FIFA World Cup™ on FOX Programming Highlights: Friday Afternoon, June 22
Today’s Schedule & Results (all times ET):
- Brazil def. Costa Rica, 2-0 (WATCH: 90 in 90: Brazil vs. Costa Rica)
- Nigeria def. Iceland, 2-0 (WATCH: 90 in 90: Nigeria vs. Iceland)
- Switzerland def. Serbia, 2-1 (WATCH: 90 in 90: Serbia vs. Switzerland)
- 7:00 PM – 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)
Today’s Top Stories
This Afternoon’s Top Quotes:
FOX Sports studio analyst Moises Munoz on Switzerland expecting a lot from Shaqiri in the victory over Serbia:
“They were expecting a lot from Shaqiri, and I believe he delivered in this game. Switzerland did what they had to do: they needed to score, they needed to go up in front, they needed to win this game. They did, and now they have a great opportunity against Costa Rica to move on.”
FOX Sports studio analyst Clarence Seedorf on how Switzerland adjusted in the second half to beat Serbia:
“They increased the speed of how they attacked. They used a lot of play on the sides – vertical play – and they were dangerous all the time – in transition, in the box – and they would move out fast. That was the difference. For Serbia, they started too fast, too hard. They slowed down in the second half.”
FOX Sports lead studio analyst Alexi Lalas was impressed by both Switzerland and Serbia:
“This was probably one of the best games of the tournament – two evenly matched teams that went at it back and forth – a slug fest in the rain and a wonderful goal. And if it’s a great game, it’s got to have a little controversy, too.
“Serbia could also have been looking to the third game and thought they had to get this done now, exposed themselves, and couldn’t recover. Switzerland waited, had the patience, speed and ability to pick it up.”
Lalas evaluates Switzerland’s strengths:
“I think it is a proper balance between the brains and the brawn, if you will. We’ve seen them be able to fight, but also in the moments when you need the skill, and you need the ability collectively, and individual moments, they have it. This is a solid team. This is a team that nobody’s going to take for granted. They aren’t going to roll over anybody, but every single game, they’re going to be in it.”
Seedorf was disappointed with Shaqiri for taking his shirt off after scoring his goal:
“I didn’t understand [Shaqiri] taking your shirt off after scoring. That is crazy. It’s a yellow card, and you know it. Don’t do that. Score your goals and keep your shirt on.”
FOX Sports game analyst Cobi Jones on how Switzerland turned the tide against Serbia to earn the victory:
“It’s amazing how quickly a game can turn. We saw the consistent offensive pressure for Switzerland in the second half. [Serbia] just looked tired on the defensive side. In the midfield they looked slow, and they were getting caught behind the play in one moment of carelessness by the Serbian defense.”
Jones on what Switzerland did to help Shaqiri in the second half:
“In the second half, they gave Shaqiri more freedom and asked him not to come back so far, taking the ball off the back line, but staying higher. On that play, we saw combinations that were very direct, vertical, and it springs Shaqiri through and he is going one-v-one to the goal.”
FOX Sports play-by-play announcer Glenn Davis on Shaqiri’s goal in the second half:
“Is this the moment for Shaqiri? Yes, it is! Switzerland and Shaqiri have scored in the 90th minute. He was asked to rise today by his manger Vladimir Petkovic, and he has!”
XHERDAN SHAQIRI!!
He finishes off a long run by slotting it past the keeper to put Switzerland ahead 2-1 late in the game! pic.twitter.com/lK9sJMi3o7
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 22, 2018
Glenn Davis calls Switzerland’s game-tying goal: WATCH
“Xhaka, you wanted more involvement, you got it. Switzerland has tied it up! It’s 1-1 now. An absolute laser from long range!”
Lalas on Aleksandar Mitrovic’s first goal putting Serbia up, 1-0:
“Mitrovic is a handful. He’s a big, big boy. When the ball is in the box, he eats it up. He missed the first one, got the second one. He uses his incredible frame and physical ability to get up. Celebrate, big man.”
FOX Sports lead studio host Rob Stone calls Nigeria’s win over Iceland a “lifeline” for Argentina:
“Argentina is thrown a lifeline. After the mess that was last night vs. Croatia, here they are still sitting with a realistic shot at moving on. But it’s Nigeria that holds all the cards.”
Lalas calls Tuesday’s final Group Stage match between Argentina and Nigeria must-see TV:
“You’d better get out of bed on Tuesday. You’d better take off work, do whatever you have to do, because this is must-see type of television.
“I can’t wait. This is what you want. You want those third games to matter and to mean something, and as far as this group’s concerned, they certainly do.”
"You better get out of bed on Tuesday. You better take off work or do what you have to do. This will be must-see TV." pic.twitter.com/3pYQCRYjMe
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 22, 2018
Munoz says this is the performance he wanted out of Nigeria:
“That’s what I wanted to see from Nigeria since the first game – using that speed, using that counter-attack, because they have the players to do so.”
FOX Sports game analyst Aly Wagner, who called Nigeria vs. Iceland, reacts to Musa’s second goal:
“Credit to his patience and allowing this to unfold. So many players rush that moment. Not Musa. Cool … calm.”
Wagner says Nigeria’s confidence built in the second half:
“How about this Nigerian side.
“You’ve seen their confidence build. After that initial goal, the presence in those pockets – night and day from the first half.”
Play-by-play announcer Derek Rae does not mince words when it comes to Iceland’s PK miss: WATCH
“He’s missed it spectacularly – good heavens.
“It’s just not happening for Iceland today.
“It really was a wretched attempt.”
Lalas says Neymar’s supporting cast has been huge for Brazil:
“Neymar casts a very big shadow over this team and sometimes it’s difficult to get out of it. But I tell you what, who’s quietly starring in this tournament, is Couthino.
“When we’re talking about the big three – Neymar, Messi and Ronaldo – I’ve got to feel that Neymar has the most talent around him, and that talent needs to show up. And they are showing up, which bodes well for the future, when you’ve got other players who are playing well and Neymar coming into his own.”
FOX Sports lead game analyst Stu Holden checks in from Sochi with his expectations for tomorrow’s Germany vs. Sweden match:
“I expect this German team to respond in resounding fashion.
“I can assure you, they have sat there, they have watched all of the film, they have analyzed every little thing that they did wrong in that game, and they are going to fix it in this game against Sweden.”
Seedorf on Germany’s emergency team meeting and how they will perform going forward:
“I think it’s a sign that they’re committed. They don’t want to accept that they’re not capable of not fighting and being competitive in this tournament. I didn’t think they performed that badly in the first game. There were moments in the game with poor choices, but I think Mexico was really outstanding in that match. Germany will come back and I think they will be another time that Germany will grow into this tournament.”
Lalas on what Germany did wrong in the first match against Mexico:
“The way they lined up against Mexico in the loss was problematic. They were stretched all over the place and disorganized. When Mexico hit them on that counter, they had the speed to pull players out of position, they had the speed to get players diving in. Germany didn’t have the recovery and couldn’t handle the team speed of Mexico, and they paid for it time and time again.”
Munoz on Mexico’s manager Juan Carlos Osorio possibly changing the team lineup:
“I hope he doesn’t do many substitutions. I was hearing about some changes he might be doing for this game. One is Chicharito coming out and going with Raul Jimenez. I don’t want him to make substitutions. They played great. If they can do the same thing against Korea [they did against Germany], they’re going to be in the knockout stage, and they’re going to get where they want to be. They have the motivation and opportunity … to move on and get to that fifth game.”
This Afternoon’s Top Video:
Tomorrow’s Schedule (all times ET):
- 7:00 AM – FIFA WORLD CUP LIVE (FOX)
- 8:00 AM – Belgium vs. Tunisia (FOX / JP Dellacamera and Tony Meola)
- 10:00 AM – FIFA WORLD CUP TODAY (FOX)
- 11:00 AM – Korea Republic vs. Mexico (FOX / Jorge Perez-Navarro and Mariano Trujillo)
- 1:00 PM – FIFA WORLD CUP TODAY (FOX)
- 2:00 PM – Germany vs. Sweden (FOX / John Strong and Stu Holden)
- 4:00 PM – FIFA WORLD CUP TODAY (FS1)
- 5:00 PM – MAGNIFY PRESENTS NOSSA CHAPE: OUR TEAM (FOX)
- 7:00 PM – FIFA WORLD CUP NOW (Twitter)
- 11:00 PM – FIFA WORLD CUP TONIGHT (FS1)
- 12:00 AM – FIFA WORLD CUP TONIGHT (FOX / airs at midnight in all U.S. time zones)
