- 2 days ago
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00A very good day from Rob Palmer and Leanne Sanderson and welcome to Hunterdon Backfield.
00:05The Road to 26 presented by Turkish Airlines.
00:09It is Brazil against Egypt.
00:11The last rehearsal before the World Cup Finals in the United States.
00:16Well, this is the Brazilian starting 11.
00:19Marquinhos and Ibanez are back together in the center of defense.
00:23Vinny Jr. will be roaming down the left-hand side.
00:27A big night for Igor Thiago, who has played three times for his country and scored.
00:32Well, this is their starting 11.
00:34We're a little unsure how they will be lining up.
00:36There's a suggestion that it will be a back three.
00:39Mo Salah is on the bench.
00:41Marmouche of Manchester City will be leading the line.
00:49Brazil in their borrowed blue.
00:53Kick-off.
00:55As we're on the road.
00:57To the World Cup Finals of 2026.
01:04There is Casemiro hitting the ball long.
01:08Looking for Thiago.
01:09It has been a bit of a sensation in the English Premier League this season with Brentford.
01:13Vinny Jr.
01:15Getting on the front foot.
01:17Getting the Brazilian supporters onto their feet as well.
01:21And I feel like he deserves his opportunity.
01:23There was a lot of talk about Gio Pedro not being selected.
01:26He's had a brilliant year in a really underperforming Chelsea side.
01:29Here you go, Brazil.
01:31Immediately trying to get Thiago into that.
01:33Any suggestions at this as a friendly had gone out of the window?
01:37Two sets of completely committed players.
01:40Yeah, this is great press in the midfield as well.
01:44Lovely little ball from Paquitar.
01:46You see exactly what he was trying to do.
01:47And I think Egypt recovered quite well there to just usher it out.
01:51He's traditional three-piece suit.
01:53The waistcoat on there as well.
01:55Here is Vinny Jr.
01:56Trying to lay the ball off to Thiago.
01:58Thiago.
01:59And Brazil pleading for a penalty.
02:03Paquitar claiming that he was being held back in the area.
02:08Yeah, again, giving away the ball very cheaply in those areas from Egypt.
02:12You can see they're trying a little touch.
02:13I mean, that's not a penalty.
02:15It is a correct decision from the referee.
02:18And that's exactly the space, Rob, that Vinny Jr. is very good at occupying.
02:21On that left-hand side, most people at times have seen him also play in that number nine role.
02:26He can do equally both very, very well.
02:28But I just think he's better coming from a little bit deeper.
02:31And it does make a difference.
02:33Lovely turn from Zico.
02:35They've got a spare man on the far side of the field as well.
02:38It's Trezeguet who can hit them in from distance.
02:40Looks to go wide to Fatou and flashing across the face of goal.
02:45Not far away from Marmouche.
02:47And that is what Egypt are so good at.
02:51This is a really good break here.
02:52I mean, that ball has to go into the space for me.
02:54I think it allows Wesley to recover in those positions.
02:57But it's good play from Zico, especially to play that ball out to the left-hand side.
03:01And then he just goes agonisely wide.
03:04But that's one of those ones.
03:05They go across the box.
03:06It was almost like a cross-come shot in that position.
03:09But you're just hoping.
03:10Fatou was hoping that someone could just get on the end of it.
03:15And Angel Lottie has been honest and has said that he can't rely on his defence when it comes to
03:21the World Cup Finals.
03:22They haven't had a shutout in the last six months, Brazil.
03:27As I mentioned, they scored nine goals in the last two games.
03:29As the plan is to just outscore the opposition.
03:32A little nudge in there on Hassan.
03:37Playoff to be able to get to.
03:39And it sounds crazy because seeing another tournament without Italy is bad enough,
03:44let alone think, it's unthinkable to think about a tournament without Brazil.
03:50And then with a constant time with a welcome.
03:52I think it's the ball away here.
03:53And the gift is duly accepted.
03:56That's it.
04:01Bruna Gibranes.
04:06Slots it home.
04:08After a defensive misdemeanor by Egypt.
04:13I spoke about this press from Brazil.
04:15It's been really good.
04:16But this is really poor from Lachine as well.
04:18And Shabir, the goalkeeper, plays it into the midfield.
04:21Have no idea what Lachine is doing in that position.
04:24You cannot, he has a look, he delays the ball, looks over his shoulder.
04:28And it doesn't matter what team you're playing against.
04:30You cannot allow yourself that much time on the ball.
04:33He's turning, he's turning.
04:34Gimaraes comes in with the press.
04:36Does really well.
04:37Great composure to be able to put it in the back of the net as well.
04:39But that's a gift for any team, let alone Brazil.
04:44One thing that really intrigues me about this Brazil team is the midfield three.
04:48You're looking at Pacatar, Gimaraes and Casemiro who has had an unbelievable season with Manchester United.
04:5434 years old.
04:55A lot of people have spoken about him and, you know, would it be able to keep up to the
04:58tempo of the Premier League?
04:59And he's been one of Manchester United's best players this season.
05:04Oh, Mark Kinoff sells his goalkeeper short.
05:06Has he gifted an equaliser to Egypt?
05:08Yes, he has.
05:10Well, this is the night when the players are getting the mistakes out of the way.
05:14And a massive goal for Zico.
05:19On his second appearance for Egypt and his second goal.
05:27Wow, back-to-back games for Zico coming off the back of scoring that goal against Russia last week.
05:33And you're right, Rob, it's about these uncharacteristic mistakes from both teams.
05:37In this position here, Marquinhos does not usually play that ball back in that position.
05:42Under-hits it completely.
05:43We all make mistakes, but both teams have made really poor errors and have given away and gifted the team.
05:49Zico still has a lot to do in this position.
05:52Alisson does his best, but I think he puts it in that window, Zico, for the goalkeeper to not have
05:57anything to do in that moment.
05:58Great composure from him.
06:00And it's 1-1, but really poor from Marquinhos.
06:03Of all the players to gift a goal, it's the man who led Paris Saint-Germain to the Champions League
06:10success.
06:12Going out at that stage against Croatia and Paris.
06:21Wesley fires it in with a confidence-building take for Shabir, the goalkeeper.
06:27Yeah, that's really the first time we've been able to see Wesley or any of the full-backs from Brazil
06:31get down the end line.
06:33And I think for a lot of Brazil fans, a lot of the questions have come from who are going
06:38to be the full-backs in the World Cup.
06:40Because that's the one position, whether it be Alexandro, you know, will it be Wesley, who will be playing in
06:45those positions.
06:46And that's the one position I know there's a lot of question marks over, the quality.
06:49Well, they've got some breaks to follow, haven't they?
06:53Danny Alves, Roberto Carlos, Cafu.
06:58Full-backs for the Brazilian national teams are not just full-backs.
07:01They're expected to be complete, dashing footballers.
07:06There's an issue here for Wesley.
07:10Down on his haunches.
07:12But yeah, this is the thing for these coaches and managers and countries.
07:15It's like every single time there's a friendly a week before the opening game,
07:20you just hope that all the players get through it with no injuries.
07:28There seemed to be a self-inflicted injury.
07:30As he was running back, he ran into the Egyptian player.
07:36Hopefully for him, it's just a little bit of a dead leg.
07:39But they're taking no risks.
07:40He'll be replaced.
07:42Indeed, Danilo will come on to the right-hand side of defence.
07:49Any player took any knocker, showed any signs of a twinge, you'd get them out of there, wouldn't you?
07:54Yeah, absolutely.
07:56I mean, it's unfortunate.
07:58Here goes Igor Tiago, the goalkeeper, waited.
08:01But I did his time.
08:03And Shabir was a little lucky.
08:0420-26, but he may well be a starter if Wesley does have a deep-rooted injury.
08:13Here goes Vinny Jr.
08:15Defender just stands his ground.
08:16He bypasses him with ease.
08:17Or the referee maybe went a little early with the wish that he decided it was Vinicius Jr.
08:25who bundled the full-back over.
08:28I mean, this is not a foul for me.
08:32You can see Harnie there trying to kind of bring Vinicius Jr. down, and I don't think that's a foul
08:38at all.
08:42Yeah, I'm intrigued to know where Mo Salah's going to end up, to be fair.
08:46I know there's been links to the MLS, links to Saudi.
08:52Maybe a links hustle, a link today to La Liga and to Italy as well.
08:56And the referee is making, I think, more difficult for Marquinhos, who's given the goal away.
09:03And he's now going to sit on a yellow card for the rest of the game.
09:05I mean, I think this is a foul. Marquinhos gets the wrong side.
09:08Do I think that's a booking? Not particularly.
09:11It's a foul all day long.
09:12For me, it's a lovely turn.
09:15But yeah, I don't think that's a booking.
09:21They've got the fluids on board, and the action reconvenes.
09:25At the Hudson and backfield.
09:28Good crowd turned out tonight.
09:29It's caught the imagination of the local people.
09:31Let's face it, everybody wants to see Brazil.
09:33At least once in a lifetime with their own eyes.
09:37Vinny Jr. is awake.
09:38Good turn of pace by Vinicius Jr.
09:41Draws the goalkeeper.
09:42Tries to just flip it past Shabir, but the goalkeeper wins out in the one-to-one.
09:47I'll tell you what, the ball, this ball from Rafinha in the space, like, hitting it into the ground.
09:53He makes it look easy, but it's not an easy technique.
09:55And that's what I was talking about there for Shabir.
09:57Look at this technique again.
09:58Look at that.
09:59Love that.
10:00Weighted pass into Vinny's path.
10:02And he does well here, but I think he has to take his touch across there as well.
10:07Brazil have to hit the ground running because their first game next week at the MetLife.
10:11They have Morocco.
10:12Oh, this is a brilliant run by Vinny Jr.
10:15Great pass to Rafinha.
10:16And Shabir reads the intentions yet again.
10:20Look at this run.
10:21Look.
10:21Oh, I love this from Vinny Jr.
10:22That's the one there.
10:23Like, he just completely swipes him.
10:26And it wasn't a great ball.
10:28He does everything right here, Vinny Jr.
10:29For me.
10:29It wasn't a great ball down the line to Rafinha.
10:32It's almost like he wants a reverse pass back to him as well.
10:34I do think for Egypt, they, you know, they need to try and find Mamouch a little bit more.
10:39He needs to find the ball.
10:40I know Brazil have been occupying the space essentially in the midfield
10:43and haven't really allowed Egypt to have much of the ball.
10:47Paquetar to Rafinha.
10:48Rafinha gets moving.
10:50Draws it away from the defender.
10:51And it's a save.
10:52It doesn't matter how you keep them out, as long as you keep them out.
10:55Not too conventional there from Shabir.
10:59Lovely play.
11:00Look at this.
11:01Give and go.
11:03From Paquetar and Rafinha.
11:05Excellent play.
11:06And the balance as well.
11:07I mean, he's got the Egyptian players all over the place.
11:10He's got...
11:11Cuts it right.
11:12Cuts it left.
11:13Love that.
11:14To their own rivals, Senegal.
11:19I think as well for Egypt, they have to.
11:21Learn how to win games, Rob.
11:23Here's Igor Thiago.
11:26Oh, big save.
11:27Strong wrist from the goalkeeper.
11:29He anticipated where it was going.
11:31Guessed right.
11:32And kept out the giant Brazilian centre forward.
11:37I'll give credit to the goalkeeper.
11:38It was a brilliant save.
11:40But I do think whenever Brazil seem to be getting in these opportunities,
11:43they are hitting in the window.
11:45It's a lovely little ball from Gimmarais.
11:46That is a gift.
11:47It's a good first touch.
11:48But I do think a player like Igor Thiago,
11:51you'd expect him to do a lot better in this position.
11:54You can even square it to the right-hand side.
11:56You can see it out of the picture there.
11:58He had a teammate to his right-hand side on the penalty spot.
12:01Lovely save.
12:01But also, weighing that in with not overexerting the players
12:07with the start of the finals next week.
12:11Lovely ball.
12:12Now another chance for Igor.
12:14Passes on to Vinny Jr.
12:15He can't get enough of a boot on it.
12:20The result is lacking that.
12:22A bit of sharpness in front of goal.
12:27Here goes Marmuch.
12:30That's excellent defending.
12:32Tracking back.
12:32And it needs to be as well by Ibanez.
12:36That was brilliant defending from Ibanez there.
12:39And again, Igor Thiago gets into a great position.
12:41And he just doesn't look...
12:43He's not sharp enough to the ball in that position.
12:45He's getting on it.
12:46And they're creating a lot of chances, Brazil, for him.
12:49And it's a gift, really.
12:51And here goes Vinny Jr. again.
12:53And again, Hane just stands his ground.
12:55And this time, the referee shows the yellow card
12:58in the opposite direction.
13:01I mean, it's a little bit inconsistent
13:03because the first play,
13:05when Vinny Jr. goes past Hane,
13:07the referee then gives Hane a foul when it wasn't a foul.
13:10And then in this moment, I agree with you,
13:12he stands his ground.
13:13And this is the one here, Igor Thiago.
13:15It's that second, third touch.
13:16You know, he can't quite get it out of his feet.
13:18I think, you know, usually he takes one touch.
13:20It's a lovely ball from Casemiro.
13:22This one here, it was a third and the fourth touch.
13:24And to be fair to Egypt,
13:26it was excellent defending.
13:27And this is the one, Vinny Jr.
13:30That is a foul.
13:34He seems to have all the heavy weight in attack.
13:37Hangs in the air.
13:39Marquinos comes flying in.
13:41Egypt find the escape route.
13:47It's a heavy challenge.
13:48He has a way, doesn't he,
13:49pleading his innocence, Casemiro.
13:50When he makes a challenge like that,
13:52convincing the referee that he got the ball.
13:58Yeah, I think he's probably one of the best in the world
14:01at doing that, to be honest.
14:02I mean, he does get the ball,
14:03but you can't go through the player,
14:05you know, in that situation there.
14:07It is a foul and, yeah, he does get the ball,
14:10but you can't tackle like that.
14:12Danilo will readjust.
14:14Hanging the ball in the air.
14:16Vinny Jr. picking up the pieces.
14:18Has three defenders to dance with.
14:21Oh, does it exquisitely.
14:22The referee has a long, hard think about that.
14:26Points for a goal kick,
14:27but of course it will be checked by the VAR,
14:30Carlos Rivero.
14:32I mean, if this is...
14:33Has the referee made a clear and obvious error here?
14:37He bided his time.
14:38There was a leg left out by Hanni.
14:41I think if you're of a Brazilian persuasion,
14:43you'd be claiming that it was a penalty.
14:47And if you're rooting for the underdogs,
14:50you would say that the ball had gone.
14:52From that angle, it looked like a penalty.
14:55From the other five angles, it didn't.
14:57Overawed by Brazil.
14:58Reacted very quickly.
15:01And Brazil took the lead.
15:04And it could be argued,
15:05playing closer there,
15:07closer to their limitations
15:08than Brazil
15:09in the opening 45.
15:17We're going to have a stoppage for a clash of heads.
15:22If there is a head injury,
15:23and you're going to get used to this,
15:26just reading the latest directives to the referee.
15:31If there is a head injury,
15:33and there isn't a yellow card or a foul,
15:35then they will have to go off for a minute
15:38to be assessed on the sidelines
15:42after the injury has been treated.
15:47There is Luis Enrique,
15:50who's an exciting left winger playing.
15:52He's got a ball in Russia,
15:52put the ball there,
15:53and it was just a stretch away from Rafinha.
15:58That was a lovely ball in.
16:00Luis Enrique there.
16:01Fantastic play.
16:02Exactly what you want your wide players to do.
16:04I mentioned him in the first half,
16:05and I said it will be an interesting team selection
16:08for that opening game
16:10against Morocco
16:11because you're looking at a player
16:12that works well defensively,
16:14very good on the ball,
16:15and they have just an array of...
16:18I'm sure he knows
16:19at least eight
16:21of his starting eleven.
16:23A couple of places up for grabs.
16:25Here is Rafinha.
16:27A little drop of the shoulder
16:28takes it back,
16:29and Brazil get the second.
16:31Fantastically finished by Luis Enrique.
16:45Well, that is Brazil at their best.
16:48That is what they are capable of doing.
16:51Can they harness it
16:53for the next month or so?
16:58I spoke about this young player,
17:00just 19 years old.
17:01It was a lovely play
17:02from Rafinha.
17:03Look at this touch.
17:04Give and go.
17:06And Enrique puts it in the back of the net.
17:07What a finish.
17:08But this is all about the press.
17:09But look at this little touch here
17:10from Rafinha.
17:11Give and go.
17:13Lovely positioning from Enrique as well.
17:15And I'm so delighted for this player
17:16because he's so young,
17:17had a lot of pressure,
17:19had a lot of weight on his shoulders,
17:21goes to Lyon,
17:21goes on...
17:22And do you know what?
17:23He doesn't even catch that truly,
17:24but he's in the right place
17:26at the right time.
17:27And look at what it means to him.
17:28Lovely goal.
17:29But it's all about the wing play
17:30from Rafinha for me.
17:34Well, Enrique is a player
17:36who has rebuilt his career this season.
17:39His third goal for his country.
17:41Remember the youngest man to score
17:42at the rebuilt Wembley Stadium.
17:45A nation has ranked 29th in the world
17:47and I think they've, you know,
17:49performed to the best they can.
17:50They've tried to exploit spaces
17:51down the left-downside a lot
17:52in this game
17:53as they did previously as well.
17:56So you've got to give them
17:57a little bit of credit,
17:58although they haven't had a lot of the ball.
18:04They've got to make the most of it,
18:05haven't they,
18:05when it falls their way.
18:06They've recovered well
18:07in the first half.
18:08Here is Mohamed Salah
18:10strokes the ball
18:11across the face of goal
18:13and...
18:14Webberton,
18:14the backup keeper
18:15from Greno,
18:16winning his 11th cap.
18:26There is Salah
18:28drops his shoulder
18:29and he's less favoured right foot.
18:33Blackswood in.
18:34...really well.
18:35You can see what he was trying to do.
18:37He does take a deflection.
18:41They're looking a little bit better
18:42in the last kind of 10 minutes or so.
18:43Possessing the ball a little bit higher.
18:45Brazil was sitting more in the mid-block.
18:47Their line of confrontation
18:48have dropped a little bit deeper
18:50as I was mentioning
18:51in the first half of Egypt.
18:52They've been sitting very deep
18:53and brought in the pressure on
18:54from Brazil.
18:55Whereas now,
18:56you can see Egypt...
18:58Well, they've taken the right
18:59off the ball here.
19:00The flag stays down
19:01and what's going to say for now,
19:02we're told at the World Cup Finals
19:04that if it's offside,
19:05the decisions are going to be
19:06made a whole lot quicker.
19:10Fabinho was so integral
19:12when they won the league as well.
19:13I mean,
19:13he's positioning in that.
19:15Sometimes it's a really unforgiving
19:16role that people don't really notice
19:18as well as it is.
19:21A brilliant bit of control
19:23and a fair shot as well
19:26protecting Weaverton,
19:27the keeper.
19:28Just as I said that about Fabinho,
19:29he came flying out of position
19:31in an unfamiliar territory,
19:33but he's so good
19:34at occupying those spaces
19:35in front of the back line.
19:38The times are changing at Anfield,
19:40but the supporters
19:42on Merseyside
19:44would love
19:45a younger Fabinho
19:47in what they call
19:48the sixth role these days
19:50as a holding midfield player
19:52in the Champions League,
19:54won the Premier League.
19:56These days starring for
19:58Al-Iti have
20:11also has
20:12down there
20:13on the shot floor
20:14bringing his players on.
20:26big opportunity for
20:28these Egyptian players
20:30to really make
20:31a name for themselves.
20:33the rights of Marmouche
20:35and Mo Salo
20:35certainly put the country
20:37on the footballing map.
20:40He's well-traveled,
20:41he's seen most of the map,
20:43spells in Switzerland,
20:44in Greece,
20:4417 jobs he's had.
20:46Almost took Jordan
20:47to the World Cup Finals
20:48in 2014.
20:55Pinching the possession
20:56has just swung
20:57the way of Egypt.
20:59There we go,
20:59commentators Curtis,
21:00a foolish foul.
21:16against Russia 3-1
21:18back in 1990.
21:19They made life difficult,
21:20they drew again
21:21for Netherlands and Ireland.
21:22Once by a single goal
21:24against England.
21:26Their intention
21:27is to take it
21:28one step further.
21:31And of course
21:32third place
21:32is likely to
21:34ensure that you get
21:35to the next stage
21:36of the World Cup Finals
21:38this summer.
21:42Fabinho is down,
21:43play continues around him.
21:45Salah,
21:46Fabinho is back
21:47on his feet
21:47and mopping things up
21:48in midfield.
21:50Showing that there is
21:50certainly
21:52an option
21:53if Casemiro
21:54isn't fit.
21:55Now Cunha
21:55goes nose to turf.
22:00I mean,
22:01I know that
22:02players like
22:03Mo Salah,
22:03Mamouche
22:05have played
22:05in massive games
22:06but I think
22:06the fact that
22:07they've never won
22:08with their country
22:09at a major tournament
22:10at the World Cup,
22:11I think that will be
22:12a small win
22:12if they can get
22:13a result.
22:14the nation will be
22:15delighted.
22:22Atiyah
22:22is the star
22:23of the under-17
22:24World Cup
22:25scored a goal
22:26for Egypt
22:26against Angola.
22:29will he be
22:29one of the
22:30breakout players?
22:31The ball is teased
22:31in,
22:32the goalkeeper
22:32has to come
22:32full steam ahead
22:33and takes it
22:35off the toe
22:35of Martinelli.
22:36Get the impression
22:37have that been
22:38the World Cup
22:39finals?
22:39Martinelli may have
22:41maybe put his
22:42body on the line
22:42but there's no point
22:43risking it.
22:45That's been a good
22:46energy to the game
22:47there's been
22:48a lot of concern
22:49about
22:51the heat
22:52getting the fluids
22:53on board
22:55players really
22:56have dug deep
22:57Leverton can't
22:58get there
22:58just stands his
22:59ground
23:00they'll be
23:01sleeping well
23:02tonight after
23:03exerting
23:04themselves here
23:06referee saw
23:07nothing wrong
23:07with that tackle
23:08clean and concise
23:10Egypt have the
23:11spare man on the
23:12far side of the
23:12field
23:12can they finish
23:13strongly here
23:14was there
23:15rocking back
23:15on their heels
23:16and well
23:17a little warning
23:18shot
23:20I mean that
23:21was a great
23:22effort
23:22it would have
23:23been interesting
23:23to see
23:24if this went
23:25in
23:25if they would
23:26have checked
23:26it on VAR
23:27because Matthias
23:27Cunha was so
23:29adamant
23:29Zizou does so
23:30well here
23:31comes in on
23:31his left foot
23:32and this is
23:33actually very
23:34very close
23:34I mean the
23:35keeper had it
23:35covered
23:36all day long
23:37but it
23:37weren't that
23:37far wide
23:42Zizou the
23:42Egyptian strike
23:43with a Brazilian
23:44sounding name
23:45it's a good
23:46problem
23:46for Carlo
23:47Ancelotti
23:47to have
23:54well the referee
23:55draws to close
23:56the final
23:56rehearsal for
23:57Brazil and
23:58Egypt
23:58it's Carlo
24:00Ancelotti
24:00who's the more
24:01satisfied
24:01of the two
24:02coaches
24:03he's dug
24:04very deep
24:05into his
24:05pool of players
24:06and he
24:07very much
24:07likes
24:08what he
24:08sees
24:08the match
24:09winner
24:09ultimately
24:10is the
24:11teenager
24:11Hendrik
24:12useful for
24:13Egypt
24:13to go
24:14Mo Salah
24:14out there
24:15on the
24:15field of
24:16play
24:16he couldn't
24:17inspire Egypt
24:18in the
24:18second half
24:19who put
24:19themselves
24:19back into
24:20the game
24:20after Brazil
24:21had taken
24:22the lead
24:22after seven
24:24minutes of
24:24the match
24:24Zico
24:26the Egyptian
24:27had equalized
24:28for Egypt
24:29and Ancelotti
24:30is hoping
24:31that his
24:31players
24:31will peak
24:32when they
24:33take on
24:34Morocco
24:34in New
24:35Jersey
24:36next week
24:38Egypt
24:39fit
24:39and sharp
24:40and preparing
24:41for Belgium
24:42New Zealand
24:43and Iran
24:54go
Comments