WORLD CUP QUARTER-FINALS PREVIEW

HAIL GFOP

I type with fingers starved for World Cup gripple-grapple. The past 48 football-free hours have been an agony. Honestly, I always find this transitional moment in the tournament to be bittersweet. The orgy of football that is the first two weeks has slowed to a staccato rhythm. We have six more match days ahead of us. Quality, but not quantity. And even though we have been blessed with heavyweight royal rumbles, World Cup’s end is now visible. And with it, the heart constricts.

I just landed in Los Angeles for the final West Coast burst of our tour. I am typing in the back of the car driving a little too fast for my liking towards downtown LA where we will take the stage tonight and break down the first two quarter-finals with Austin Ekeler and Will Arnett among the guests. We are in LA for 36 hours before heading to San Francisco and then the Magical Kingdom of Seattle. I want to take a moment to break down the games as I see them, because I truly feel we have been gifted storylines of wonder.

I do need to say this first: Am I the only one who still feels like an agony that the US are not playing? To be clear, the Netherlands beat us fair and square. Yet, the fact they set a trap and we flung ourselves headfirst into it aches. With the talent at our disposal, I have no doubt we can do more. We can feel proud of our gents, and the pain of yet another Round of 16 exit. Boasting that we “proved ourselves to the world” does not cut it when you are saying that for the umpteenth time.

Let’s focus on the teams that still live:

I. Croatia vs. Brazil (Today, 10 AM ET)

Experience versus flamboyance, walking football against fantasy football. Hungry for their sixth title, Brazil appear to expend more energy on one goal celebration than savvy Croatia exert in the course of 90 minutes. Yet, Croatia are such an experienced, savvy unit. A nation with a population smaller than that of Oklahoma, yet their mental endurance is unparallelled. They play football as if they know they can suffer more than their opponent, so their goal is to turn the game into an ultra-marathon filled with runner’s nipple fueled-pain. Still expect Brazil to blow the doors off at some point. Their football is akin to a can of soda shaken until the top pops off. Dance, Dance Revolution.

And for those curmudgeons who cannot stand their celebrations, more on how Samba and soccer are intertwined in Brazilian identity.

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II. Netherlands vs. Argentina (Today, 2 PM ET) We will be covering this game LIVE on Twitch

Lionel Messi’s GOAT hero’s journey meets LVG’s Cancer-stricken Last Dance. An epic match-up which ricochets through World Cup history, this is the sixth time these two singular footballing cultures have clashed. This game will be a battle between the superior talent of Lionel Messi’s Argentina and the tactical genius of Louis Van Gaal. A man whose brain is almost as big as his ego. Argentina have played themselves into form game to game, but in key moments of pressure, they still seem to become overdependent on Ray Hudson’s wonderchild, deferring to Messi to make crap happen. LVG will have a crafty plan, and while Argentina will not be as naive as the United States, the longer the game goes on, the more the pressure will smother La Albiceleste and make their jerseys weigh like chainmail. I hate to type this, because it hurts my heart to see Messi exit a major tournament in tears, but I believe the Netherlands will emerge triumphant, giving a jovial but focussed LVG revenge for 2014’s semi-final loss. World get ready for more horny, horny press conferences.

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III. Morocco vs. Portugal (Saturday, 10 AM ET)

The tenacious Moroccans, pride of Africa and the Arab world face up to a Portuguese opponent who have hit upon a tactical masterstroke that has propelled them to true contenders: Dropping their greatest player of all-time, Cristiano Ronaldo. This moment feels almost like a biblical tale of ambition, power, vanity, and human agony. Ronaldo knows that the World Cup title he covets to elevate himself above Messi in the GOAT debate is within his grasp. One drawback – he can’t kick a football in the process of winning it. Instead, he must consign himself to the bench humiliatingly, and have the world watch him watch his countrymen dazzle their way to glory, freed by his absence. Portugal will win as long as Ronaldo does not play.

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IV. England vs. France (Saturday, 2 PM ET)

A game with a “little bit” of history – historically, culturally, and politically. Everywhere that is, apart from on the football field. Believe it or not, these two arch-rivals have rarely played a massive tournament game that means anything. Until now that is. At this World Cup, France have defied every stereotype surrounding defending champions. Making light of their murderous injury list to play football that would kneecap lesser teams. Mbappé is playing in a different ether, seemingly making light work of becoming the first player since Pelé to inspire his team to multiple World Cup wins. Griezmann is thriving in an unusual midfield role. A reminder that in international football, you simply get your best bodies on the field and build a system around their skill sets. England are no slouches. A team who have silenced their many critics by solving their midfield balance, and blessed with a gaggle of attacking options, have only the good kind of problems. England fans have only two default settings: Overconfidence and doomed. I believe Kyle Walker is going to have the game of his life and shut down Mbappé while England can exploit the space he leaves behind, and Gareth Southgate will reveal the French to be, in the words of Groundskeeper Willie, “Cheese-eating surrender monkeys.”

ROG SEMI-FINAL PREDICTIONS:

• England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 vs. Portugal 🇵🇹

• Netherlands 🇳🇱 vs. Brazil 🇧🇷

For more Rory Smith broke down all four match-ups in truly remarkable style on our Quarter-Final Preview Pod. I learned a lot by listening to him.

Also: Herc Gomez and I eulogize the American campaign and ask, is Gregg Berhalter the manager best primed to take this team to the next level? 

And, as I mentioned above, we are going to be LIVE ON TWITCH (follow our page so you never miss a show) at 1:45 p.m. ET to break down Netherlands Argentina with the help of very special guests Crystal Palace owner Steve Parish, MLS Legend Bradley Wright-Phillips and WWE Commentator and Football Pundit Kevin Egan. And tonight, once the dust has settled, we take the stage here at The Novo in Los Angeles for a special live show featuring the Chargers Austin Ekeler, Will Arnett, Angel City FC hero Ali Riley and LAFC manager/USMNT Legend Steve Cherundolo. TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE.

And Saturday, we’re heading to San Francisco, where we’ll be live on stage to break down the biggest England vs. France clash about which no tapestry has been woven….Yet. It goes down at the Warfield Saturday night and we’ll be accompanied by two of the Greatest Friends of the Pod: Billy Beane and Rebecca Lowe. TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE HERE.

And Tuesday, we’ll live stream both semi-finals from Seattle, as well as do a live show in that magical City Tuesday night. MORE INFORMATION

That is it for today. Let me know what you think about the Quarter-Final Match-Ups, I would love to hear your thinking. Email me at [email protected].

Make great World Cup memories.

Take nothing for Granted.

Big Love.

Courage.

ROG

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