stages.
18:07It's the first time they have ever done it in a European competition.
18:09That itself is a remarkable thing for the nation.
18:13But, you know, I think they should enjoy this game.
18:16Because I don't think they are the favourites by any means.
18:19I don't think they stand a chance by any means.
18:22But it's a game of football. Anything can happen in 90 minutes.
18:25If they enjoy the game, they could restrict Italy to two or three goals.
18:31If they try for their tactics and, you know, absorbing pressure and everything,
18:37it's going to be a nasty one for them.
18:40I think I'm going with Italy four-nil.
18:43With Immobile to get a brace.
18:48And Barella with a goal.
18:50I'm Bonucci with a header.
18:53You can get out, can't you?
18:55No chance for Austria. I think we are all agreed.
18:57They have been looking so good.
18:59But like you said, Matt, an off night, a bad decision, something.
19:04I think that's the only way that will stop them from progressing.
19:08But anyway, we'll wait and see.
19:10Thanks for watching and thanks for my guests.
19:12We'll be back tomorrow to preview the next two games.
19:14In the meantime, you can head to golfnews.com for all the latest news.
19:17And we'll see you later.