Ann-Katrin Berger saves Germany and Spain break Swiss hearts! | Euro 2025 #11

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2:14Rachel: Welcome to Upfront. I'm Chloe Morgan. And I'm Rachel O'Sullivan. Another incredible penalty shootout that went slightly better than the Lionesses ones in terms of quality rounded off the quarterfinals as germany beat france we're still not quite sure how it happened but france just could not get the job done and akb was always going to be the hero in a penalty shootout elsewhere spain ended switzerland streams on friday but what an atmosphere it was we're going to relive all of that and preview england versus italy

2:50Rachel: oh Rach there's been two massively dramatic games I had to I watched both of the games sitting on the sofa enjoying my weekend nice glass of red really like getting settled into my sofa like the good old days you know and then all of a sudden it was like two Hollywood

3:06Chloe: blockbusters entered the kind of the my evening I quite like the Hollywood blockbuster analogy because it kind of feels like one of those movies you watch that you're like, this isn't, like, quality-wise, this wasn't a great movie, but, like, I really enjoyed it. Do you know that kind of way? Did I get my money's worth? Yes, I did. Yeah, it wasn't Oscar-winning, right? It wasn't going to win any awards, but in terms of entertainment, it was incredibly entertainment and drama-filled.

3:31Rachel: Let's talk first about the France game. France 1-1 with Germany, then Germany stealing the win, 5-6 on penalties. France completely stunned by Germany after they'd played 100 minutes against 10 players

3:46Chloe: I think we all thought England-Sweden was going to win the award for the most chaotic game in the quarterfinals and Germany said hold my stein like absolutely not like I'm gonna take that and I'm gonna run with it with just the 10 players yeah I think many I wouldn't say had written Germany off but I think based on the form of both teams and how both teams had played and gotten through their groups people were giving France the edge and they thought finally this is a France who can cause any team in this competition trouble people were already thought we've seen how dominant they were in the group stages people were already talking about you know France-Spain France are the team that could maybe take something to Spain like need to get there first like I just France go to France aren't they like they have that je ne sais quoi and I think that je ne sais quoi is not a good thing because I don't think France know what it is either like there's just something that is missing in these big moments for France and I feel like going down, the pressure was on them already, right?

4:43Chloe: I think they were favourites going into the game. Probably didn't like that. Add to that then. They didn't like it. No, that's pressure, man. 13 minutes in, the other team goes down to 10. You have to win this game now. Like there's just no other, no two ways about it. And I just think that's the thing that's missing for France is the pressure. They just, it's never a question of quality. Do you know what I mean? Like they're, I've always been a stacked team and in terms of quality, I've always feared the French because they're just always so stacked. Such a good team, quick football, lightning quick.

5:12But for me, I was also conscious that I didn't think

5:15Chloe: they'd ever really put a comprehensive 90 minutes together in this tournament. There was no 90-minute game where you're like, they've completely dominated every aspect of this game or they've come out fighting super quick in that full 90 minutes. It's always been like they've had a bit of a dodgy half. Arguably, though, I think they did come out strong

5:30Rachel: first game with England. Yeah, second half, trailed off. Trailed off a little bit, but still, I think, fairly consistent. But like you were saying there, I think it almost feels like a Norway-esque squad. You've got the quality there. You've got Giora, you've got Karchui, you've got Katoto, you've got Di Ali. Literally, anyone in that squad is capable of putting this game to bed. But yeah, for them not to achieve that, even after having that massive, massive advantage so early doors, going against 10 players, I think that was theirs to lose. That was just a squandered opportunity. let's talk a little bit about AKB and I don't want to we're going to obviously she's going to be interspersed throughout this entire section because of what she went on to then do saves the first penalty scored Germany's fifth penalty and then saves Alice Sombar's spot kit to clinch the win in the penalty shootout also pulled off an extraordinary save in extra time I mean there's so many different magic AKB moments in here I mean, if you haven't seen this incredible save that she does in extra time, the ball, I mean, you have to definitely go and see it.

6:43Rachel: It's in there so that the ball ricochets off the player. It kind of, there's a looping arch that looks like an AKB is kind of, I'd say about two metres off of a line. It loops over AKB. AKB is then like backpedaling, backpedaling back, manages to get a claw to it, palms it out and tips it round the corner. And honestly, I mean, that was a game-changing moment. Had that gone in, I think that would have been a France win. Germany, knocks out of the competition, and ta-ta, see you later. But that was probably one of the most iconic saves that I've seen in the tournament.

7:15Chloe: To be honest, I hadn't appreciated that that was an injury time. I thought that it happened in regular time. I think I was down the wrong end for that, and I didn't even realise she'd saved it because I just thought, I mean, there's no way she would have got to that. So, like, you know, she couldn't have saved that. I thought it came off the crossbar. and then I saw the replay back and I've seen a number of photos you talk about FOMO I have serious FOMO from some of the photos that were captured of that goal from the front from the side from the back through the back of the net I think it's one of those ones where you need to see I think we've seen it a few times it maybe saves her goals where you're like I need to see another angle to fully wrap my head around how that's actually happened because I just can't how it's possible well yeah I mean not only is she diving backwards but to get enough strength in her glove in her hand to stop the trajectory of the ball, A, and push it forwards, B, because, you know, she's going backwards with the ball.

8:05Chloe: So to be able to, like, not only get her hand back to it, but actually push it out and round the post. Yeah, I don't know. I think once I saw that, I just thought, Jeremy, you're going to win this.

8:16Rachel: Weirdly enough, those moments are actually things that you train for as a goalkeeper. You'll have your goalkeeper coach get you off the line. They'll then put balls over you and then have you, like, try and as you're going back try and force your body forwards it takes a shit ton of core strength for a start but to happen in that circumstance I mean that was incredible that was an absolute class like world-class bit of goalkeeping and fair play to her I think you know that game I think was definitely a testament to AKB and how much she can kind of impose herself in the game and not only that but taking a penalty kick as well I mean the absolute I just you know we've seen it go wrong we obviously saw it go wrong for for Sweden but then for AKB to step up and take that and it was a great penalty as well this is not one of those oh just about got it just about clinched it it was a cracking strike I mean what were you thinking that moment Rach because you were either like she's going to be the hero here or she's going to be the villain well look I'm not

9:12Chloe: going to criticize Falk for stepping up and taking a penalty in the first five and then not feel the same about AKB I still don't think a goalkeeper should be in your first five penalties personally I think they've enough to be worrying about in a penalty shootout.

9:26Rachel: Interestingly, I think, like we said with Fog, I mean, it looked like the manager had kind of taken that decision for her. Whereas with AKB, it kind of felt like she wanted that. That was like her. Yeah, I mean, that's her character. That's her character.

9:37Chloe: Main character energy, I think. And yeah, I do think she's a different beast in terms of her mindset. Very cool, calm and collected. You know, she was asked about that post-match and she was like, I'm not emotional. I'm just out here living my dream kind of thing. So, you know, I think she's waited a long time to get her moment with the national team. And she absolutely stamped her mark on this team for the history books, I suppose. You know, they haven't won anything yet. But I think in terms of the way that she performed and the manner in which they won that match, she's absolutely going down in the history books, I think.

10:10Chloe: But yeah, I'm still not a fan of it. And, you know, penalty shootout wise, there were some celebrations, but there weren't as many. Do you know that kind of way? and like maybe it's because people kept scoring I don't know or maybe there was less emotion because there was less misses I don't know but right at the end then we got some yeah some really good explosions of emotion particularly from AKB you know she saved the first penalty and she was giving it the big ones uh around her goal which I always like like I touched on before I just would never have the balls to do that because I was like I'm gonna end up with egg on my face but like she's not worried about that man she's just like yeah what are you gonna do I feel like it's really

10:45Rachel: nice to actually talk about a penalty shootout that went well as in like the terms of like the quality of the penalties were amazing like it i mean what rachel what was it like kind of watching this compared to like what we'd previously seen against england sweden because that was obviously a nightmare shambles of a penalty shootout this felt like quality this was decent

11:04Chloe: but also i'd no skin in the game so like i hadn't just like agonized through 120 minutes thinking i can't believe england are going to go out at the quarterfinals at least yeah i could i hadn't massively enjoyed the game personally because I think if I'd sat and watched it on TV, it would have been brilliant. Great, you know, drama for the viewer. For someone covering it, for a photographer, didn't enjoy it at all. Very bitty, very broken up, you know, not great shot opportunities, perhaps because of where my position was. I didn't want to see another fucking penalty, if I'm totally honest, Chloe.

11:36Chloe: I said that to Sophie. After Nuskin missed hers, I said, I do not want to see another penalty. This better not go to penalties. And sure enough, it did. If I never see a penalty again in my life, it'll be too soon. I need to work out how many penalties have actually taken place across the competition. 17 in the quarterfinals. Just the quarterfinals alone.

11:57Rachel: And that's just the shootouts, or that's like all the penalties that have taken place in game time as well.

12:02Chloe: All the penalties, because there would have been... Oh, no, it must have just been from the last two games. Well, there was 14 in the England game. There was one in the Italy game. there was two in the Spain Switzerland game there was two in regular time yesterday and then they took 12 penalties so someone else do the maths oh my god that that must be at least 30 penalties just in just in this stage that's wild yeah I think what we've I think that is like a running

12:30Rachel: theme though of this competition like it's almost become a running joke like the penalties and like also like how many great penalty takers and strikers like like heroic historic strikers have missed penalties. You've got Nuskin there. You've got Ada Hegerberg. You've got Alexi Puteas. You've got Mariona Keldente. You've got Lauren James. You've got all these massive names that you would bet your house on to score a penalty, just not doing it. And you've got to give credit to the goalkeepers. Some of them have been incredible saves, but some of them have just been crap penalties. It's mentality.

13:00Rachel: It's just misses. And to think people say

13:02Chloe: we need smaller goals. We can't fucking hit penalties in the regular size goals. What do we need smaller goals for? And that's been a narrative that's come out of these very angry men who insist on watching things they don't enjoy and then insist on engaging with things on social media that they don't enjoy which i'm cool with i think they're the unsung heroes of this tournament because you add to the viewership figures thank you very much you add to our engagement numbers thank you very much it's all positive the more you engage with us the more you see so hats off to you um unsung heroes but you know i do think i can't remember it was one of the journalists in our whatsapp group maybe carrie but saying that um there's there's a mentality side around it and when one person misses and one surprise person misses maybe like your Adder Hegerbergs you think wow god okay Adder Hegerberg has missed one on a big stage and suddenly missing penalties is something players start to think about and it seems like it's almost like it catches on do you know that kind of way there's almost more pressure when you're now well now you have to go up and take a penalty are you going to miss it because all these people have missed it like are you going to miss it and suddenly they're kind of like way more in their

14:02Rachel: heads about it. Let's get stuck in then to a little bit of the game so now we've talked about the big key moments we talked about akb we talked about the shootout and how heroic that those moments were but let's talk first and foremost because it kind of set the tone of the game that red card given to katherine hendrick in the 13th minute she was soon uh pulling and box hair in the penalty area i initially hadn't even caught it i was still following the trajectory of the ball so i couldn't understand why the game was being pulled back lo and behold obviously then there's so many replays of what actually happened and then VAR like credit to it like brought up this you know horrific incident to have happened to a player so early doors I mean it was such an unnecessary thing to do and so violent um yeah violent and blatant and I think the only option then for the for the referee was to to red card her and I think even then France should have been thinking well this is a massive opportunity we have a massive advantage here um let's go but Rachel, what did you think when you kind of saw that?

15:03Rachel: Because I think that's probably the worst red card that we've seen all tournament.

15:06Chloe: Absolutely. I just, what was she thinking? Like, it was off the ball. You know, I've seen some people say, oh, maybe she thought she had her shirt. I mean, the shirts aren't that fucking stretchy. Like, she had a hold of her. Absolutely not. I just, Kendrick is such an experienced player. Not that you would forgive an inexperienced player for doing that. You wouldn't forgive anyone for doing that. But you could almost be like, at least say an inexperienced player doing something stupid. To have such an experienced player do something so reckless, so stupid. In the box. In the box, so early on, in the day and age where there's VAR, you're not going to get away with that nasty little shit, you know, that you think you can get away with where a ref isn't looking.

15:44Chloe: I just can't wrap my head around it. On top of that, like even Germany already had like a week in defence with Vamser and Gwyn not being available. Gwyn injured, Vamser out because of that red card. God, they love a red card, don't they? To then have a key defender do something that idiotic. I just like, she must have been sat in that dressing room thinking, I'm just going to go home. Like, I don't want to face my team after this. Like, if they had lost that game. God, I think that's the end of redemption,

16:13Rachel: that they actually managed to pull this game out of nowhere. Rach, you kind of picked up on something, and obviously it happened through the early doors with that red card. But you said, and it was something I hadn't particularly even noticed, I knew it was a little bit of a bitty game, but obviously you're trying to shoot the game, like you're trying to get all the action, and it was a very stop-start for you. So you said you picked up on the fact there were 50 fouls and only six yellows. I mean, talk to me, because I hadn't really appreciated, I knew it was spicy, but I hadn't appreciated it was that bad, weirdly enough.

16:44Chloe: For a large portion of the game, there was three yellow cards. I think up until maybe two of those yellow cards came in extra time. I think there was about 45 or 46 fouls in the regulation 90 minutes. That's a foul every two minutes, which might not seem a lot, but they were obviously happening more than every two minutes. You know, you might have had longer periods in the game, but I just think the ref really struggled yesterday. She was giving out frees left, right and centre, obviously. And even if those frees, you might have looked at and said, that wasn't a free, that was soft. For me, that's irrelevant because there's an accumulation factor, surely, when if you've pulled a team up four, five, six times for a free, why are you not handing out more yellow cards?

17:28Chloe: It's the only way you're going to get a handle on a game like that. And it was a feisty game. These two don't like each other in terms of on the football pitch. There's history there. France wanted revenge for the last Euros. Germany knew they were somewhat of the underdogs going into this game. You know, even after the red card, when they were getting ready for the penalty, there was pushing and shoving going on between France and Germany at one point at the top of the box. You know, this was always going to be a tasty fixture. And I just think the ref completely lost control of it. And for 50 fouls to happen in a game, I just think is unacceptable.

17:59Chloe: Because if you're not booking players and trying to clamp down on that, you could end up with players getting serious injuries. And, you know, there were players, I think, one of the Germany players was on crutches after the game one of their defenders I believe shocker I think it was Linder who was on crutches potentially you know I just think it could have been yeah I just think part of your job is to manage the emotions of a game like that and you can do that I mean you tell me as a player Chloe but when you're in a feisty game and a ref books a couple of players early on you're going to think okay I need to rein this in a little bit now I'm on a yellow card I can't afford to make another silly rash challenge and there just wasn't that happening and it just yeah it really irked me I thought because it player welfare perspective and also just from a shit game bitty bitty stop start everything was everything was a free it seemed and I think it at points it leaned more towards France getting more frees than necessary you know shoulder to shoulder challenges were free kicks it was yeah it just got a bit silly to be honest

19:03Rachel: well if it wasn't the fouls that were taking place it was also the stop starts for the cause by the VAR. A couple of VAR checks in this game which obviously didn't go France's way. Two goals ruled offside. One of the goals in particular. My God, they should have just given it for the pure quality and beauty of it.

19:21Chloe: I captured that freaking goal. I captured the back heel from Cascarino and they ruled it out. I was absolutely raging. I'd got nothing. I'd got so little, so few good shots in that game. And I was like, oh my God, I've actually managed to capture Cascarino backheeling it. Unbelievable. I'm going to show you now, Chloe. Go on. I'd managed to capture the backheel.

19:43Rachel: Oh, mate. It was like that Rousseau-esque at the near post kind of vibe. It was that. It was just... And it was Rubell. It was a moment of pure beauty. And you can see the disappointment and upset in Cascarino's face when she'd realised it wasn't a legit goal.

19:57Chloe: They're momentum shifters, those moments. You know, if that ball had gone in, I think France would have, you know, chest's out, shoulders high, head back. Yeah, we got this. We've got it. Like, here we go. floodgates open and I just felt like you know when Nuskin got the equaliser that header they were kind of like oh god you could just see them shrink into themselves a little bit when the goals started being disallowed you could just almost see them getting in their own heads thinking oh my god this is not going to go our way even though it felt like they were absolutely hammering Germany's box in terms of actually creating clear-cut opportunities I think they did struggle

20:31Rachel: I think even when Baltimore came on I think I mean she definitely spiced the game up a little bit but But even then, it didn't feel... I didn't have confidence that they were going to get this game back and it was going to be theirs, despite, obviously, the advantage that they did have. I mean, surely, Rach, this has got to be seen as a failure. I mean, France reached the semifinals in Euro 2022, having not got past the quarterfinals before. And then, this time, falling again at the quarterfinal stage. I mean, this isn't great for a team that, I suppose, has this much quality. Obviously, I think questions are going to be asked with the French manager about, you know, a couple of like the OGs.

21:05Rachel: Yeah, a couple of the OGs were obviously left out of the squad this year. And obviously, had things gone to plan, had they made the semifinals and had gone, oh, it's a stroke of genius. It's absolutely amazing. He's given these young players a chance and look what they've done. It's a refreshed, revamped France. And then as soon as there's a moment of failure that creeps in, it's like, well, you know, well, if the OGs had been here, they would have probably swept this game up. They had the experience. They would have been able to put this game to bed. They would have known of these moments. So it's kind of like you can never win.

21:31Chloe: no well you live by the sword you die by the sword you make these big decisions and you tell people this is the right thing to do and it's insanity if you keep doing the same thing and expecting different results you're gonna say shit like that you're gonna have to back it up now you've been knocked out it's another yes i think a failure for france they looked so good um in this tournament they had the opportunity to win that game and should have won that game they bottled it i think i saw a stat i think it's like of the nine major tournaments they've only gotten past the quarterfinals once in the last nine major tournaments and I just think like you'd have thought that that experience of playing Germany in a semi-final I appreciate they lost but I just think that you think that would have been enough to draw on but again I do think it's a it's got to be a mentality thing it's got to be like being the favorites coming into it and then having them go down down a player and a lot of people are saying you know it's easier when you're down to 10 like you can be really focused on defending and it can really galvanize you it did fucking work for Germany against Sweden did it they lost 4-1 do you know what I mean so this idea like that it's as simple as you just defend better like Germany hats off to them gutsy resolute like absolutely dogged grit grinded it out everybody running for each other like absolutely maxed themselves out I thought Julie Brand and Hoffman who you know many of us were surprised she started over Schuller up front granted they didn't get a lot of service but my god when they They did.

22:57Chloe: They looked dangerous. They gave the French defence something to think about. And it didn't feel like France were 75 % possession at times. You know, you really felt like Germany almost had the edge in the game in terms of their physicality and drive. And that's a huge testament to the German team. But this idea that it's simply because they went down to 10, we literally have recent proof of how they fell apart when that happened. And I think there's an element of Sweden being better at reacting in-game, finding the problem areas for Germany and exploiting them versus France, who just didn't seem to adapt at all to the fact that they had to face 10.

23:35Chloe: And yeah, I mean, they're out again, which are just France going to France.

23:39Rachel: Well, this result now means obviously that Germany will be facing Spain on Wednesday night. Oh my God, they'll be licking their lips. I cannot wait for this fixture. Coming up after this, Spain breaks Swiss hearts.

24:19I'll see you next time. Jack from The Best One Yet, and we are excited to tell you about Walmart Business. Staying ahead of business trends means moving fast and adapting quickly. Walmart Business helps you simplify operations so you can focus on building the next big thing. Find exactly what your organization needs with their ever-expanding business assortment and everyday low prices. Keep your momentum going fast with reliable shipping and fulfillment. Eligible organizations can take advantage of tax-free shopping, both in-store and online, saving you more while getting you everything you need.

24:53It's Walmart built for your business. Sign up for a free Walmart business account today at business.walmart.com. In 2023, a source sent me a tip. It tied baseball's biggest star to a vast, illegal sports betting operation. Shohei Otani! But then someone surprising confessed to me, his best friend.

25:17Rachel: I'm Ipe Mizuhara, and you do have permission to record me. From 30 for 30 podcasts, this is the betrayal of Shohei Ohtani. Listen now, wherever you get your podcasts.

25:36Rachel: Spain ended Switzerland's fairytale run, but it took more than an hour to finally break Swiss hearts with the first goal in 66 minutes. Spain winning the game 2-0 against the host. um i've got to give massive like a massive massive shout out to the swiss fans they were absolutely incredible there was this gorgeous gorgeous photo um there was like this gorgeous bridge and there's mountains in the background it looks at first glance do you know what give i'm a millennial i'm like i'm in socials i thought it was ai i was like a photo cannot look that beautiful there's a bridge and it is full is full absolutely jam-packed of swiss fans like red just an army of red across this bridge.

26:15Rachel: It looks like they're about to invade something. It was absolutely gorgeous. It was 25 ,000 fans who were part of the march. I mean, Rach, I hear that you had a little dilly-dally amongst them. Can you explain, please?

26:29Chloe: Well, firstly, that bridge you're talking about, Byrne has these two beautiful bridges. One is higher than the other. It's kind of at the edge of the town as you come out of it. And I think they were on the lower bridge. I'm not sure they could have been on the higher one but you've got this really old it's not even that old in Switzerland but it's kind of that old-fashioned kind of Germany kind of style buildings up behind and they're that light color sandstone kind of color so that pop of red with the blue of the water running underneath is just incredible and yeah there's a lovely kind of tree-lined wide street coming down outside the stadium and that's where they came down and I knew like I really wanted to get try and capture just the enormity of the march and that sea of red, which is a difficult thing to do.

27:14Chloe: I'm five foot four on a good day. So I'd found like a little block to stand on and I was trying to get like that idea of just how many people turned out. And I think the stadium had something like 27 ,945 or something inside. It was sold out. And there was a decent enough chunk of Spanish fans. So there's no way all 25 ,000 involved in the march were inside the stadium. so you would have had people being involved and it started at 5.30 they got to the stadium about 7 that's how bloody long it took they had an escort car that had a sign on top saying Swiss Fan March they had police escorts at the beginning the whole thing was fully planned and organised and yeah just an incredible thing to see to think this isn't a country that has a really established women's football scene to have developed that in arguably quite a short space of time was incredible.

28:09Chloe: And as cliche as it sounds, they were absolutely the 12th player for Switzerland. They played a really big part. The cacophony of noise inside the stadium, I don't think I've experienced before because, you know, yeah, you've been to like your Wembleys or maybe even Stadium Australia, but they're much bigger, kind of broader, slightly more open stadiums. This is a smaller stadium. They're more on top of you, kind of more above you. and it just allowed for that cacophony of noise to just reverberate for 90 minutes every kick every say like save every bit of defending every tackle every ball forward every time they got across the halfway line like the the Swiss roared and it was um yeah cool to experience

28:52Rachel: no honestly it felt obviously I was watching it here on my sofa with a glass of red but it was absolutely beautiful it's kind of I felt like I was almost part of the atmosphere because you could feel the energy reverberating from the tv like watching it like every time like you said like one of the swiss players like even so much as touch the halfway line it there was just an explosion and you could hear like how much encouragement there was and i can't even imagine what that must feel like as a player to kind of have that behind you like pushing you forwards and wanting you to do well in the competition i think yeah i think every time we talked about one of the switzerland games we've always talked about like how incredible the fans have been through the grapes the group stages and obviously them you know getting out of the group stages and into the quarterfinal.

29:32Rachel: I think obviously slightly unfortunate maybe that they faced the world champions in the quarterfinals. Had it been another team, perhaps maybe it would have even been a semifinals on a day. But yeah, it was a really beautiful, I think it's been really beautiful to kind of watch their progression in the tournament and how much the country's kind of got behind it. We've had a couple of members of our social team out and they've said exactly the same thing, that the atmosphere around the stadiums has been a bit flat on other days. but when it's a Switzerland day, it's been absolutely like Ramo. There's been like vibrancy and energy and like, yeah, I think that's the beauty, I think, of having a tournament in a country where, yes, there's not always that big fan base, but my God, it could trigger something really special going forwards.

30:14Rachel: And I think a really nice touch for Spain also after the game as well with them. They've given the Swiss players a guard of honour as they left the pitch. That was lovely. Which is a really like classy touch. So yeah, fair play to Spain. But we were talking and kind of joking a little bit on the pod before that this would have been the biggest upset of the tournament. But there were definitely, there's a couple of moments there where I thought, could this be possible? Obviously, there was a penalty given early, early doors. And then up steps Mariona Keldente. You're thinking, again, another I bet my house on it moment.

30:45Rachel: She misses the penalty. Spain hit the post three times, including an insane passage of play after Perides hit the post. And Switzerland somehow managed to keep the ball out. it was like this um what's your call you know the the thingy games with not the ping pong games but you know yes on the sides and it like keeps the whatever is one of those it was like that just ricocheting from like leg to post to corner to bar to person to like it was just everywhere but in the back of the net thank god but rachel i mean what did you make of that first half because obviously they're going into um half time nil nil that's an incredible result an absolutely incredible result for a really resolute Swiss side who also did have a couple of chances themselves.

31:27Chloe: I think they absolutely nailed their game plan. Pia Sundhaga did a brilliant job of working out what to do. You know, there was a moment, I think, when they were 2-0 down and we had a note situation. You know, we love a note. Same thing happened in the England game because everyone's doing the whole like, what did it say? And it was like, probably said what it said in the England game. We're going to a back three. Like, that's what happened. No, no, not even that. We're changing formation, which I really rated. I thought, you know, some of the Swiss players ran their socks off, obviously defensively superb, like so on it.

32:00Chloe: You could just see in their faces, they were just laser focused on their job, constantly checking their shoulders, like had an eye on where every single Spanish player was, you know, doing their best not to dive in, all that kind of stuff. I know there was a penalty and I feel like that's going to happen when you've got the quick feed of Spanish players. You're at such a risk when you make a tackle in the box. But I just thought they got their game plan absolutely spot on. And to go in at halftime, nil-nil, was incredible. I think they, and it's tough for Spain, like coming up against a crowd like that is something they have to manage.

32:31Chloe: You know, they were frustrated. You could tell they were getting frustrated. Definitely frustrated. There were some angry faces going in at halftime. Things just weren't going their way. And it was a real lesson in patience, which we know Spain are generally a very patient team if they're not scoring. So, you know, I think for them, it was a really good challenge to have before you get into the semifinals and potentially the finalists to be challenged like that, to recognise how patient you can be and still have your game plan come off. and I think yeah I think for me it was like how long can Switzerland keep this up and I think we've seen it a little bit not as maybe well done but in previous games where the team potentially I guess have the right sort of game plan but perhaps not the quality or the fitness to be able to sustain it and I think Switzerland maybe came closest to doing that.

33:24Rachel: Definitely I think what impressed me most about Switzerland was the fact that they almost swarmed Spanish players they didn't give them a lot of time on the ball in the first half there was times where you know Spain would have the ball they'd look up and a Swiss player was coming in or two Swiss players were coming in from either side of them and just like clamping them down and just like not giving them room to breathe it was almost like a reversal in a way then I think even when Spain did manage to get into the box and I think Switzerland have to appreciate that that was going to happen but what their game plan seemed to be was crowd the box to give Spain as little space as possible to manoeuvre to back heel to twist to turn and then it just resulted in like this kind of almost like blockade i think of swiss bodies that sort of it gave spain little space but i think again rage my concern i think we kind of mentioned it in the group chat was this is all well and good but how long can you sustain this for because this takes a shed ton of energy if you're going to try and pack the box out and then also try and counter on those those very moments that you do get i think what i did find really beautiful about switzerland is that they did have they did find those moments where they knew exactly what was going to happen.

34:28Rachel: Spain were going to go forward. They were going to press high. They were going to commit people forwards. And it did leave a lot of space at the back. There was a couple of times where Swiss balls were played out on either one of the wings. Benny, sure to leave it. Yeah, we just had these players driving forwards. And if it wasn't for this, there was a couple of moments where I was thinking, God, a foot forward. And I think they would have had it. They created one-on-one situations. They created a couple of those throughout the game. So I think that I was super impressed with that.

34:55Chloe: And they went out to do that. Sundaga pushed Benny forward, for example. She wasn't playing in the fullback position, which is saying, I want you higher up the pitch that when we create chances, we can try and get something out of them. Yes, they were always going to be defensive, but to push a fullback forward and to say, I want you to have the freedom to go for it. And she was brilliant, ran her socks off. I think, you know, perhaps the only criticism was maybe making some substitutions a little bit earlier because, you know, Benny was tiring. Sheraton Lee was tiring. You know, they didn't get substituted until the 90th minute, by which stage I guess the game is beyond you.

35:32Chloe: Pilgrim came on in the 62nd minute. She looked so lively. Yeah, she was good. But yeah, look, I think we all kind of knew how this game was going to go. So I think Switzerland performed better than many of us expected. And I probably, maybe Spain didn't expect to be challenged in the way that they were. And I think for Spain, it's an important experience in a major tournament to have had a game like that and come through and been patient and score the goals. And that will just give them more confidence because they'll be like, grand, if that happens again, we know, we just need to be patient. We know our game plan will work and we know we'll get goals.

36:07Rachel: Well, I think that was the experience element of Spain coming forward is because they waited until the 66th minute to get their time to shine. And it was a great goal. I mean, Castillo on for four minutes. And then, I mean, set up beautifully by Artana Bomati. This gorgeous little back heel just in the box. And then Castillo kind of like, she has a split second there to actually look up, see where the goalkeeper is, and then bend it around her. Yeah, bottom right-hand corner, absolutely amazing goal. And then not, what, five minutes later, second goal from Pina I mean again it's everything you kind of expect from Pina kind of takes it to a right and it just curves in the top right hand corner I think the not the downside but like the controversy around this one is that Lea Valti like the whole game seems to stop before Claudia That's silly though takes a strike and I've got to say this is on Switzerland and the experience element of it but Lea Valti I think feels like she's fouled in the moment to that then actually the ball is taken off her Claudia Pina then tape but like no one clamps down peanut no one comes because they think they think the the referee is going to play for all players fouls so yeah a little bit of contrast you can see like how the frustration from the switzerland players there like they should have known better and then you've got alexi pita is missing a penalty later on saved by new chelsea goalkeeper olivia she's unreal was absolutely unbelievable i mean credit to her she was putting saves that even when we talking about that little pinball moment is that right pinball pinball moment yeah that's the one well done she like it was it was ricocheting off her body a few times as well so like these are absolutely amazing um saves too can i just make one confession um oh god yes of course when when

37:52Chloe: when athenae was subbed on i messaged sophie and went she's gonna get the goal did you actually yeah i'm sorry we're gonna need proof of that i need to stop doing it i put it on my instagram for the love of god you need to stop i need to i need to be stopped like i need to i need to

38:09Rachel: stop doing that in games it's almost like the the power that scotty had previously to predict results has now been bestowed upon you yeah um and you're now kind of taking these moments in real game time and destroying everyone's hopes and i did it with michelle had you mine so that was that was nice that was a good one that was a good one yeah i'll allow it when it's the lioness but everyone else just leave it be stop it Switzerland manager Pia Sundar said after the game I am very very proud of Switzerland if you look at the people coming to the games it's been phenomenal very very emotional and they didn't leave they stayed we lost the game but we've won a positive attitude for women's football that's a really lovely comment don't let this moment slip

38:49Chloe: Switzerland don't let it slip capitalise

38:52Rachel: carry on the legacy come on make the moment a movement oh what was the banner that was like Spain and Spain. Switzerland, you've moved mountains. Time to move mountains. Very, very cool. Now, obviously, that results mean that Spain will be facing Germany. Though, given how Germany performed in the last game, resolute, very dedicated, very determined. They will be shattered. They have been put through their paces, probably covered more ground than any other country. Like one fallback left. Exactly that. I mean, Spain have got to be looking at this next result as a... Well, they must be excited about it.

39:33Rachel: I think they've got a good chance of winning this one. What do you think, Rach?

39:36Chloe: Yeah, absolutely. We were saying that last night. We're like, the biggest winner out of last night was Spain. But equally, if Germany have taught us anything, it's don't write them off, which I'm sure Spain would not do. But I think, yeah, I think after 120 minutes of football, down to 10 players Shoska Nuskan's going to miss the next game because of yellow card accumulation you know God knows how many defenders aren't available yeah I think Spain will will be happy in terms of the way that the game went but again will be very professional I don't think they'll write Germany off I think Germany at least that's a big lesson that's come out of last night

40:14Rachel: oh God I mean Germany obviously I mean I actually don't know how this game's going to go I feel like Germany are kind of like never say die until the final whistle. But Spain also just have the patience to keep on going. They have like endless legs on them. They've got a stacked bench. Like the depth of the squad is crazy. They've pretty much dominated most of the games that they've had, even the Switzerland game domination. Yes. But, oh, I don't know, Rach. I just feel so nervous. I feel nervous for everyone in the semifinals, that alone just the lionesses. talking of which England get ready for Italy who they face on Tuesday night

41:08Rachel: in huge news for England Esme Morgan said on Sunday that everyone is very optimistic that Leah Williamson will be fine after her injury and extra time against Sweden. That was a super hairy moment when she went down and she doesn't go down easily, Leah Williamson. I was thinking, oh God, this doesn't look good. And the turnaround time between obviously the quarterfinal games and the semifinal games, it's tight and you don't want to rush players back and you definitely don't want to risk any further injuries. But it sounds like good news.

41:35Chloe: It sounds optimistic, which is good. I'll believe it when I see it because I think, you know, fucking Germany keep naming Julia Gwynne on the bench for Christ's sake. you're fooling nobody she's in a knee brace on crutches Christ actually yeah um so I mean I literally last night I thought at some stage they might actually have to bring her on but um I do as positive as that sounds you're always going to say that you're not going to tell your opposition by the way uh this player is going to be out now you know so I think when I see the lineup I'll believe it and you know what about LJ she went down with an injury what about Lucy Bronze having to tape up that hamstring is Alex Greenwood's shoulder okay like I mean we both I don't know Hannah Hampton can play with one nostril, so that's fine.

42:14Chloe: But, you know, yeah, I think I'll believe it when I see it. I think it'll be intriguing, the lineup, because I think many are hoping for a couple of changes.

42:23Rachel: We did look so dishevelled by the end of that game. It honestly looked like we'd all been to Basel. After the Sweden game, apparently some of the players stayed up to watch Love Island and let their adrenaline come down before going to sleep. Mate, I get it. I had to do that. Not Love Island, but I had to do that. I've not seen Love Island but I've seen everything across TikTok and I can't imagine that your adrenaline actually went down because apparently it's chaotic, misogynistic and a little bit vile this year

42:48Chloe: so maybe it was something a little bit nicer I watched Interior Design Masters again that's how I needed something that I'd seen before that was calm, cool, calm and collected it's either something like that or it's a bit of true crime just to kind of ease my mind a little bit of murder

43:03Rachel: Alright Nana we know that Serena Wigman is like Do we see any changes being made to the starting 11? A lot of people obviously calling for, one, Chloe Kelly's knighthood, but also for her position in the starting 11 after what she did last game. I know, Rach, you're a massive fan of like, there are players that are just born for impact sub mentality.

43:25Chloe: Well, I wouldn't say born for like, you know, there's definitely a time where she should be in the starting 11. I think when you're in a tournament where people think they know how you're going to play, then you bring on Chloe Kelly. I think if you tell them, by the way, this player is going to be starting, they'll be like, right, we need to make sure we don't let her get any crosses in. It gives opposition time to prepare for a player like that. And I think that loses the impact. I'm not saying she shouldn't be in the starting 11 in the future, but I think for this tournament, what she can do off the bench, the lift she gives the team when she comes off the bench, that's the weapon that she is.

44:00Chloe: And for me, that's not where the changes should be made.

44:06Rachel: All right.

44:07Chloe: Do we see any changes being made? I bloody hope so. Well, first of all, we don't know if Lea Williamson's going to start or not. I would consider starting Esme Morgan. I thought she did well when she came in. And I do think Jess Carter has struggled. And I think teams, I think nearly every team that England have played have targeted her position, wherever that might be, given they move her around the back line. So I just don't think there's a need to give the opposition a clear area to exploit.

44:40Rachel: What do you do about that? I mean, we've had Alex Greenwood kind of, I don't know, shore that up a little bit, kind of come in and kind of, I don't know, provide like a little bit of backup, I suppose. But at the same time, then you've got players that are being dragged out of positions, kind of assist in that area. And then it kind of exposes more central areas.

44:55Chloe: Well, I saw someone on Twitter say it, which I thought summed it up really. And I don't like targeting or blaming a player, but I think if a player is struggling, you're putting more pressure on them into another game to be like, right, go and play another game and do better. It's a lot. And I think when you've put a player in left back, left centre defence, right centre defence, there has to come a point where you're like, maybe we need to put someone else in there rather than just moving the kind of issue, if you like, a little bit at times. And look, I think they played better when Carter was right of centre defence and Williamson was left.

45:32Chloe: But yeah, I just think, look, it's a bit what you said earlier. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. If you do make the change and it doesn't work, why did you do that? If you don't make the change and it doesn't work, why did you do that? So, you know, that's why you're the manager and we're not. But personally, I think Morgan did well in that position. Everyone's crying out for May Letizier, Lota, Wubbenmoy, what do they need to do to get minutes? But I think the fact that Morgan has had minutes in a high stakes game in the Euros now makes her the obvious choice.

46:02Rachel: I don't also think that there's much change that needs to be made up front. I think that's an area that I've felt is probably one of our strengths. And I also do like that Chloe Kelly coming on, Beth Mead, having the option for Beth Mead to come on and also someone like Michelle Adjimang. Yeah, I think, I mean, everyone wants to see her again. I think everyone was like, well, just get her into the starting 11. And I don't agree with that at all. I don't agree with that. But at the same time, I think as soon as you start to see her warming up, there is a new level of fear, I think, that gets into teams and a new level of excitement that gets into fans.

46:34So I don't, again, as long as everyone is kind of fit enough to play,

46:38Rachel: I don't think that we're going to see that much rotation personally. I mean, why change something that kind of scrapes a win? Is that how you want to get through? talking of the opposition Cristiano Giurelli has taken a lot of the headlines but Sofia Cantore got two assists from the right hand side too really lovely to see the Italian squad turning up to watch the Switzerland Spain game as well I thought that was a really lovely moment obviously to kind of suss out what the potential opposition could be at latter stage in the tournament but also just to be there in the moment to enjoy yeah to you know take a second out to appreciate the beauty

47:17Chloe: of the tournament

47:18Rachel: yeah I'm sorry

47:19Chloe: I'm glad you brought up Cantore. What a wand of a foot, like laser accuracy with some of her balls. Unbelievable. So I'm glad she's getting a little bit of love. But yeah, this is a big moment for the Italians. And I think it'll be how they handle the emotion of the occasion. I think they're an emotional team in a positive way. And they use that emotion to really drive them and galvanize them as a team. And I think that is best exemplified by their anthem. And I urge you to watch the contrast in the way that both teams sing their anthem when this game is played. Because it could not be more contrasting than England and Italy.

48:04Rachel: I think it's going to be just as much a battle on the field as it is off. I feel like the Italian fans and the Lionesses fans. Oh, it's going to be such a partisan crowd.

48:12Chloe: No, the Italian fans are going to be insane. do you reckon they're gonna like out out 100 % yes do you reckon the share a border with switzerland there's an italian kind of connection with switzerland they will absolutely be there in

48:25Rachel: numbers oh my god i i mean i mean you have to place that as a factor i mean like you look at how impactful the switzerland fans have been like the spanish germany fans the germany fans last night it's um 100 a little bit of light-hearted news before we break off rage and give each other So a moment to decompress from all of the quarterfinals to get ourselves prepped for another incredibly exciting and probably very dramatic round of 944 penalties. Michelle Adjaman and Lucy Bronze are going to build the stadium out of Lego before the semifinals. That's going to take ages. Have you seen it? It's huge.

49:03Rachel: Well, that was my slight concern. Obviously, there's not a big turnaround between quarters and semis. So I think the focus should probably be on the on-match prep. but my god it takes you out of it it's been a it's been a euros of who can outwit each other mentally so maybe taking that time away to decompress and focus on your lego is the best way and also michelle ajumang it doesn't matter when she comes on in what moment to do what and what her task is she nails it anyway so all i'm thinking is they build that stadium and someone

49:32Chloe: comes along you know in zoolander and they go what is this a stadium for ants this needs to be at least three times this big do you know what i think that if there was going to be anyone who

49:44Rachel: was going to be like that you know that big sister mentality of like just stamping its pieces it would be like i don't know like an ellatoon or a chiara keating like that kind of like cheeky chappy who's

49:52Chloe: the cheeky one that's going to break the stadium there you go chiara all day sorry chiara brings

49:58Rachel: the vibes so that's she brings the vibes but she's also got a lot of sass about her so i i would say her um we're back on wednesday to react to england versus italy follow us on socials at up front underscore pod i am at morgy underscore 89 and it is rache at girls on the ball remember make sure you hit subscribe so that you never miss an episode from us thank you so much rage and i will see you very soon happy the same

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