Many felt Italy v Belgium should have been the final, it was a fascinating match while Spain needed penalties to see off 10-man Switzerland to advance to the semifinals
Read the full story here:
See more videos at https://gulfnews.com/videos
Read more Gulf News stories here: https://bit.ly/2HLJ2km
Read the full story here:
See more videos at https://gulfnews.com/videos
Read more Gulf News stories here: https://bit.ly/2HLJ2km
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Tony Cruz has retired from international football after Germany's exit from Euro 2020.
00:06The Real Madrid midfielder picked up 106 caps for Germany and was part of the team
00:12that won the 2014 World Cup. It looks like he's going to be the first of many who are going to
00:17announce their retirement. I think Hummels and you look at Muller,
00:21probably those two as well, are going to say goodbye for a second time.
00:24Moving on, three-time champions Spain beat ten-man Switzerland in a dramatic penalty
00:33shootout last night to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2020. Spain had taken an early lead
00:40when Zacarias deflected Alba's shot into his own net, but then Switzerland hit back
00:45when Shaqiri equalised in the second half. But then they were reduced to ten men
00:50when Freuler was sent off. But then they hung on and took the game to penalties.
00:56I've got to say, I've got to be honest, that was the worst bunch of penalties I've seen in a long
01:02time. I really don't like this stuttering run-up that players do. They all seem to do it these
01:08days. I know why they're trying to do it. They're trying to make the keeper go first and put the
01:12ball on the other side. But more often than not, it doesn't seem to work and it failed for
01:16Switzerland big time yesterday, didn't it?
01:19It did, it did. What you mentioned about the penalties, it's a skill. If you want to do the
01:24hop and jump, you can't do that in one game or two. You have to keep practising it. I don't think
01:31defenders like Akanji and all will be practising that. You need to have a lot of practice to do
01:38such a thing in a big, big tournament. Yeah, I like what you mentioned. It was unbelievable
01:44penalties, man. Crazy penalties. But yeah, for all the things that Spain were doing, they still
01:51looked underwhelming to me. In the first half, it was that deflected goal. That's it. Apart from
01:57that, I didn't see them creating chances. Clear-cut chances. But then after Switzerland
02:03reduced to 10 men, then we saw Spain creating little chances. Especially in the extra time,
02:08they wanted to win it in the extra time itself. But they weren't good enough. Then we have to
02:14talk about the red card, man. That's never a red card, in my opinion. And the ref completely
02:20spoiled the game. Because the momentum was with Switzerland. Switzerland were playing without
02:25their star men in Achaka. And also, Mbolo got injured in the first half. So, they were giving
02:30a great game to Spain. They were giving it all. Then, this wild moment. Yeah, it was a silly
02:37challenge. But that's never a red card, man. This is the problem with the English refs.
02:43They just spoil the game. You can see in the tournament, the bad refereeing has come from
02:50the English refs. Apart from Anthony Taylor, who made a quick decision about the Christian
02:54Eriksen one. That was brilliant. Hats off to him. Apart from that, for the footballing thing,
02:59unbearable. The way, the mistakes, the use of the VAR, everything that they did. They spoiled
03:04the game yesterday for Switzerland. They could have won that game. Even with 10 men, it was a
03:09valiant effort from the Swiss. But when it goes to penalties, it's a lottery. And if you are
03:15kicking the ball like that, then you don't have a chance. But you have to give credit to Unai
03:19Simone. He was incredible. And also, Jan Soma. What a Soma he had, man. Unbelievable player.
03:27He kept Switzerland in the game, especially in the extra time. All over the tournament,
03:32he has been their best player, apart from Chaka. He has made a lot of saves. I think he has made
03:37the most number of saves in the tournament. And Jan Soma deserved to win after making so many
03:44saves. And even after the game, the interviewer asked Unai Simone about Jan Soma's performance.
03:51And Unai Simone wanted to give the Man of the Match award to Jan Soma. All good. Because when
03:56you win, you can do all these things. So, it's okay. But you have to talk about Unai Simone
04:03after making that error. He has been brilliant for Spain. You have to give him credit. Though
04:09the saves, he made it look so easy and the kicks were poor. But you have to still make those saves.
04:14And yeah, you have to give credit to Unai Simone. And Spain, yes, they reached the
04:19semi-finals. But I don't think they will go further than that. That's it.
04:25Sahil, what do you think? Are they looking convincing to you? Or do you think Shamsher
04:29is spot on? I've got to say I agree with Shamsher. They haven't looked that good. Okay,
04:33they have scored plenty of goals in the last couple of games. But when you look at them overall,
04:38there's still something not quite right there. What do you make of them? How do you think they
04:42did yesterday? First of all, yeah, I completely agree with Shamsher. I've been saying Spain are
04:48the most funniest team. And today, again, they make life harder for themselves. You saw the
04:52Croatia game. Now they made life harder for themselves. And how did they not score in extra
04:58time? Only God will know. And I don't know what has happened to Gerard Moreno's finishing. This
05:02guy was clinical for Valerio. What has happened to him in the Euros? We don't know. If you could
05:07remember that game from Poland. And now this game against Croatia. Now here against Switzerland.
05:13And got to be honest, that save by Jan Sommer on Gerard Moreno, point blank. How he saved that?
05:19I'm not sure. That was one of the best saves so far. But, you know, again, no, Spain are just
05:25not looking convincing. They just play really, really weird football. They can't finish their
05:29chances. And the defence, Pau Torres and Laporte, two great defenders doing such mistakes. That's
05:35not accepted. No way. And that too in a quarterfinals. And good finish by Shaqiri in the
05:40end. But still, Spain are not looking convincing. But like Shamsher, you're the one who said you
05:46just have to get over the line. You know, they might just do it against Italy. And it's not like
05:50Spain are a bad team. They have top players in that team. So, anything can happen. I'm not saying
05:56that Spain are going to lose. It's going to be a 50-50. No matter what Italy are doing, it's going
06:02to be a 50-50. Sorry Shamsher, you mentioned just getting over the line. And this is what really
06:12football is all about. You know, it's not always about playing the best football, creating the
06:17most chances, like we all know. Getting over the line is obviously the key thing to keep
06:21progressing. And they've done it. But not convincing like we've been saying. And, you know,
06:25the mistake at the back from Laporte, that was a real shocker, kicking it off his own
06:30defender back there. You know, I mean, that could happen. Okay, it happened yesterday,
06:34they conceded a goal. But if it happens, if they were to get, let's say, to the final,
06:38and they lose to a goal like that, or if they just keep underperforming, and if they even
06:42win it this way, I mean, it'll be really disappointing, won't it? I mean, we'd like to
06:46see the team play really well to get further. I still think, you know, they still have the
06:52ghost of Tiki Taka within them, you know, like, they haven't completely gotten over from Tiki
06:57Taka. You know, you can see so many horizontal passes, boring to watch, you know, but they're
07:03still trying to play differently than the Tiki Taka. But that ghost comes in and they still pass
07:09around without no intention at all. But yeah, out of the two teams, they showed more intent than
07:15Switzerland from the beginning. But then from the second half, I saw a valiant effort from
07:21Switzerland. But still, you know, the moment that changed the game, I have to say again, it's a red
07:27card. Otherwise, we could have been talking a different story altogether because Switzerland
07:31were gaining momentum. But for Spain, you know, our little boy Pedri was unbelievable in the
07:36midfield again. He, for such a tender age, the kind of football that he's playing and with
07:43the maturity that he's showing, it's incredible, you know. And he has played all season for Barcelona
07:48and now he's doing… And I think he's been selected for the Olympic squad as well. So, he has to
07:53keep going. So, Spain, yeah, it's all not lost for them. And like what you guys are mentioning, you know,
07:58it's all about progressing. It's not about progressive football. But still, there is a moment,
08:04you know, everything is going to be stopped. And I think when they reach, when they play
08:09Italy, you know, I think it's going to be all over for them. There is no way. Unless there is a red card,
08:14unless there is a red card moment like this in the last game, I don't think there is a
08:18chance for Spain. No chance. Yeah, you know, that red card really definitely disrupted Switzerland
08:24in the second half. But I think really they lost a lot of the impetus in the first half really early
08:29on when Mbola went off injured. You know, he's a big physical threat. He's got those driving runs
08:34in him. He can really carry the team forward. So, when he came off, Vargas came on, totally
08:39different play, you know, small diminutive, a bit easier to mark, not nearly as physical. So, that
08:43made life slightly easier for Spain. But again, like we say, you know, we just want to see them
08:50play a lot better. You're right, they're still doing the old sideways-backward passing, going
08:54nowhere, you know, just for the sake of passing, they're passing the ball. Yeah, I mean, overall,
09:00well, hopefully, well, it's got Italy next now. And the way Italy are playing,
09:04hopefully, you would think anyway that Italy will progress and get to the final.
09:08Imran, you said a point, like, you want to see a team winning, who play good football.
09:15In the 2016 Euros, Portugal played one of the worst football and still won the Euros.
09:20Then the group stage did not win one game, they still qualified and they won the championship.
09:26Spain, I feel like can do something like that. You never know.
09:32Yeah, I mean, I'll go further back, 2004 in Greece, just horrible, horrible too much.
09:39They went all the way and, you know, they beat everybody. It was a shock of the tournament. So,
09:43you know, it doesn't mean the best teams win. But as a spectacle, you just want to see them.
09:49But, Imran, like, we have talked about it many times, you know, there is no right way or wrong
09:53way to play football. People can see… If Spain wins it, we have to give them credit. But I don't
10:00think they can win it. It's not like Greece or Portugal. Greece and Portugal had an aura about
10:05defending. This team doesn't have that. Yes, of course, there is a certain way of playing football.
10:11They were defensive-minded, which is okay, that's a different way of playing football.
10:15But this Spain, I can't see them defending enough. They are not resolute in defending.
10:20They are not robust. They are making silly errors. Even the goalkeeper is making errors.
10:25Even the defenders, like you mentioned yesterday in the group, Laporta might be speaking French,
10:32might not be Spanish. These kind of things are happening in Spain. And for them, you know,
10:39they haven't met a really good, strong side so far in the tournament. Yes, they have been always
10:44favourites. Whenever they have gone to match against Croatia, they were the favourites.
10:49To match Switzerland, they were heavy favourites. Now they are going to be an underdog. Like,
10:54yes, they are a big team still. But with the way that Italy are playing, you know,
10:58they are going to be underdog. And we need to see how they react to that moment. I don't think
11:02they stand a chance. I don't really think. I agree. I agree. Okay, well, they are through
11:08to the semi-final and they are going to be playing Italy because they beat Belgium 2-1
11:13yesterday in a thrilling battle between two really good teams who play fantastic football.
11:19I think we all agree Italy for sure is the best team in the tournament.
11:22But they were up against the world's top-ranked side in Belgium yesterday.
11:27And they showed that they still have that old Italian DNA in them. You know, when it comes
11:31to defending a lead, the game management in the second half was superb, wasn't it?
11:38Was unbelievable. Unbelievable. You know, like, this is what we call a right mixture of a team.
11:44You know, like, they have everything. They have youth. They have experience.
11:48They have everything in them. And, you know, the match management was incredible. The last
11:52spiel after the 90 minutes clocked in, the way that they were doing it, you know,
11:58the old Italian superstars would be proud of it, like, watching that. And apart from that, man,
12:04what a game that was. It was accelerating, end-to-end stuff. Both teams wanted to win.
12:09And it was like a very lucrative kind of a football. Unbelievable. But Italy was showing
12:15their class all around. You know, like, they are a near-perfect team. You know, they don't have
12:20a weakness. I can't see a weakness in that team because they're all playing like a team.
12:24Unbelievable. Now, they have a weakness, especially after Spinazzola getting injured.
12:29There you have a weakness now. Because Spinazzola has been one of the players of the tournament so
12:33far. And he has been Italy's best player for me apart from Jorginho. That is going to be a huge
12:40miss for them. Because the player who comes in, Emerson, I know him. He's not that great player.
12:45But he can still do the job. But there is a weakness now. Because we haven't seen any
12:51weakness in that Italian squad now. But for Belgium, man, like, for such a golden, golden,
12:56you know, like, you call it as a golden era. But they didn't win anything yet. And I think
13:01it's the end of the golden era for them. Most of them will have to retire. Because it's almost,
13:06especially look at the backline, man. Like I've mentioned in one of the videos, it's 101 is the
13:11combined age of that backline. And I think that's all for them. And they must be very disappointed
13:18that such a great crop of players couldn't win anything in the major tournaments. And to lose
13:25out in the quarter-finals, you know, they will be feeling so bad. Especially giving everything,
13:30you know. They gave everything, you know. It was a good spectacle. But no, not enough. You need to,
13:36like what you mentioned, you know, Spain didn't do anything. But they progressed into the
13:39semi-finals. Belgium could have done that. But yeah, they were at the hands of the Italian who
13:44are playing with a lot of swagger and, you know, flair, everything. Yeah, hard luck. Hard luck,
13:52that's what I can call. Surely, you know, I mean, it looked like, you know, Italy started
13:59the game well. I mean, Belgium also, I mean, did you see that save by Donnarumma and Kevin
14:02De Bruyne? What a run, good shot, good save, you know. You know, but it just looked like
14:07Kevin De Bruyne was playing against 11 Italy players. Like, and also, like Lukaku wasn't so
14:13involved in the game. You know, yeah, he scored the goal. It was a penalty. But, you know, it
14:17looked like Kevin De Bruyne was doing everything. He was the one sprinting, creating chances,
14:21shooting. He's not the fastest player on earth. But again, that acceleration he has is just
14:25brilliant. And I got to give credit to this one player, Doku. We've not heard a lot about him,
14:31but he was scaring De Lorenzo, Bonucci, and the 19-year-old was just outstanding. But, you know,
14:38you know, we are calling them the golden generation, but it just looked like KDB was
14:42doing everything. No one else was doing much. Like, that's the thing with Belgium.
14:48Did they miss Hazard? Thorgan Hazard was anonymous for me. Yeah, he almost, like,
14:53he almost scored when Chad Lee came on, that it went behind him. That was only involved by
14:57Thorgan Hazard. Otherwise, I didn't see much of him. And did they miss Aiden Hazard? We can say
15:01that now, yes, they did miss Aiden Hazard a lot. But Italy were just, wow. First of all, the goal
15:07for Barela, good finish, but poor defending. Very poor defending. Cannot allow a midfielder to just
15:12go past like that. And how about that goal from Insigne? That is a specialist goal. We've seen
15:17that in this area. He likes to just finesse it. That was just a class goal. And, you know,
15:23and you need such goals in the tournament. Like, I remember Kevin De Bruyne scoring like this
15:28against Belgium. Not a finesse, but he scored a long range. This type of goal makes you go to
15:32the semifinals and stuff. And really, it was just a joy to watch Italy play beautiful football.
15:39But, you know, it just felt bad when Spinazzola came off. I think he's out for a while now. You
15:43know, I thought it was just a cramp. The thing he broke as a child is tendon. And, you know,
15:47really, really, really feel sorry for him. You know, there was a big season ahead of him in the,
15:52if he plays which club, Roma. But, you know, I hope Italy should not face a problem without him.
15:58You know, there are 13 consecutive wins now and 32 games unbeaten. One step away
16:05from getting to the final. Can Spain stop them? I really don't think they can.
16:10But, you know, if they do, I think we're all going to feel really disappointed because
16:15Italy have been brilliant. They've been the most entertaining to watch, you know,
16:18from the very beginning, from the group stages all the way now until the knockouts. But just
16:25getting to the first goal, I'm sure you guys saw it when Barella drilled out the opener.
16:30Immobile was on the floor trying to get a penalty. But as soon as the goal went in,
16:34he sprang up, jumped up, celebrated.
16:37We are used to seeing this. We're used to seeing all this.
16:42And you're right. His goal was just a tremendous goal. Ran from the halfway line,
16:47curled it into the corner. I mean, the goals just keep getting better and better, don't they?
16:51We've seen some tremendous goals.
16:53We have. Yeah, yeah. We're privileged to watch a lot of incredible goals. That was an insane
16:58goal from Insigne Ba. He shouldn't be walking through that defence like that. You know,
17:03it was just so easy for him because he just started dribbling from his own half.
17:08That is not good enough. If you want to play Italy, I'm not a coach or anyone,
17:12but you have to match them in midfield. Because Belgium are playing with two midfielders.
17:17And Italy overloaded the midfield with three players. And they were getting the upper hand
17:23there. If I'm Henry Kane, if I'm watching that, they have the three players in the midfield.
17:29And the match should be won in the midfield. Because Jorginho was complete cruise control.
17:36He was playing as a register. We have seen how he is. He was not on pressure at all. He was
17:42pulling the strings with so much ease. You shouldn't allow that to happen. If you want to
17:47stop Italy, like we have told this many times for the Saris team, if you remember, when Jorginho
17:53was at Napoli, when Jorginho came to Chelsea along with Maurizio Sarri, if you want to stop Chelsea
17:59or Napoli, you have to stop Jorginho playing. Because he will pick up the passes from there.
18:03So, they have to do the same thing. Who are the opponents coming? They have to stop Jorginho
18:06playing his football. You have to just closely mark him. But then there are two other players
18:12that are completely different. Like Barela, what an engine he is having. Like a Rolls-Royce engine
18:17he has. What a player he is. Very underrated. Yes, he scored a goal yesterday. So, his name will be
18:22there on the papers. Other than that, he has been absolutely brilliant all throughout the
18:26tournament. He has been the perfect box-to-box player. He does those things like tackles and
18:33everything. The high-intensity presses that Italy does. Start with Barela. And even Verratti.
18:40What a game. You can pick all the names in that Italian squad and say that they had a great game.
18:44And you have to mention how Bonucci and Cellini marshalled that defence. The way that they were
18:51pumping up. Oh my God. Even when Spinozola made that goal-line clearance, Lukaku should have done
18:58better. But still, when he made that clearance, the way that Bonucci went to him and even Cellini
19:05went to him and he just pumped him up saying that, you have done a great job. You have just scored
19:10a goal. It was like that. That passion. I think a team who plays with so much of passion has to
19:19cross the line, man. They have been absolutely incredible. And yes, Spain can match them in
19:25midfield because they have the three players like Pedris and Busquets and Koke. They can
19:29match them in midfield. But I think Italy will be too strong for Spain, man. And I think they are
19:37going to the Wembley. And whoever faces them in the final is going to be a tough, monumental task
19:42to beat these guys. Because they are here with a point to prove, especially after the World Cup
19:47debacle they had here last time because they couldn't qualify. Like I've mentioned in our
19:51preview, it's a renaissance time for them and they're doing it in style. The juggernaut keeps
19:57rolling on, man. What a team. Very true. I think we all hope that they get through to the final,
20:03whether they play England, Denmark, Czech Republic. We're going to see who that is.
20:07But you guys touched on the Belgian golden generation there. I think there's probably,
20:14I mean, yeah, they're not getting any younger. That's for sure. When you look at the likes of,
20:17okay, Lukaku is not that old yet. De Bruyne is in his 30s. Hazard is old.
20:21Vermaelen, Vertonghen, you know, they're not getting any younger. But the only good thing
20:26about them that I can probably say is that the World Cup Qatar is not far away. So they could
20:31probably just about play there. But then they do run the risk of seeing, of being just like Portugal
20:37were in this tournament, relying too much on these guys, you know, and not playing as a team
20:41because they know this is the last hurrah for these, for most of these players. So give Lukaku
20:45all the chances, give De Bruyne all the free kick penalties, you know, not sharing those chances
20:49out to other players. So we'll see. We'll see how they get on. But just again…
20:55But Imran, Imran, I have to make a point here. You know, like, this could be the time for
21:02Martinez to leave, maybe. You know, like, it's been five years now. You know, like, yes,
21:07he has done a good job there. But, you know, they haven't done enough with all the talents they have.
21:12They still have got talents, you know, coming through, like what we have mentioned about
21:16Dokku. Uri Tielemans had a brilliant tournament. You know, he has been brilliant for Leicester last
21:21season. But, you know, the young crop of players are coming through. But you don't see a better
21:26defenders coming through. They have to replace Vermaelen and all, man. Because Vermaelen
21:31hardly played any football in the last few years, you know. And you are putting him in the
21:36pressure cooker situation like that. And he is going to make mistakes. He is playing
21:40his football in Japan now. He was always an injury-prone player.
21:44He has not played much club football in Barcelona. I think I barely saw him play in my life,
21:51like, to be honest.
21:52Now he is playing his football in Japan. You know, it's not competitive enough to play in,
21:57to have a competition in the Euros and stuff like that.
22:00But I think, yes, the World Cup is not that far away and they can still win something.
22:06But I really worry for Martinez now. Because
22:10Martinez might not be the man to take them forward now.
22:14That's a very good point. Yeah, that's a good point. You are right.
22:17If he was to step down, well, fortunately or unfortunately, the three big jobs in the
22:22Premier League have already been taken now. So unless there is going to be a sudden vacancy,
22:28I can't see him moving back there. Whether or not he thinks he can, you know,
22:32get this team to the final in the World Cup, that's a very good point.
22:35It depends, you know, a lot depends on how they are going to do with Martinez there or not.
22:40And you mentioned as well, Spinazzola. I mean, that could be the only way
22:45that Spain has a chance because they are not going to be as attacking down that left now.
22:49So maybe they sit back a bit more and maybe Spain come into a bit more.
22:53Anyway, we'll have to wait and see how that goes. It should be a very good game.
22:56But Imran, it would be like the Ericsson incident now.
23:00Because, you know, there was one video which was all over Twitter.
23:05After the game, they were in the plane and they were just singing Spinazzola's name.
23:10So the thing is that now they are even more motivated.
23:14Now they have to win it for Spinazzola. Now they have to win it for Spinazzola.
23:18I think it's going to be extra motivation for them.
23:21Oh, it's going to be good. It's going to be really good.
23:23We'll see. We'll see what happens.
23:25There's two games tonight starting with Czech Republic against Denmark.
23:30As we know, Denmark had a really sad start to the tournament, obviously, Ericsson.
23:34And then they lost their first two games.
23:35But then they've really transformed themselves.
23:37They've won the last couple of games really convincingly.
23:40They've become a proper team.
23:42The Czech Republic, I mean, they've proven they can be quite a dangerous team as well.
23:46I remember Matt was saying that this might be a nil-nil.
23:49I think it might be a draw.
23:50I think this will go… I think this goes all the way.
23:53And I could be decided on penalties.
23:55And if it does, I reckon the Danes will go through.
23:58And if they do, I think the neutrals will be really pleased for them.
24:02Yeah, I think it doesn't even need penalties, I think.
24:05You know, I think Danes will be too strong for Czech Republic.
24:09And the Czech are very robust in defence and midfield, everything.
24:13You know, they are a very organised squad.
24:15But now, since they have reached the quarter-finals, they might have to, you know,
24:19cut loose and play a little football.
24:21And it will come in… play in the hands of the Danes.
24:26You know, I think Danes will have too strong motivation to get into the semi-finals.
24:31I think… I have picked them to reach the finals anyway.
24:34So, I think Denmark is going to progress this game in the 90 minutes.
24:41I'm also going to back Denmark, you know.
24:43I mean, the Czech beat the Netherlands.
24:45I mean, a good team like Netherlands.
24:47But I think Denmark, you know, they are going to come in with that extra motivation.
24:51And they have that midfield, you know.
24:53And they have got decent attackers.
24:55And the defence is also pretty strong, let's be honest here, of the Danish national team.
25:00So, I'm going to back Denmark to get a convincing victory.
25:03I hope they should win convincingly.
25:05And also for Denmark, you know, Simon Kjær is going to come back.
25:08And that's going to be a huge boost for them in defence.
25:11He is a leader.
25:12He can marshal that defence brilliantly.
25:14So, that's going to be a huge boost for them.
25:16Apart from that, the little voodoo is also there.
25:18You know, like the CR7 voodoo.
25:22Schick has scored four goals.
25:24So, now Czech Republic has to go out.
25:26Simple as that.
25:28Let's see if that comes true.
25:29And I think we are all secretly hoping Denmark get through to that one.
25:34And the other one tonight is England against Ukraine.
25:36I mean, this one could be tricky.
25:38Because this is England's first game away from Wembley.
25:41They're playing in Rome.
25:43And they've drawn their last two games against Ukraine.
25:46So, it's not going to be as straightforward as some people are saying.
25:49And well, it depends what sort of team Southgate puts out.
25:52Is he going to change it?
25:53Is he going to make it more attacking?
25:56We'll have to see what he does.
25:57Because, well, maybe he doesn't do anything.
25:59Because up till now, it's worked really well, whatever he's done.
26:02They've played four.
26:03They've won three and drawn one.
26:05And without conceding a goal.
26:07But Saka might be missing tonight.
26:08So, that will be a big miss.
26:10He picked up a knock, apparently, in training.
26:12Does that open the door for the likes of Grealish, Mount, Foden?
26:15They were all on the bench against Germany.
26:19So, there may be some changes.
26:20But again, maybe he doesn't want to change anything.
26:22Because it's working really well up till now.
26:25But Ukraine are missing the striker, Besedin.
26:28And Yarmolenko came off against Sweden in the last game.
26:31He should be fit.
26:33But I think we should have too much for them.
26:36I think I'm going to go with another clean sheet.
26:382-0 win, England.
26:41Because, yeah, like what you've mentioned.
26:43It's not going to be straightforward at all.
26:45But because they can just enjoy the football.
26:48The pressure is on England.
26:51They have to perform.
26:51They have to go through.
26:52But Ukraine, whatever they have done so far, that's great for them.
26:55They have made this country already proud.
26:58You know, like, so, whatever they do today,
27:01they can just enjoy it and do it.
27:03But for England, they have to be very, very, very careful.
27:05But you know what?
27:07For all the criticisms Southgate has taken,
27:09you know, one thing I have to give him credit for
27:11is that he has played two formations.
27:15And he has made them comfortable with two formations.
27:18He has made them play with four at the back and three at the back.
27:22And the players are comfortable with both the formations over the years.
27:26What he has done, that's a great thing, you know?
27:28Like what we have seen when France moved to three at the back.
27:31They completely struggled.
27:33They couldn't cope with it.
27:34So, you have to practice both the formations.
27:36We have to give credit to Southgate for that.
27:38So, I think England will play four at the back today.
27:41And they will be like more on the…
27:43They will take the attacking route.
27:46And I think Grealish might start.
27:48Even Mount might start.
27:49And England will have too much talents in them.
27:53And unless there is a red card or a dubious decision, you know,
27:57I don't think Ukraine can pose a threat.
28:00But you never know.
28:01Because they are playing with a lot of freedom.
28:03And with the likes of Dobrik might be starting this game.
28:06Who might be flying high in confidence after that goal.
28:10And you know, Andriy Shevchenko is a national hero.
28:12And he can…
28:13I don't know whether the kind of confidence he can give it to the team.
28:16Anything can happen.
28:17But I am going with England winning 2-1.
28:20And England are going to lose in the semifinals against…
28:22Imran, you mentioned like they are playing in Rome or everything.
28:25But it's England.
28:26You know, they choke in such games.
28:28I don't want them to choke.
28:30But…
28:32Obviously, a win against Germany will mean absolutely nothing if we can't progress.
28:36Scruffy…
28:38No five at the back in this game.
28:41Please.
28:41I hope it's not five at the back.
28:42Not needed.
28:45But you know, one thing like what Imran mentioned.
28:47I don't think fans can travel from Italy.
28:50From England.
28:51Because the thing is, with the quarantine rules,
28:54I don't think they will be able to attend this game.
28:56So, they have to rely on the fans from Italy.
28:59The England fans residing in Italy.
29:01Or the fans from other European countries.
29:05And Ukraine doesn't have any such rules.
29:07So, they can travel and they can support their country.
29:10So, I think that the voice…
29:12The noise will be more from the Ukrainians in the game tonight.
29:16And also, Shamshi, you made a very important point there.
29:20That Ukraine playing with no fear.
29:23You know, they've got this far.
29:24There's no pressure on them.
29:25So, that could actually help them perform as well.
29:28But anyway, let's see.
29:29It should be a fascinating couple of games tonight.
29:33I think we'll call it a day there.
29:34Thanks to my guests.
29:35Good fun as always, guys.
29:37Log on to gulfnews.com for all the latest news.
29:39And we'll see you again next time.