FIFA World Cup™ on FOX Programming Highlights: Friday, July 6
Today’s Schedule & Results (all times ET):
- France def. Uruguay, 2-0 (WATCH: 90 in 90: Uruguay vs. France)
- Belgium def. Brazil, 2-1 (WATCH: 90 in 90: Brazil vs. Belgium)
- 7:00 PM – FIFA WORLD CUP NOW (Twitter)
- 12:00 AM – FIFA WORLD CUP TONIGHT (FOX / airs at midnight in all U.S. time zones)
ICYMI: Thursday on FIFA WORLD CUP TONIGHT
Today’s Top Quotes:
FOX Sports lead studio analyst Alexi Lalas, who played in a World Cup for the U.S. MNT in the United States, has strong praise for the 2018 World Cup:
“This is the greatest World Cup that I’ve ever been involved in, that I’ve ever seen. Whether it’s the drama, whether it’s the incredible goals or the surprises, this is incredible.”
FOX Sports lead play-by-play announcer John Strong comments on the upsets in the 2018 World Cup:
“Every time we think we have a clear favorite here in Russia, they seem to get themselves knocked out.”
FOX Sports lead game analyst Stu Holden reacts to Belgium’s win:
“They deserve every ounce of what they have earned tonight on this field. Roberto Martinez got his tactics right; his big players turned up in the big moments … and they are moving on.”
Lalas says Neymar’s diving earlier in the tournament may have cost him calls in this match vs. Belgium:
“If you’re going to dive, or if you’re going to be perceived as diving, it’s not going to pay. There were moments today where he was penalized for his theatrics through the tournament.”
FOX Sports lead studio host Rob Stone on Belgium’s win and Romelu Lukaku’s performance:
“Lukaku has been an absolute beast the last two games for Belgium. This Golden Generation deserves to go on to the semis – they may deserve to go a lot deeper.”
FOX Sports studio analyst and former England women’s international Kelly Smith on Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois:
“He was immense today. He really led from the back. He was controlling his back line; he hung on to the ball so well; he punched stuff away; he was just fantastic. You need a big-game goalie like this, especially when you’re playing a team with such high quality like Brazil.”
Good game plan, good goalkeeping, and then there are those counter attacks.
Clarence Seedorf, @kelly_smith10 and @AlexiLalas break down Belgium's keys to victory. pic.twitter.com/8f9qbSBGmo
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 6, 2018
Lalas on Belgium’s counter-attack:
“It’s beautiful, it’s fluid, and it’s deadly when it comes down to it.
“They smell it – they smell that opportunity, they smell that space. They’ve been drilled to understand when it comes about to immediately recognize it and capitalize on it, and they have done it consistently. It’s a sight to behold.”
FOX Sports studio analyst and former Dutch player and coach Clarence Seedorf says France has improved in all areas from the start of the World Cup:
“They’ve gotten better in all aspects of the game – defensively, also how they’re attacking, they’re very organized. With the ball, they’re more focused. … I think they really, really have grown, and today was a really solid performance overall.”
Smith says France has the ability to get even better:
“They haven’t even peaked yet. They’re growing and growing and growing. Great performance from Griezmann today – he really stepped up. He was quiet in the Group Stage. Paul Pogba today had a really, really good game, dominating that midfield. Mbappe had a quiet game, but these players now are household names and are starting to raise their level.”
FOX Sports game analyst Tony Meola calls France’s N’Golo Kante an unsung hero:
“The ball just seems to find Kante wherever he is. It really is amazing how many plays he breaks up in a game.”
Lalas praises Paul Pogba’s performance for France:
“I thought Pogba was wonderful today and continued being a wonderful example of composure, and was really intelligent in terms of the way that he played.”
"Pogba was wonderful today."@AlexiLalas and Clarence Seedorf react to France's win over Uruguay in the World Cup quarterfinals. pic.twitter.com/kDsLDCWToP
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 6, 2018
Smith on Mbappe’s maturity level:
“When you’re a young player, you’re going to have a game where you’re outstanding and then the next game you’re not going to be so good … you’re not going to get consistency so early.”
Seedorf adds on Mbappe’s flopping:
“It’s something I don’t like. As a player, I wasn’t like that. I liked to be standing on my feet. As a coach … I would call them back if they had certain behaviors. Pogba here was a bit unprofessional … he escaped a yellow card in this situation.”
Pogba ⬆️ Mbappe ⬇️@kelly_smith10 and Clarence Seedorf break down the two French superstars' performance vs Uruguay. pic.twitter.com/Ry9rIxoCJV
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 6, 2018
Lalas has no problem with in-game theatrics:
“Theatrics, embellishing, diving really doesn’t bother me a whole lot, because I respect the fact – maybe the World Cup highlights it the most – that different cultures, different countries have different perceptions of the game, play the game differently, think about the game differently. They can look at diving as a skill and as an art.”
Smith says Uruguay’s goalkeeping mishap was a major turning point in the match:
“That mistake by the goalie, Muslera – that knocked the stuffing out of this side. It’s really hard to take. When that mistake like that happens – to get yourself back into the game when you haven’t got one of your main strikers – it really affected Uruguay, especially in that second period. They really struggled offensively.”
Lalas agrees that goalkeeping was the story of the match:
“That save from Lloris completely changed the complexion of the game. That goes in, and it’s a completely different game. … Now you’re going in, 1-0, as opposed to tied up and the momentum shifting to Uruguay.”
Lalas says Sweden’s team identity is crucial to their success:
“This World Cup keeps giving us surprises, and we’ve seen that the ability to have a solid team that has an identity, that understands who they are and who they aren’t, and believes in it and doesn’t care what anybody else says. That’s what a good team and a successful team at this World Cup certainly has shown to be.”
Stone adds that England is similar in that respect:
“That’s England right now under Gareth Southgate. This team knows who they are. They’re young, they’re fun, and they’re not burdened by these expectations.”
Today’s Top Video:
Saturday’s Schedule (all times ET):
- 9:00 AM – FIFA WORLD CUP LIVE (FOX)
- 10:00 AM – Quarterfinals: Sweden vs. England (FOX / Derek Rae and Aly Wagner)
- 12:00 PM – FIFA WORLD CUP TODAY (FOX)
- 2:00 PM – Quarterfinals: Russia vs. Croatia (FOX / John Strong and Stu Holden)
- 4:00 PM – FIFA WORLD CUP TODAY (FOX)
- 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)
