Argentina & Switzerland Win, Egypt & Colombia OUT! VAR Controversy & Quarterfinal Predictions

Project 90 Soccer: All right, we are live, Marco. Welcome to the Project Ninety podcast. My name is Antonio.

Marco: Now Marco,

Project 90 Soccer: Marco, we have some big games here. We just wrapped up the round of sixteen today. We saw Argentina versus Egypt. All right. Epic comeback there. And then we just finished right now, about what, ten minutes ago? Colombia versus Switzerland ended in a penalty shootout. Now, since that one's fresh on our mind, I want to jump straight into that one. What did you think of Columbia, Switzerland? what's what stuck out to you? What did you think of the result?

Marco: Well, first and foremost, another heartbreak penalty loss in the World Cup for Colombia. They went out in PKs in 2018 and they're out in PKs in 2026, man. So I was definitely rooting for them, as I mentioned, but I'll also mention that Switzerland is just getting the results. And they got the results today.

Project 90 Soccer: They are. You did say that. You did say that. They did, man. They did. It was I was shocked personally. I thought Columbia was gonna take this one, but I wasn't shocked at how close this game was. Right here I have this pulled up. It was forty seven to fifty three percent possession. Two shots on target for each team. So it was a close game all all through the one twenty. I thought there was some good chances and extra time. There was a big one for Switzerland and a real big one for Columbia where he kicked it straight over the bar.

Marco: All right.

Project 90 Soccer: That one probably stings now considering they went to PK's and lost. But at the end of the day, Switzerland pulled through. We saw Kanji miss another penalty like he did previously for Switzerland. And lucky for him though, they're able to get through it and get the win.

Marco: Sometimes when you watch these games and you get the sense that both coaches, like, all right, we're just gonna hold on for the PKs. But no, both these guys wanted to win. They did not want to go to PK's. And to you what you were alluding to, they just missed, man. Like some howlers. And I don't know, man. I just find it hard to believe how none of those were on targets.

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm.

Marco: Like, especially the one from Columbia at the end, how it just goes over the bars. Like, are we playing football here? What are we doing?

Project 90 Soccer: Man. That was a gold golden opportunity right there. Just skies it straight over. What did you think of you know, I was watching closely because you'd mentioned you were you were you were looking forward to seeing Luis Diaz have like a big performance. And to be honest, he didn't have it again. I don't think he had the greatest of performances. I don't think the world class sort of player he's become at Bayern Munich really showed up for Columbia at all this tournament. Especially in this game though. I mean, what what do you think overall of Columbia, him, not just him, but the entire team this tournament?

Marco: I mean, just sticking on Diaz, right? Maybe it's a result of not having the players around that he has over in Europe, in Germany, right? Yes, the guys that play for the national teams are are up there, right? But like when you're playing with top dogs in Germany, with Brian Munich in Pacific, you're just being with some royal class players. And if we wanna not just leave him on island alone, we can talk about

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah. Yeah.

Marco: Bruno Fernandez, right? The Premier League player of the year and he was quite all tournament. And you expect both of these guys to come in clutch or or score a goal in these knockout phases and they just couldn't get it done. I mean I mean Diaz was trying. He was trying. But I don't know the magic wasn't there. and in this game particular it it kind of it kind of felt like even James Rodriguez like he just couldn't get it going. And when he when they subbed him out I was like, yeah that's the right sub to make.

Project 90 Soccer: That's very true. That's very true. Mm-hmm.

Marco: You gotta get some new legs in there. You gotta get somebody who can create different opportunities. But I mean, it's definitely not the Colombia that played Portugal. That was just trying to murder again.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah. No yeah. Yeah. Shout out to Munoz on Columbia. That guy was running his ass off, man. That guy was working his ass off. And on the Swiss side though, Shaka had a had a good opportunity. He he kinda scuffed that made that mistake at the end too. I think everyone was just on tired legs towards the end of extra time there, which is understandable. But and Bolo

Marco: Baller.

Project 90 Soccer: Took a massive hit from the goalkeeper that would have absolutely killed me if I took a hit like that. And he popped back up. Man, the guy's a unit. And then what's his name? Vodegas coming on the wing. I actually thought he would start, but overall the game, I just thought it was 50-50. And at the end of the day, PK's can only go one way. And the Swiss pulled through this time through the quarterfinal. Now we got earlier today, Marco, Argentina, Egypt. A little bit of controversy there. At least on the Egyptian side, they were not too thrilled with what happened during this game. Overall, though, they went up two nil. Argentina came back, got the three two. A lot of people are probably pissed right now, but what'd you think about the game?

Marco: I hate to say it Antho, I hate to say it, but it is not Argentina, it is Vargentina.

Project 90 Soccer: man. he said it He said it.

Marco: That was a disgrace. What happened there to the my Egyptian family were there, man. How do you do that to those guys? How do you call that all the way back to the corner? That is craziness. You had hold on, hold on. Go ahead, go ahead, go ahead.

Project 90 Soccer: My God. Okay, let me let me ask let me ask you though. Let me let up go, go, go. No, I'm gonna ask you I wanna ask you, you do you not think that that was a foul?

Marco: Okay, if that was a foul, why wasn't most loss called as as a foul at the on the other side at towards the end?

Project 90 Soccer: I'll tell you why. I will I will tell you why. Because the Argentina player got the ball first. He got the ball, he kicked it out from under Salah's feet, and then Salah, after he got the ball, the Argentina tripped over the guy and it looked like a foul. Everyone's losing their mind. But on this other one, where they called it back for Egypt, clearly there was no ball touched, and he stepped on his foot. And in any other universe of soccer, other than Argentina, I think that would be a foul. If that was Egypt on the opposite side, And Argentina went and got foul or fouled Egypt in that manner, and then Argentina goes and scores, I think Egypt would would be saying the exact same thing right now that Argentina is saying,

Marco: Any other team that goal would have stood. Any other team, that goal would stood. You you already know where I stand with this. Yeah, you already know where I stand. Every other team that would have stood. But going back to your point, right? Even if it was a foul, Anto, you had like a whole hour to call that foul. And you wait until this guy, they have an awesome play. Like maybe one of the goals of the tournament, one of the plays of the tournament. And you wait.

Project 90 Soccer: Mm. Mm. I know you do. I know, I know. Yeah. Mm. Mm-hmm. Yeah, they did. They did. Play on. Mm-hmm.

Marco: Till these this guy scores and then you go and check it and call it back? Nah, dude, you had enough time in the midfield as they're bringing the ball up to call it. There's I've watched ba almost all these games, ninety-nine percent of the games to where these guys want the advantage when your your own your own player gets the ball and the ref calls it back. Right? We've seen it. So it's not like it's something that's rare that doesn't get called. So if it is a foul, call it. Don't fuck don't let the play. Yeah, dude.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah. Yeah. Don't let don't let the play go and then they go score. And now you got this whole moment of having to go back and kind of backtrack. Now I get it. I get it. And I think I think again we've mentioned about referees, they're relying a lot on the VAR, obviously. at that at the same time, it's almost like, Well then why why are you even on the are just on the field to just call things back when the VAR tells you? You know, if you can't see that foul as it happens, it's kind of defeats the purpose to me of of having a center ref because For the play to develop the way it did, I mean, for a team for a team like Egypt to then go over there, score another goal against Argentina, mind you. They're having and Egypt had an amazing game, I thought. They played amazing. They they they put bodies behind the ball, they defended well, and they took advantage of the counterattacks, and then they scored. Argentina was definitely struggling, I thought. now at the same time, I have to say Argentina is

Marco: Exactly. Exactly.

Project 90 Soccer: Relentless, right? They just don't stop. They find ways to score. You get Lautaro up there. Enzo Fernandez putting in the third goal. Messi getting another goal. Missing a PK again, which is pretty shocking.

Marco: Leads leads leads all tournaments and miss PKs.

Project 90 Soccer: He does, man. That's not e I mean, that's a legitimate stat. I don't know, man. I I see Argentina getting kind of lucky today, to be honest. props to Egypt. Yeah, props to Egypt, but Argentina, I think ultimately they just grinded it out and you know it it's one of those things. It just is what it is. I don't think the call what's up?

Marco: I mean look, dude, look, Egypt needed the perfect game.

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm.

Marco: They damn near had the perfect game. Right. And it ended in heartbreak. Right. So, and just to move on from that, right? The specific play where in the K, this whole VAR thing and the inconsistencies across the whole tournament, what's getting called, what's not getting called, like it's just taking the not just the passion of the game as a fan, because now like you even as players, that you go celebrate something just for them to call it back. How many offsides have we seen get called like a minute later?

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah. Mm-hmm.

Marco: Going to going back to what we were just talking about, we wait till the play finishes, right? Sometimes the guys just raise up the flag and it's called, you know? But I don't know, man. It's I think VAR has taken a lot from the game and a lot of special moments from the game to where, man, I almost kind of wish this stuff wasn't introduced. Like you're on the VAR's side when it's your team, and you're not on its side when it's against your team or against somebody you root for. But I don't know, Anto, I would kind of would like to go back to where there's another gray area and then you just live with that.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah. Mm. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Marco: but it

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah. It kinda that kinda adds to the beauty of the game too. They can't just the the no V A R. It's every you know, the referees are operating on their own eye. You know what I mean? They're out there, it's live, there's no checking anything, it's it's drama, but the VAR has its place. But yeah, I think this World Cup's really sort of emphasized how it's just kinda it's getting out of hand a little bit, I think. Especially with the Balogun thing, you know, we could backtrack a little to that. I mean to VAR it, make your decision and then go back and change it aga I mean we're it's just getting out of control, I think. And these smaller teams I feel like are putting in these massive performances and they're kinda they're kinda getting shot in the foot by the VAR to be honest. Yeah.

Marco: Yeah, but kudos to the Egypt squad. They play their hearts out. Ultimately didn't go their way, but you know, this is first time they go past in in the first round of the knockout stages on to the next game and shout out to them. We probably won't see Mosalah again with the squad. Maybe maybe we'll see him in a in a in a different role, but yeah, man. Now they gotta go all the way home.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah. Yeah. Legend. Mosala's a legend, dude. Shout out to Egypt. All right, Marco, look. Quarter final. Start this Thursday. Okay, we got a day. Finally, one day with no games. It's gonna feel real weird tomorrow. Me looking at my phone trying to find a game, and there's nothing. But Thursday, we're lined up. Quarter final number one. France versus Morocco. That's a big one. Then Friday, we have Spain, Belgium. Saturday, we got two games. Norway, England, Argentina versus. Switzerland. So let's take a look here. France, Morocco. I think obviously out of all the games, that's kind of on paper the bigger one. What do you see happening? Rematch, rematch of the semis from the last World Cup, France, Morocco. What do you see happening in this game?

Marco: The best one. well I don't know if you saw Antho, but it's gonna be an all-Argentinian affair as far as the referees are concerned in FIFA. I mean France versus Morocco. So who's expected to win? They don't want France to win. So it's gonna be a close game. It's gonna be a fun game. Is that it's gonna there's gonna be a lot of speed in this game. I think the minimal touches, one, two, and go. There's gonna be a lot of that, a lot of fast plays, a lot of

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah.

Marco: run making making those runs and hoping your guy gets you that ball. But it's it's a tough one. I'm gonna go France. I would like to say it would be a close game, but no, both of these teams know how to score and they've been scoring all tournaments. So I can see I would, I don't know, another 3-2 game, whether it can even be 4-3. I don't know. But for this type of game to go to penalties or even extra time, I don't see it. probably another Mbapped goal, but I'm I'm picking France on this one.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, I agree. I think I think France has a slight edge over Morocco. Morocco though's got some ballers. They're definitely definitely a team that's got some talent, got some quality. You know, they got Brahim Diaz. They got Hakimi out on the side, and it's gonna be interesting to see him versus Mbappe. You they're like they're like good buddies off the field. They played at PSG. So that'll be exciting to see. But ultimately I I just think France is gonna kind of overpower them, especially in the attack. They just got

Marco: Where

Project 90 Soccer: Too much quality up there, you know? And ultimately I think France is gonna grind it out, maybe get a three two or maybe even like a two one. I'm not too sure, but I I expect like Mbappe to probably score or be on the board. I do not know off the top of my head, but I think that's a that's a good question.

Marco: Where they playing at? Do you know? 'Cause it seem seems like seems like the Francis been playing a lot in the the earlier the earlier slots. So I don't know if this is a Miami game.

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm. This is gonna be Boston in Boston. So it's kind of neutral, I guess. Neutral for both. I don't know. I'm not sure what the the French population is looking like in Boston, but different different environment for both of them, I think. So that's gonna be an interesting game. One I'm definitely gonna watch. So let's move on to the next one, Friday, the day after. Spain versus Belgium. Now we just saw Belgium come out of their shell and just absolutely

Marco: Boston, Baston.

Project 90 Soccer: demolish the United States, to be honest. I think there is a little bit of a personal vendetta there, right? They've been getting all this the the Balogun card overturned and and USA talking about Belgium, how they're just gonna beat them, the quality, this and that. And they came out and they just they knocked USA out in just incredible style. Spain, they've been all right. I haven't seen them really come to life yet completely like I like I would expect, but this might be the game for them. So I I'm not too sure. What do you think is gonna happen here?

Marco: Yeah, I think this is gonna be a close game. I think Belgium is gonna build off that momentum of that that beating and that that that they gave USA. I maybe they go scoreless in the first half, but it can also go both ways, right? Two one, one zero, but it's definitely gonna be a close one to your point. Spain has all they need on the squad, but it just they just haven't showed it on the pitch.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah, no, they haven't. I think for Spain their biggest thing is gonna be to get Laminha Mall involved. And I think biggest thing for him is to get involved. He's the difference maker for Spain, so I'm really thinking that if he has a good game, then Spain can do anything, you know. I think they're gonna win this game and ultimately I think Belgium's gonna give him a real hard time, but I think Spain's gonna find a way and it's gonna be close though, I think. I think it's gonna be probably a one zero, maybe maybe a two one, two zero. I don't think it's gonna be a high scoring game, but I think Spain's gonna pull through on this one. Let's see here. Next up, Saturday, July the 11th. Ooh, our big man, Erling Holland, dude. Norway versus England. All right, we got an absolute international heavyweight. England versus Norway. The Vikings. What do you see happening here? I th I'll be the first to say it. I hope Holland gets a hat trick.

Marco: Look, I take back what I said that I'm looking forward to France Morocco as a game in this round. I think I'm looking forward to this one. England versus Holland. Kane, one of the best strikers in the world right now. Holland, another one of those guys who just who just gets the ball in the back of the net. I'm gonna go, I'm gonna go, I'm gonna go Norway on this one. I'm I'm with you, man. I'm gonna go Norway on this one. Let's let's let's let's keep the Viking ship going.

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm. Undeniable. Yeah. Ooh. Ooh.

Marco: let's see how

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: far and how deep these guys can get, man. It's gonna be a good game. obviously England showed the class that they have and the counterattack and speed that they have when they showed it against Mexico and the Azteca. And then Norway, man, they just have some nice chemistry. They know how to find each other and they know how to get open in in in tight spots.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah, I agree. I think I think what's going England obviously is the quality. Their players are starting eleven. Also the depth that they have coming off the bench. Norway, not as fortunate maybe in as many players coming off the bench, but the players they do have on the field, they work hard. They have a good team chemistry. I think as a unit, they're solid in defense. Holland, of course, you can't you just can't sleep on him ever. I'll say that till the day I die. Odegaard, I think, is gonna need to have a a good game. He's gotta be the playmaker in there. And I don't know, man. I I wanna see Norway win, but I think this is gonna be this is gonna be a close one too. It it might be easy to say England will win just looking at English the English team, but I think Norway's gonna give them a real, real hard time. moving on, the next one that day, the last quarter final that we have is Argentina, your favorite, versus Switzerland.

Marco: Like man, let's just go ahead and move on from this one and say Argentina's gonna Argentina's gonna gonna take this one and I'ma just leave it at that. I can't after what I watched today and the inconsistencies with FIFA, the way they've been handling handling all these situations. Let's just say Argentina's moving on.

Project 90 Soccer: Ho ho ho. Okay. Fair enough. Hey, I'm gonna say Argentina's moving on as well, maybe for different reasons, partially. I think I just think I I like to think Argentina's gonna dominate. I don't know if that's gonna be the case, to be honest. But I think towards the latter stage of the game, I can see Switzerland kind of falling apart, getting tired because Argentina is, I mean, they're used to these big game moments, these matches going late into the game and just grinding it out. Aside from the whole VAR, all that, I just think Argentina does have more quality on the team. a lot more experience, obviously, especially in the World Cup and in the the latter stages of the tournament of these tournaments. So ultimately, yeah, I think Argentina's gonna go through. Score wise, it's hard to say. Could be could be a blowout by Argentina or it could be a close one to the very end. I'm not too sure, but I think Argentina Argentina's gonna pull through, man. I agree.

Marco: We shall see.

Project 90 Soccer: We shall see, Marco. But that's it for today. This match recap. The quarter final or the round of sixteen has been completed. Quarter finals are up next. Headed into the semis. I don't know. Some big games coming up. I'm excited to watch them. But until the next match recap, this has been Project 90. I want you to visit Project 90Soccer.com. Like, subscribe, comment, do your thing. And until the next episode, peace.

Marco: Later.

Project 90 Soccer: Boom.