Thursday, 15.05.2025
Steven Gerrard made his managerial debut as his Rangers side took on FK Shkupi in their first Europa League qualifier. Under the expectant eyes of the Rangers fans, with not an empty seat in sight, his team secured a 2-0 win to take to Macedonia, with encouraging signs – albeit fledgling – of the ‘relentless’, ‘full-throttle’ style that has been much hyped since his appointment.
A game of two states. Before the lone goal of the match, it was a tactically dynamic affair with several notable aspects surrounding possession behavior, team tactical mechanisms in transition, and high intensity defensive executions from both teams. After the French took the lead, the Belgians veered from their original focus in search of an equalizer. France were able to absorb Belgium’s attack and earn their spot in the World Cup Final.
The panel discuss the alleged death of possession football and break down the two World Cup semi-final matchups.
France progressed onto the semifinals in a cagey affair with Uruguay, where both teams showed a focus stability where chances were few and far between.
Colombia took on England in the final last-sixteen match of this World Cup. Colombia were trying to reach a second World Cup quarter-final in a row, whilst England were attempting to win their first knockout match at the World Cup in twelve years.
In the heat of Samara, Brazil comfortably advanced to the quarterfinals as Mexico ran out of steam.
Two of the pre-tournament favourites met in Kazan for the first knockout game of the 2018 World Cup on Saturday afternoon. Lionel Messi’s Argentina had scraped through the group stages, whilst France strolled through their group in solid, but unspectacular fashion.
The panel discuss the World Cup favourites, potential dark horses and whether football is really coming home.
The final day of group stage action saw Colombia and Japan advance in Group H, with Colombia’s match against Senegal as the focus match. Elsewhere in Group G, Belgium and England scrapped over second place with heavily rotated teams.
Constantin Eckner is joined by Manuel Veth to discuss the demise of the German national team and what the future holds for Joachim Löw and his players.
