Going behind the scenes of the biggest prize in
football. This is World Football in Qatar on the BBC World Service.
France inspired by Kylian Mbappé. England inspired by Jude Bellingham. Argentina inspired by Lionel
Messi. A Netherlands inspired by Louis Van Gal are all through to the last eight of the World
Cup. Hello, I'm Mani Djazmi. Welcome to our latest episode. Olivier Giroud has become France's goal
king. His goal against Poland means he's scored more than any other Frenchman in history. Kylian
Mbappé scored twice in that game, and he's the youngest player to reach five goals in
a World Cup since Pele 64 years ago. These France fans can smell World Cup retention.
So happy because France played a very nice game. They were good at defence. Sadly,
they took a goal, but what we can say it was a penalty. So it's not always luck with you. And
I'm really excited and happy. And I hope France reaches the final. Yeah, it's the run of France
because we were here to support the French team. They did a great job tonight. It was a super
match, so I'm glad that we were there to see it and we won so we go to the quarter final. Yeah,
well, how was that to see Kylian Mbappé perform like he did and score those goals? Yeah, well,
he was really good. We loved also other players. Like Griezmann was amazing. He was everywhere,
you know? And Olivier Giroud. Now, just a word on him and his performance, because perhaps
we didn't expect to see him in this World Cup. Yeah, this guy is really good. You know, he made
a difference tonight as well. So very technical. England here we come. Very good. I was you know,
we were expecting, you know, a tough game. It was a tough game. But look, now we know we are in a
quarter final. Kylian Mbappe he's you know, he's one of the major players for the French team. But,
you know, if nobody gives him the ball, he's not going to score. So, you know, what is
most important is also the team behind him that will help him to, you know, to score the goals.
So France into the quarter finals, but Japan have never reached the last eight,
although this is their third appearance in the last 16 in four competitions. They nearly got to
the quarterfinals four years ago against Belgium. But some naivete let the Belgians come from 2-0
down to win 3-2 in injury time. Sam Sheringham joined the snappers at Japan's training session.
The Japanese players are smiling as they jog past me here at the Al-Sadd Sports Club in the
late afternoon sun. And why shouldn't they be? They've just beaten Spain and Germany,
two of the powerhouses of European and world football, to reach the last 16 of
the World Cup. So how are they feeling ahead of the showdown with Croatia?
The Japanese players are filtering through the mixed zone now, stopping first to speak to the
Japanese journalists and then some of them who speak English will stop and speak English to
us. Let's see if we can grab a word with the goalkeeper, Daniel Schmidt. This is Japan's
fourth time in the round of 16. What's going to be the key ingredient? What are you talking about
in the dressing room that can get you over the line this time to a first quarter final?
I think it's simple. Just believe in yourself and just try to get over this round. Well, I think
it's really important to have this strong confidence to get over this round.
Our goal is to get to the quarter final. And have some of the kind of senior players
been talking about mentality because, of course, against Belgium, it was 2-0 up losing 3-2 at
this crucial stage. So is it about mental strength when it comes to knockout football?
Yeah, especially this. And I got to say, knockout stage will be like the fight of the mental. I
think like in the last time after 2-0 and the know they come back and made it 3-2 but I think it was
about maybe a little bit about tactics but most of the thing was like mental thing, like after
taking the first goal from them. And we got a little bit panicked maybe. So
this time we want to make sure that things doesn't happen.
From one goalkeeper to another. And Eiji Kawashima is representing Japan in his
fourth consecutive World Cup. So how does this Japan squad compare to those that came before?
It's a big chance for us, big opportunity for us to make history. And,
you know, we have some experienced players like me and Yoshida. And also like players
who we never had the World Cup before. But as we have a lot of young players, we've got, I think,
more potential than the other World Cups. So we've got a good mix with experience now, young players.
I tell you well over a hundred journalists gathered here scrambling to grab a few words
of one or two of the Japanese players. And amongst them is Kumi Kinahara. You'll remember we spoke to
Kimi after that remarkable victory over Germany, and she's now covered Japan in all seven of their
World Cup appearances. Well placed then, to judge this team's chances of reaching the quarterfinals?
Well, that's something I really want to say. And then that you can't do. I can't say if they can
do it, because one thing for sure is that the great chance we went against one of the best
teams in the world and especially their midfield is pretty strong and they've got a style that is
hard working. And I think it's also a collective with a combination of individual skills. It's
a bit like what we are doing, you know, with the Japan team as well. So it's sort of a very
interesting match up between two teams. One is sort of beating the top of the world and still
the powerhouse there. And the other one is try to be there. But, see what's going to happen.
One thing's for sure, though. Having beaten Spain in Germany, this Japan team have nothing to fear.
Doesn't look like they have any fears about it. I think the winning over Spain
is the has brought something, a new dimension to their mental side. So I think this team is
getting stronger, especially the mental side which is very important if you want
to win the tournament like this, especially in the World Cup. You also know that it's
definitely needed and you definitely need the techniques and the tactical skills,
whatever for it. But mental side, you can't forget it. And they've got it.
So mental strength, a mix of youth and experience and a desire to learn from past mistakes. The
perfect recipe to take the samurai blue into the last eight. Not long now to find out.
Japan played Croatia on Monday. That’s samurai Sam Sheringham reporting from their training session.
It wouldn't be a major international competition without Switzerland and their cowbells. Doubt
you'll find a more incongruous sound, though, in the middle of the Qatari Desert. Switzerland's
national team is known as the Nati, and they haven't been to a World Cup quarter final
for 68 years since they hosted it. They face Portugal on Tuesday. And I've been speaking to
former defender Johan Djourou, a veteran of three World Cups. But we began with his old team mate,
Olivier Giroud, and his new French scoring record. Very pleased and not surprised because there are
always some great qualities that you see on the training ground, you know, and that you
know that the guy is serious about his craft. You know, a guy who worked a lot and obviously,
you know, he's like someone that doesn't come to your mind straight away. Because when you think
of the striker today, you might think of Benzema or Haaland or Mbappé. You know, they will give
you more moments where they will dribble past people and he is more like a team player who's
such a team player that will link the play and give space too to the wingers or the number ten
around him. That makes him special. So that's why sometimes he doesn't get that respect because the
light is not only, but he's such an intelligent player with awareness of space and touches always
in the right tempo. And it's so delicate and you see the stats talking for him and the goals that
he scored. He just always amazed me because they always better goals with the technical ability,
volleys, shots. So it's a good achievement for him and I'm very, very pleased for him.
Okay. Let's talk about Switzerland. What has pleased you the most so far about their World Cup?
I think the last game, even though it wasn't perfect, they showed that they could come back
from a 2-1 knockdown of a game with such intensity and a very nervous game, because you knew that if
you lost it or even maybe draw, you could be out. But they managed to tactically outplay Serbia
when they were 2-1 down they actually play with more freedom and to actually get exposed Serbia,
with the tactical problems, if you look at the first two games, the identity of the
team was missing a bit because, of course, to win against Cameroon and against Brazil, yes,
we defended very well, but we were never a threat of scoring. You know, Brazil was never in danger
in that game. But that game comes with different aspects. For example, Xhaka and Shaqiri, it is
always a special game for Switzerland especially because we have a lot of the Kosovo population
in Switzerland. So it's such a symbolic game for Switzerland that it makes it special. And I think
that the focus was very high and it paid off. In 2018 we all remember the goal celebrations
by Xhaka and Shaqiri, but that seemed to really distract the team. Do you think
that their celebrations, which were a little bit more restrained this time,
do you think the team can forget about that and move on and keep their focus?
Those guys, first of all, are more mature today than they were four years ago. That makes a huge
difference in the way you approach things. You know, I think that on that day it was a special,
special moment. And for them, of course, it took a lot of energy out of them because,
you know, you can imagine the texts that they received over the course of our heritage,
saying that this is the game of their life, that they have to represent, that they have to show
what they stand for. On the other side, all the things that you could hear from people trying
to take them out of the game, you know. So it had been tough in 2018. And as we saw the other day,
they managed to be more mature about it and just enjoy a win as an important
win. But without the political aspects. Murat Yakin the Swiss coach seems like
a pretty calm guy, seems like a popular guy. He likes to go for a walk, apparently before
every match. But it was a surprise when he took over because he'd spent two years
before that coaching in the second division. Do you think he's now answered the doubters?
I think we should never forget the importance of having a team that's been growing up now since a
long time. You know, I was with Granit and Shaqiri when they arrived in the national team. So this
team has been together for a while now. So you have a balance. So you have something that is
already here and it makes it easier when you're a coach that comes from the second division maybe,
but he’s been a player and has a, let's say, a tactical approach that is very interesting,
makes it easier to have players. They are more mature as well now. They are playing in big clubs.
Granit plays for Arsenal. Akenji in Man City. You have Embolo playing in France. We have a lot of
players that gain confidence and more maturity, so it goes well with him because he played for
the national team and it's a job that to him at the moment he's doing very well. You know, they
qualified of a tough group they drew two times to the European champion Italy. So now let's see how
far he can take this team into this tournament. The Swiss ambition was always to reach the quarter
final of a major tournament. They did that last year. After what you said there about finishing
above Italy in World Cup qualifying, the players, the leading players or top clubs. Their average
age is around 28, which is a peak age. And of course in the Euros, they beat France in the
last 16 on penalties coming back from t3-1 down, all those things considered. Do you think the
players are now looking beyond the last stage? Do you think they want more than that in Qatar?
I think they're hungry. Switzerland has always been hungry because before those five
tournaments in a row, it’s never been like that in Switzerland, you know, so people will maybe just
be okay. Or let's say, yeah, it's good enough for Switzerland to just be at the World Cup. But then
they beat France. They played an amazing game against Argentina in 2014 So it's always that
expectation that grows higher. And I think that the fact that when you are a player
and you have a nice nation is well behind you, I think that it's normal that the expectation
grows. And I think that those players are now growing, Granit Xhaka is fighting for
a title or competition for the title with Arsenal. Akanji on the other side as well.
And other players, in other leagues. So I think it makes it normal for them to say we want more.
And I think that that French game is a reference, even though we know that, you know, it was a very
particular game and Portugal is a tough, tough, tough opponent. But for sure, everyone wants them
to go through. And I think the players even more. Just before I let you go and enjoy your cake,
Breel Embolo has seemed like a different player in this World
Cup. What do you think of his performances? But not only in the World Cup? I think in
France this season, he's been very special. He's funny because he plays with such ease.
Defenders bounce off him. He's a very good ball carrier as well. He's not the typical striker,
but you will see he's like the guy that can hold the ball. But he’s the guy that can turn
and run with the ball and is a guy that can play a pass. So he's been great for us and I
hope that can continue. He's going to have to play against Diaz and Pepe who are a bit more
experienced than the defence that we played until now apart from Brazil where he didn't score. But
I think that yeah, it's going to be a tough test for him, but he's good because you know, when you
want to grow and you want to progress, you have to enjoy those tough matches. And I think that
he's there to embrace it. And I can only say congratulations to him because he's been immense.
I read a report in one of the Swiss newspapers today which outlined all the fixtures that
Switzerland would have until the final, including the final. So they're full of
confidence after three World Cups when they've been knocked out in the last 16. How confident
are you? Where do you think the Nati will go after Portugal, home or to the quarter finals?
Now, it's a tough one because the margin is very, very small. And I think that details will play
a huge, huge, huge part in this game that the Portugal team is frightening because they have
a lot of firepower up front. And the other thing as well is that the backline of Portugal is way
more structured than the Serbian one. So it's a tough one. But I would say that with experience,
maybe Portugal will be just a bit too strong. What's your cake?
I don't even know, but it looks great. You know, I'm a bit impatient to try and dig in.
And I understand all this. Listen, I'll let you go and have your cake
and eat it. Thank you very much indeed for your time and enjoy the game on Tuesday.
Thank you very much. Mani thank you. Thank you, take care.
The other game on Tuesday is Spain, Morocco, and that's bound to be full of meaning for Morocco
defender Achraf Hakimi and goalkeeper Munir Mohammadi, both of whom were born and raised in
Spain just like this fan. So my name is _____. I was born and raised in Spain. I lived all my life
in Spain. I studied in Spain on everything. And almost all my friends are Spanish, but my roots
are Moroccan. So I've never like I never wanted to be put in a position where I had to choose
between both. Because I think there are a lot of people who have both like double nationality.
But on those type of things I need to be neutral, but sometimes you can't. All of us always thought
as a kid that we are as a tree. We have our roots. My roots are Arab, Moroccan. So I would support
Morocco for this like match, but I wish the best for both teams and the like. Even if Spain wins,
I will be happy because it's the nation that gave me everything and most of my friends are Spanish,
so I need to be happy for them too. Would this be a win-win situation?
Whoever wins here can be happy. Yeah, it's almost a win-win situation.
But I cannot lie. I feel more Moroccan than Spanish because it's my mother tongue. Most of
my family lives in Morocco and I feel at home when I'm in Morocco, like Morocco a bit more,
because when I'm in Morocco, nobody sees me as a foreigner. And yeah, but it's almost a
win-win situation. Like if Morocco wins, I'm happy. And if Spain wins, I'm happy.
And when you go to the stadium, you're going to the game?
Yeah, I will go to the game. But without t-shirts I don't want to show like any…
I want to be politically correct and whoever wins I’ll be happy with them.
On Friday, it's Argentina, Netherlands in the quarter finals. Lionel Messi is facing
his latest hurdle as he tries to win the World Cup for the first
time at the last attempt. Not that this Dutch fan’s bothered.
Yeah, to be honest. Messi’s over the hill. Sorry, Messi. I mean, he's a great player,
but that's what it is. Goodbye.