FIFA World Cup™ on FOX Programming Highlights: Sunday Morning, June 17
Today’s Schedule & Results (all times ET):
- Serbia def. Costa Rica, 1-0 (WATCH: 90 in 90 Costa Rica vs. Serbia)
- Mexico def. Germany, 1-0 (WATCH: 90 in 90 Germany vs. Mexico)
- 2:00 PM – Brazil vs. Switzerland
- 4:00 PM – WORLD CUP TODAY (FS1)
- 10:30 PM – FIFA WORLD CUP TONIGHT (FS1)
- 11:30 PM – PHENOMS: Ghana/Nigeria/Senegal (FS1)
- 12:00 AM – FIFA WORLD CUP TONIGHT (FOX / airs at midnight in all U.S. time zones)
ICYMI Saturday on FIFA WORLD CUP TONIGHT:
“He just looks so frustrated,” Smith says. “He pulls the armband off – for me, this is not a captain; this is not a leader. He’s angry that they’ve draw the game, but he needs to carry his shoulders a little bit better.”
This Morning’s Top Quotes:
FOX Sports lead studio host Rob Stone reacts to Mexico’s historic win:
“Maybe the biggest win in the proud, long history of this Mexican National Team.”
FOX Sports studio analyst and former Mexican National Team goalkeeper Moises Munoz adds:
“It just gives me goosebumps. You were expecting something from this game, but maybe a win was a little too far to go. After watching these guys play their hearts out on the field, it’s just rewarding. It’s something that lives with us, and I believe every Mexican who’s watching this game is so proud of these guys and what they just did on the field.”
FOX Sports lead studio analyst Alexi Lalas adds:
“Whether you support the Mexican National Team or not, you’ve got to respect what they did today.”
FOX Sports studio analyst and former international manager Guus Hiddink says Mexico set the tone early:
“It’s highly deserved by the Mexicans, because they didn’t draw back. From the first minute, they showed their intentions.”
Lalas says Mexico took advantage of Germany giving up space:
“Germany gave them all sorts of time and space. They saw it, they capitalized on it, and ultimately it was the goal that got them the win, but they were doing this time and time again. It could have been two- or three-nothing.”
Munoz said Mexico’s aggressive attitude led them to the win:
“They did exactly what Alexi said they had to do. They came out strong and just punched them right in the nose, right in the beginning. Very aggressive lineup – I’m really happy for Juan Carlos Osorio, and I’m really happy for the guys, because they took a lot of heat before the game.”
Alexi Lalas wants to see Mexico come out strong against Germany.#MEX #GER #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/CY4nLunbdi
— FOX Sports PR (@FOXSportsPR) June 17, 2018
Hiddink says Germany looked complacent:
“I saw them playing, even in the last 15-20 minutes – where they normally make the equalizer or even win – I saw them rather complacent. They were playing at a low pace and at the end, they panicked.”
Lalas breaks down Mexico’s hot start and Hirving Lozano’s goal to put Mexico up, 1-0:
“Juan Carlos Osorio and this Mexico side came out, they punched them on the nose, and Germany had no idea what to do.
“They exploit the space, and Carlos Vela – all over the place. I know Chucky Lozano scored that goal, but Carlos Vela getting into space, Chicharito getting the ball – able to turn, look up, have a smoke, have a coffee and go.”
FOX Sports game analyst Tony Meola, who called Germany vs. Mexico, was pleasantly surprised by the Mexico team he saw today:
“I think it’s fair to say that they’re a different team today than we’ve seen over the last couple months.
“You would have never expected, from the last three or four games, that this is the product you would have seen on the field.”
Meola was impressed with Mexico’s first half:
“They don’t look rushed. They don’t look nervous. They’ve come out with an attitude that we have not seen over the last couple of months for this side.
“They’ve got a lot of work to do, but they’ve been impressive so far.”
Lalas says Mexico still has work to do:
“They still have games to play. I don’t fear Mexico playing better opposition – they play up to the opposition. If they think they are world conquerors just because they beat Germany in one game, that can be detrimental. Now they have to regroup and recognize they’ve still got a lot of work to do against two good teams.”
Lalas on why it is so hard for teams to repeat as World Cup champions:
“The reason why it’s so difficult to repeat is, especially in the modern game, teams will adjust. The world will adjust. The game will adjust.”
Meola thinks Juan Carlos Osorio’s lineup changes could be beneficial to Mexico as the team goes deeper into the World Cup:
“With all the injuries that they’ve had, maybe all that tinkering and the minutes that players have gotten over the last six months will come into play, because he’s going to have to use these players throughout this tournament if they’re going to make a run.”
Dellacamera on the raucous atmosphere inside Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium:
“You cannot hear the whistle here, high up in Luzhniki, the way the crowd has responded to these two teams today.”
Munoz says he doesn’t care what Mexico’s Carlos Vela does off the pitch, as long as he brings his best game on it:
“He’s a guy that only likes to play soccer. He doesn’t want to talk about soccer when he’s not on the pitch. He doesn’t like to watch soccer games. But I don’t really care. As long as he comes into the pitch and brings his game at his full potential, he’s going to be great for Mexico.”
Carlos Vela is ready to move on from the drama surrounding the 2014 FIFA World Cup and lead México to a 5th game. ?? pic.twitter.com/BheQb3RU8p
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 17, 2018
Lalas discusses Mexico’s continually rotating lineup:
“Everybody has a different idea of what that best 11 is, including Juan Carlos Osorio. The last two years, he’s taken a lot of heat, as any Mexican National Team coach takes, because of his constant squad rotation.
“From that first minute, I want to see that Mexico is showing to the world and showing to us that they feel – more importantly that they deserve – to be there.”
Meola on Germany as a perpetual contender:
“The one thing you won’t get from Germany is any panic at all. They just continue to go about their way. They just continue re-tool and add another piece the puzzle and continue to develop players, continue to stay at the stop of the rankings.”
Lalas is cautious about the age of Costa Rica and CONCACAF overall:
“While they are wiser – it’s fine and well to see what you should be doing – it’s another thing to actually have your body react. This is something that is not just specific to Costa Rica, it’s specific to CONCACAF. CONCACAF has brought old teams.
“Any time you do that, the question is, is it the right balance? Do you have that experience, but do you also have the physical abilities to capitalize on that experience, or are you a bunch of old guys that are getting run past by the youth of this tournament?”
Play-by-play announcer Derek Rae and analyst Aly Wagner, who called Costa Rica vs. Serbia, react to Aleksander Lolarov’s goal off a free kick:
Rae: “That is beautiful! Breathtaking strike by Aleksandar Kolarov to give Serbia the sizzle in their first match of the World Cup in 2018.”
Wagner: “What a beauty that is. Up and over that near post; tucks it in. Keylor Navas – full stretch, can’t get anything on it. Could it be any more beautiful than that? What say you, Ronaldo?”
Wagner on why Serbia could make it out of Group E
“They’ve got the defensive solidarity, they’ve got the offensive attacking personalities.”
FOX Sports analyst Ian Wright says Lionel Messi needs to play like he wants to be the best:
“Ability is not enough. You have to have the work and the drive and determination to want to continue to prove you’re the best.
“This is a World Cup when you have to come to the table right off the bat.”
Today’s Top Videos:
Tomorrow’s Schedule (all times ET):
- 7:00 AM – FIFA WORLD CUP LIVE (FS1)
- 8:00 AM – Sweden vs. Korea Republic (FS1 / Glenn Davis and Cobi Jones)
- 10:00 AM – FIFA WORLD CUP TODAY (FS1)
- 11:00 AM – Belgium vs. Panama (FS1 / Mark Followill and Warren Barton)
- 1:00 PM – FIFA WORLD CUP TODAY (FS1)
- 2:00 PM – Tunisia vs. England (FS1 / Derek Rae and Aly Wagner)
- 4:00 PM – FIFA WORLD CUP TODAY (FS1)
- 7:00 PM – FIFA WORLD CUP NOW (Twitter)
- 10:00 PM – FIFA WORLD CUP TONIGHT (FS1)
- 12:00 AM – FIFA WORLD CUP TONIGHT (FOX / airs at midnight in all U.S. time zones)
