FIFA World Cup™ on FOX Programming Highlights: Saturday Morning, June 16
Today’s Schedule & Results (all times ET):
- France def. Australia, 2-1 (WATCH: 90’ in 90” France vs. Australia)
- Argentina ties Iceland, 1-1 (WATCH: 90’ in 90” Argentina vs. Iceland)
- 12:00 PM – Peru vs. Denmark (FS1)
- 3:00 PM – Croatia vs. Nigeria (FS1)
- 5:00 PM – WORLD CUP TODAY (FS1)
- 10:00 PM – FIFA WORLD CUP TONIGHT (FS1)
- 11:00 PM – MATCH DAY 1 (FS1)
- 12:00 AM – FIFA WORLD CUP TONIGHT (FOX / airs at midnight in all U.S. time zones)
ICYMI Friday on FIFA WORLD CUP TONIGHT:
This Morning’s Top Quotes:
Lead play-by-play announcer John Strong reacts to Iceland’s 1-1 draw with Argentina:
“What a result for the smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup. And boy is that mountain now looking steep for Lionel Messi and Argentina.”
Lead game analyst Stu Holden on what went wrong for Argentina today:
“We saw a team in Iceland that were a team, that played like a team, and that worked like a team. And we saw a group of individuals for Argentina. This has been the story with them since Sampaoli took over – even before he took over, in World Cup qualifying. They’ve yet to find a way to get the best group and mix out of what they have.”
No need to panic, Argentina.#ARG #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/ls0t4PTaBL
— FOX Sports PR (@FOXSportsPR) June 16, 2018
Lead studio analyst Alexi Lalas on Iceland’s result:
“It’s an incredible story – and at a time where they weren’t surprising anybody at this tournament with what they did. And yet they still stood up, and in this moment it wasn’t necessarily pretty, but they got the job done. And they got a point against Argentina in their first World Cup game.
“I don’t think we can overstate how important this is and how big this is and how much this should be celebrated.
“They have parlayed what they have done in 2016, at least initially, into the World Cup, and it deserves to be celebrated.”
Strong and Holden react to Hannes Þór Halldórsson’s PK save for Iceland against Messi:
Strong: “Hannes Þór Halldórsson – Icelandic national hero!”
Holden: “That’ll bring the game to life. When they needed him most, Halldórsson stepped up and makes a huge save.”
Holden reacts to Sergio Aguero’s opening goal to put Argentina up, 1-0:
“The Manchester City striker is lethal in front of goal.
“What a finish for Aguero who rewards Sampaoli for giving him the start in front of Higuain. His 38th international goal for Argentina right at the right time.”
Holden on how Iceland creates problems for opposing teams:
“I just can’t stress enough how difficult it is to play against a team like Iceland. It’s not the most glamorous style – they’re not going to win plaudits for that. But they’re going to win plaudits for how they work and the way that they’re able to limit Argentina playing how they normally do.”
FOX Soccer analyst and former Argentine striker Hernan Crespo, a former teammate of Lionel Messi, says he knew right away that Messi was special:
“After two touches, you understand that – he’s different.”
Following Aguero’s early goal, Crespo shares what it feels like to score your first World cup goal:
“It’s something great. You shout with your heart. It’s something special.”
Analyst Tony Meola and play-by-play announcer JP Dellacamera, who called France vs. Australia, react to Antoine Griezmann’s PK, which put France up, 1-0:
Meola: “Nothing became something, as Pogba played the ball through to Griezmann, resulting in this penalty kick.”
Dellacamera: “That’s a game-changer. The longer it stayed 0-0, the better the odds were for Australia.”
Meola reacts to the handball called on France’s Samuel Umtiti:
“That’s just a lapse of concentration.
“I can’t even explain why you would put your hand up in that situation.”
Meola on Mile Jedinak’s PK for Australia that tied the game at 1-1:
“These Australian fans were just waiting to get out of their seats. This team has played well enough to stay in the game with one of the favorites, France. A well-deserved goal, based on what they’ve done the first hour of the game.”
Meola says the issue for France is not talent, but if they can play together as a team:
“You have so many talented individuals on your team that the question becomes, how does Didier Deschamps get the best out of this team? How does he turn them into rhythm team? We’ve seen it in spurts over the last couple months, but that’s been the question. Does that individual talent equal up to being a good team?”
Meola on what France needs to do going forward:
“If France is going to go through, Paul Pogba needs to be better.
“This team has to be better as a unit. All that individual talent, they have to figure out how they work together.
“If they’re going to compete for a World Cup, they’re going to have to be better.”
Dellacamera on France:
“Didier Deschamps will gladly take the three points, but he knows it has to be better in Game 2 and 3 and anymore that they have after that.”
Lalas on France’s team chemistry:
“A national team isn’t about the best 23 players, it’s about the best group of 23 players, and this France team – depth and talent all over the field, and yet at times in the past they have found a way to implode, either on or off the field.”
Crespo on France’s pressure to win the World Cup:
“It’s very beautiful, the pressure. Because when you know that you have the chance to lift the trophy, it’s very beautiful; but at the same time, you feel the pressure.”
Today’s Top Videos:
Tomorrow’s Schedule (all times ET):
- 7:00 AM – FIFA WORLD CUP LIVE (FOX)
- 8:00 AM – Costa Rica vs. Serbia (FOX)
- 10:00 AM – FIFA WORLD CUP TODAY (FS1)
- 11:00 AM – Germany vs. Mexico (FS1)
- 1:00 PM – FIFA WORLD CUP TODAY (FS1)
- 2:00 PM – Brazil vs. Switzerland (FS1)
- 4:00 PM – FIFA WORLD CUP TODAY (FS1)
- 7:00 PM – FIFA WORLD CUP NOW (Twitter)
- 10:30 PM – FIFA WORLD CUP TONIGHT (FS1)
- 12:00 AM – FIFA WORLD CUP TONIGHT (FOX / airs at midnight in all U.S. time zones)
