FIFA World Cup™ on FOX Programming Highlights: Friday Morning , June 22
Today’s Schedule & Results (all times ET):
- Brazil def. Costa Rica, 2-0 (WATCH: 90 in 90: Brazil vs. Costa Rica)
- NOW – Nigeria vs. Iceland (WATCH: 90 in 90: Nigeria vs. Iceland)
- 2:00 PM – Serbia vs. Switzerland (WATCH: 90 in 90: Serbia vs. Switzerland)
- 7:00 PM – WORLD CUP NOW (Twitter)
- 8:00 PM – FIFA WORLD CUP MATCH OF THE DAY
- 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)
ICYMI Thursday on FIFA WORLD CUP TONIGHT:
This Morning’s Top Quotes:
FOX Sports game analyst Warren Barton, who called Brazil vs. Costa Rica, on Neymar’s emotional post-game reaction:
“I’ve been in the game a long time, but I’ve never seen someone emotional in the Group Stage like that – with the pressure that’s his shoulders, knowing that fan base is behind him.”
FOX Sports studio analyst Kelly Smith on Neymar’s emotional reaction and ability to step up as a leader:
“I actually got choked up, because you saw how much it meant to him. He took a lot of knocks early on, and you could see he was getting a bit frustrated. He didn’t kick out, he kept his cool, and I think that’s him evolving and becoming a better player. He needs to experience stuff like this to come out on top.”
This is how much it means pic.twitter.com/BhC0sNLe4j
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 22, 2018
FOX Sports lead studio analyst Alexi Lalas says Neymar has lived up to the hype so far:
“There was a beautiful and powerful anger that I think he did a really good job of channeling.
“I think you’re seeing this explosion after the game of all of these emotions, all of this pressure and all of this built-up anger. And, it has to be said – one of the world’s greats living up to the hype, getting the job done even in difficult circumstances and bringing it at the most important moment.”
FOX Sports studio analyst Clarence Seedorf says Neymar has had an enormous weight lifted off his shoulders:
“It’s been an emotional rollercoaster for him, from when he was injured a few months ago. I think the pressure from the last World Cup, the expectations were increased, but he’s improved his game. He’s now the ‘big star,’ and getting that goal was his way of freeing himself from all of the pressure surrounding him.”
Barton says Costa’s pass to Neymar to score Brazil’s second goal shows how much Brazil respects Neymar:
“That tells me they’re a team that love him. Because Costa could have quite easily just passed that in, but he waited for his leader, Neymar, to give him the ball.”
Play-by-play announcer Mark Followill calls Coutinho’s stoppage time goal:
“They’ve been waiting for that moment. Two matches in this World Cup, two goals for Philippe Coutinho.”
Lalas said he enjoyed watching the match within the match – Neymar vs. the referees:
“This battle within the battle between the referee and Neymar was wonderful to see. They’re jabbing back and forth, and I know he got the yellow – he was not happy with the reversal on the VAR play – and I’m sure he wasn’t happy at times with being fouled, but it was fun to see. As opposed to going to a dark place, it seemed to fuel him [Neymar] to have this battle.”
This moment was 4 years in the making for Neymar.@AlexiLalas, @kelly_smith10 and Clarence Seedorf applaud Neymar's perseverance after #BRACRC pic.twitter.com/NhctZasbdD
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 22, 2018
Prior to Brazil vs. Costa Rica, Lalas predicted Neymar would step up for Brazil:
“There’s a reason why we talk about stars, because they provide moments.
“This is the moment where Neymar lives up to all the hype. This is the moment where Neymar lives up to all the attention. This is the moment where Neymar needs to star on a very, very good team.”
Prior to the match, FOX Sports studio analyst Ian Wright was looking forward to big performance from Neymar:
“Now it’s just for him to be the center of attention on the world’s stage for the right reasons – scoring goals and showing us how great he is.”
During the first half, Barton said the fouling on Neymar was excessive:
“We’ve got to protect our players.
“He’s being brought down, he’s being kicked. When are the referees going to understand that he’s a marked man?”
Lalas on Neymar being fouled on Brazil’s first match and referees needing control the game:
“I believe he was fouled consistently and legitimately. But I also believe that players are like children – I think we can all attest to that. You need to set boundaries with players, otherwise they will keep taking and they will keep testing, and that’s exactly what happened in the first match. Because the referee … You have to set the tone early so everybody understands and recognizes your authority, and you stomp it out right at the beginning of the game.”
Wright wants to see an attacking Brazil:
“I want to see this Brazilian team go forward with the players they’ve got and really make a mark in the tournament.”
Smith says Argentina’s performance has been embarrassing:
“This is the worst Argentinian side I’ve seen since I’ve been on this planet. Once the goal went in, mentally they just were shot. They lacked fight, belief, and they just fell away. It was a bit embarrassing.”
"This is the worst Argentina side I've seen since I've been on this planet."@kelly_smith10 and @IanWright0 reflect on #ARG's crushing loss to #CRO last night. pic.twitter.com/NGQ80C4irk
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 22, 2018
Lalas said Messi didn’t show up, and Argentina didn’t play as a team:
“He’s gone from hero to zero in the span of this tournament.
“He did not show up. At the moment when his team needed him to show up, he was not there.
“This was a team devoid of any type of organization, of any type of identity, and ultimately any type of real collective heart to figure this out.”
This Morning’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)
- 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)
