FIFA World Cup™ on FOX Programming Highlights: Wednesday Afternoon, June 27
Today’s Schedule & Results (all times ET):
- Sweden def. Mexico, 3-0 (WATCH: 90 in 90: Mexico vs. Sweden)
- Korea Republic def. Germany, 2-0 (WATCH: 90 in 90: Korea Republic vs. Germany)
- Brazil def. Serbia, 2-0 (WATCH: 90 in 90: Serbia vs. Brazil)
- Switzerland tie with Costa Rica, 2-2 (WATCH: 90 in 90: Switzerland vs. Costa Rica)
- 7:00 PM – WORLD CUP TONIGHT (FS1)
- 7:00 PM – WORLD CUP NOW (Twitter)
- 12:00 AM – FIFA WORLD CUP TONIGHT (FOX / airs at midnight in all U.S. time zones)
This Afternoon’s Top Story
This Afternoon’s Top Quotes:
FOX Sports game analyst Tony Meola previews Mexico vs. Brazil in the Round of 16:
“The first thing they [Brazil] are going to do is look at Game 1 when they [Mexico] played Germany and how Germany had them pinned in at different situations and [Mexico used] that counter-attack time after time after time.
“That’s the first thing they are going to look at [the counter-attack]. If we [Brazil] don’t stop the counter attack, this is a team, Mexico, that is very capable of making us pay.”
FOX Sports lead studio analyst Alexi Lalas on Brazil vs. Mexico:
“Mexico matches up well against this Brazil team. Brazil is not a team that sits back, so if they spread themselves up and give Mexico at least what they [ Brazil] gave in the first two games that enabled them to be successful, it’s going to be really, really interesting to see.”
Meola on how Mexico should approach its match against Brazil:
“We saw Mexico against Germany in the first game and that counter-attack was lethal. I think that’s the way … If you are going to beat Brazil, you have to defend very well and catch them on the counter – and as they start to spread out, Brazil, that’s when you can get them. Serbia didn’t make them pay tonight in those instances, but I think Mexico has that ability.”
Lalas on Mexico’s performance in the World Cup:
“Mexico – we’ve seen of the three games they’ve played – when they were given the opportunity to counter and transition, they are devastating. When they are not and they have to take the game to another team, they have problems. We will see what Brazil does to counter that.”
Lalas on Neymar and his surrounding cast:
“I don’t think he’s being asked to take this team on his shoulders, either in play or in terms of the traditional leadership responsibilities that captains or players have. That’s not a bad thing – that’s a good thing. He can pick and choose his time and then do the things on the field that, leading by example, make him a leader.”
Lalas on Coutinho as the star of the team:
“Coutinho has been a wonder to this team. The way he has played and the impact he has made game in, game out – he is really the star of the team, with all due respect to Neymar.
“This is great for Neymar that this guy is doing what he is doing.”
FOX Sports game analyst Cobi Jones on Switzerland’s first goal: WATCH
“Sometimes it’s not about being surgical when that opportunity comes. Lichtsteiner with a great ball across, Breel Embolo being able to head this back in, and Dzemaili following it in. Nobody around them, just six yards out and he blasts this one in. Absolutely brilliant. Combination play, exactly what they needed to do against the run of play, finishing it off. One, nothing, Switzerland takes the lead.”
Jones calls Costa Rica’s first goal:
“What a response from Costa Rica to start this half. Kendall Waston with a great header off the set piece. This is what he is known for. The Vancouver Whitecaps man comes into the game, has his first start in the World Cup and answers. He gives you what you need. Look at this, he just completely out bodies Akanji, a little bit of a push there, gets the space, gets up, great connection on the header to redirect it, and Yann Sommer cannot do anything about this one as it floats by into the net. Absolutely brilliant by Costa Rica, capitalizing on the set piece.”
Kendall Waston scores Costa Rica's first goal of this FIFA World Cup!
Los Ticos are now level with Switzerland 1-1. pic.twitter.com/yb5vT5CfUl
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 27, 2018
Jones on Switzerland’s goal, bringing the score to 2-1: WATCH
“Well it’s happened again and again, and finally they get through with the vertical ball up the middle. Dzemaili is able to play that one wide and the cross comes in. All it comes down to Drmic with a great run into that near post space, a little bit of a slit, and a first time shot. Keylor Navas shifts to the right, you can see he cannot even react to get back to the left as he is stunned and falling backwards as Switzerland goes up, 2-1.”
Jones on Costa Rica’s penalty kick to tie the match at 2-2:
“Are you kidding me with this finish? We talked about it. You can’t ask for anything crazier than this. You have to stay and watch until the end. Yann Sommer is in disbelief because Bryan Ruiz has to be thanking his lucky stars. This is absolutely brilliant. Off the crossbar, off the back. Looks like off the head of Yann Sommer into the goal. Is that going to be an own goal?”
Off the post, off the keeper's head and in the net.
Just how Costa Rica drew up their equalizer ? pic.twitter.com/MkeJ3tpfaJ
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 27, 2018
FOX Sports studio analyst Kelly Smith on why Leroy Sane should have been on the German national team:
“I’m thinking could Leroy Sane been a difference? He was having a fantastic season for Manchester City. He was probably what they needed. He had been left behind at home. But it wasn’t meant to be.”
This Afternoon’s Top Video:
Tomorrow’s Schedule (all times ET):
- 9:00 AM – FIFA WORLD CUP LIVE (FOX and FS1)
- 10:00 AM – Senegal vs. Colombia (FOX / JP Dellacamera and Tony Meola)
- 10:00 AM – Japan vs. Poland (FS1 / Mark Followill and Warren Barton)
- 12:00 PM – FIFA WORLD CUP TODAY (FS1)
- 1:00 PM – FIFA WORLD CUP TODAY (FOX and FS1)
- 2:00 PM – England vs. Belgium (FOX / Derek Rae and Aly Wagner)
- 2:00 PM – Panama vs. Tunisia (FS1 / Jorge Perez-Navarro and Mariano Trujillo)
- 4:00 PM – FIFA WORLD CUP TODAY (FS1)
- 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)
