 Good afternoon and welcome back to the touch line. My name is Max Oluwa. Keep talking to us as the team you're supporting at the FIFA World Cup final for tomorrow. And today, this particular evening, of course, it's the third place play of Pete Kroesha up against African representatives of Morocco, which is a curtain raiser for what is expected to happen tomorrow. It's been a long tournament happening in Qatar, bringing 32 teams to showcase what they are capable of doing best. Of course, African teams as well getting represented by five African nations in Ghana, Senegal, Cameroon, Morocco and Tunisia. So we get straight into what is supposed to happen, the niti grittis of FIFA World Cup tournament. And just before we got on air, we were discussing about the influence heavy players have had on this particular tournament. In the name of Cristiano Ronaldo, whose team Portugal was eliminated by Kroesha. The African heavyweights and you know how he's been emotionally probably thought he will end the career on a high by lifting the tournament he has missed winning. Because he has lifted almost everything in terms of your for champions league, English Premier League, La Liga and even in Italian league with Juventus. Good to continue the discussion with this gentleman Barry Seela alongside Ken Andrew. You guys were discussing about Cristiano Ronaldo. What is it with him? I think you have to feel that it's maybe unfortunate for him to not bow on his peak at the height of his career. Because at the end of his career at Z7 he's seen three of the five games he's played at the World Cup on the bench. He started on the bench which has been sad for most fans. It's not great to see him. He really wanted to win this but he was not given the opportunity to fully go at it. So he left the pitch crying. He knows he's gone. His dream is over. But then again you know sometimes age does catch up to you and you have to be accepting of things as they happen. And maybe Ronaldo still has that feeling that he wanted to do more. But you know his body even though it's in immaculate shape will not allow him to but he's had a great career in his defense. He's won everything. He's just missed out on the World Cup and you know men will still regard him as the greatest of all time. The greatest of all time indeed according to me is the greatest of all time despite crashing out of the tournament at the quarterfinal stage having been eliminated by African representatives in Morocco. But I read in one of the online publications that one of his sisters wanted Ronaldo to travel back to Portugal so that they could hug him, consult him having been left out of the squad by Fernando Santos the coach. When they played against was it Morocco and Switzerland. When Ramos was scoring a heart trick against Switzerland. What do you make of this you know getting excluded of Portuguese court by Fernando Santos was now hungry is good. I think I have a different view. Prior to the tournament there was a lot of talk between Fallout, Manchester and Christian. And in my view Fernando Santos didn't want a bit of destruction. Ronaldo is a big name player and it's not that he was not fit to start any game. Ronaldo in my view there were distractions and maybe also the way he handled the fallout with Manchester perhaps sift into Portugal and then there was a bit of back and forth. But Fernando maybe is the head coach is the final decision maker. He wants to stamp his authority. Yeah he wants to stamp his authority but in my view also Ronaldo is a big name even outside the field. What he does on the bench encourages the player. What he does in the changing room encourages the players. So perhaps the coach had a different strategy and the coach had a different plan with a different set of players. So that's why maybe he made the decision Ronaldo to sit outside. Also Ramos taking it to Twitter to say that sometimes Ronaldo as a player gets to be misunderstood especially by misreporting by media and several international press outlets who report that Ronaldo is so full of himself and he always wants to achieve unlike not putting the team ahead but his self interest. Yeah there's always been that idea that Ronaldo is whenever he doesn't play is grumpy he doesn't want to listen to the coaches. Maybe some of his actions have helped push that agenda but if you listen to those who play with him they still respect him. When they were walking into the Portugal camp you know there was something being made bigger than it was when him and Bruno Fernandez came into eye contact after the whole interview with Pia Smogan came out but Bruno came and owned up and said that Ronaldo had made a joke and it was totally nothing. When other players William Cavallo they take to the press and they just said that Ronaldo is okay and he had no problem. Even the coach himself Fernando Santos said Ronaldo is okay with being at the bench. He even ran to celebrate with his team and so maybe the idea is being propagated mostly by people who have found Ronaldo in different contexts. People have not exchanged a conversation with him because from the ones who play with him and from Portugal the amount of respect he gets you have to question whether he really is what people make him out to be but then again you know some of the decisions he's made like to walk out of the Totenham game the interview they sort of push the agenda but you know I choose to believe that he is a man who has been totally and radically misunderstood by the greater Let's talk about what is said to happen this particular evening and you know it's a third place playoff happening at 6 p.m. Croatia playing against Morocco and the game would be live and exclusive on our mother's station KBC so is tomorrow's finale piting two-time World Cup winners Argentina alongside holders and reigning champion France taking and playing and locking horns against each other in what is considered to be a breathtaking showdown of the weekend. So it's a super weekend. Yes, yes, yes. Croatia playing against Morocco, when are you placing your money? I'd like to see you know look at what reached about at least with a bronze medal to his name. So do I. But then again you have to imagine how amazing it will be if Morocco finished third you know that's actually representation and that's minority representation in the world. You know it will cause great joy not only to Africans themselves but also imagine to the Muslim community. My good camera guy is you know posted to your position probably things that you know Croatia needs to lift it. I don't know. Yeah, but I feel like it will still be great. You know both teams have found a place in people's hearts because they are not necessarily the biggest favourites you know and how they've progressed through the tournament has been really amazing. Croatia knocking out Brazil, Morocco doing the same to Portugal. So I feel like this game is for anyone to win but it will have great great results for the countries of both teams representing them. Franklin Umtiti saying that you know the world knows one God and that is Leo Messi. Tomorrow expect his magic as usual. Vamos Argentina. There is another guy here called Drilla Finest. Kumoja. I don't know. No understanding his message. Brian Khalib saying France will retain the title, Vivian Lyrical saying you know. France all the way kusum locked. Maurice Jacob Makoha saying France deno and with Argentina Khalib thing tuned in kubu. The show is massive. One person called Atenas Amulele saying you know Nyahuru you are tuned. So plenty of feedback coming in and people are telling us the team they are rallying behind as far as tomorrow's final is concerned and even that place play off. France looks like they are enjoying fanatical following. Yes France. Is it because of African connection and several players who are featuring for them resembling most of us. I think but also apart from that France when it comes to the workup they tend to be a bit serious. They will not play the best food in fact if you realize this tournament. Yes. France was not exactly played eye catching football you know say for maybe those occasional darting runs by Bope. But they are very efficient. They remind me of the Germany of 206 backwards. Very efficient they do the job to the latter. They get the job done. And I think based on experience and how they are able to cope with pressure because they easily very calm. I kind of give them an edge even though what we hear on social media sometimes you cannot really be sure a couple of players might be either missing or uncertain. But if you look at the bench the other players you can be able to replace. The only headache for the show is maybe for key players are the replacements or if they will be replacements are they up to the scratch for a final. But if you ask me the 27 months quote this guy had in the World Cup is led by of course their captain Loris and their senior players are like Jiru. And of course the manager himself is having played in that stage having won it as a player and as a coach. I'm sure that gives them kind of some edge telling them just become player game and we can have it again. So for me I think France. Just like I indicated of course the third place playoff and final set for tomorrow third place playoff. This particular evening curtain raising the culmination tomorrow has said to be broker's life and exclusive on KBC channel on our mother station. So you can sit pretty comfortable but you are sitting room and enjoy the proceedings as they happen in Qatar. And you know this tournament has attracted huge following not only from men but also female counterparts have left the game. So people were at the gallery led by a producer Beatriz alongside the likes of Deanna and Yvonne. You can also tell us which teams you supporting because people in studio here looks like they are rallying behind France. Even on our social media platforms you know Bonfa Soda is good luck for Croatia you know. Tommy Baskie saying wakenya tuxema Croatia to win wejwa moroko isha loose. Akuna ajiya kulete hi game like dan maniwa kabusa saying that Croatia to win because moroko they said they were not Africans. Even if they win World Cup they win will be for Arab. They said that or they have been quoted out of context. Or the captain. The Bufal is called Safiyan Bufal in an interview he said. I think what game was that they won and then they said this is for the Muslim world. Then the coach came later to try and diffuse the situation that he talked about Africa. As representing Africa I think he tried to do damage control but the damage had been done. The damage had been already done after the sentiments by the captain for moroko saying that it's for Islamic fraternity. If they win the world cup. But no I'd sort of understand it because it's his religion and also the other thing is that geographically they'll always be Africans. They can't escape that when you go to the map moroko is then they even participate in Afqon chan. So maybe he said it in the height of things was happening just picked out of context. They have to be well aware that they are Africans they always participate in Afqon and they are also Muslims. So they want to win for both. Partnership between Lionel Messi and Alvarez featuring for Manchester City has been superb up front. At some point I was imagining did Lautaro Martinez get excluded from the squad. Because Alvarez boy has been doing phenomena and he was scoring goals. So the defense for France led by Raphael Varane upremakano need to be having something to worry them. But you know like the wealth of experience at the back of France is something that they can get. Guys like Kunde have not played for that long but they look like a real player. And he's playing at right back. At some point he had his chain in the neck. So you know like I feel like the defense will have a really really important job especially Varane. He's the leader because if you look at the 2018 squad you know he was a key defender then he is also a key defender right now. So what's happened between the four years in terms of him moving from Real Madrid to Man United and he's not having had the best career at United yet but you know in France he's really really important. So he's the one who will have to really up the game. As you were talking before you know when it comes to Messi you have to mark the space and you know Varane is not known for his physicality and he's more of a Rolls Royce. He waits and picks his moments so I think that might come as an advantage for Messi a lot of times in el clásicos and also you know he is the key person there and also you know Maurice his experience and his leadership is very very important at the back. Do you think France are missing the likes of Karim Bezma up front as they are Solstrike and Paul Pogba alongside in Kolokant? No not at all in fact the players who have been picked up. Their positions are well covered. Yeah well covered. Girouda has done his job at 36 he's doing amazing. Shua Menean Rabio it means we don't need Pogba and Kante and there is also the replacement there of Pofana. I mean France is complete. They don't need these other guys they can as well be replaced. So for me we have not really felt we have not really missed Kante, Pogba or Benzema. So it's Argentina during that time they had the likes of Gonzalo Iguain, Sergio Kunagüero. You know the upfront department looks sharp and prolific way better than how they look before. Yeah yeah it is and you know if you look at what they still have on the bench you know I feel like Dibala is still a player who could have given more but he's not unfortunately he's not at the opportunity. Lautaro he kind of misfired in the last two group games and in the round of 16 so Alvarez seems to have permanently taken his place No moving forward you know I feel like a country like Argentina really needs to invest in finding players that are similar to the ones playing at the World Cup because of the aggression we are seeing from them. You know people who play like Rodrigo de Paul and Paredes are really had to find because the aggression they have in the game you know they don't always get red cards but they win almost every tackle you think that's something amazing this because something that has characterized this Argentina side from losing the first game is the aggression they have put into the game. If you look at Messi even Alvarez how they are always fighting you know that's something that has really really helped them. So I feel like they didn't have that in 2014 because Aguero Higuain nice people you know if that's what you can call them but this time they are not that nice they want to fight and that's something that will kind of give them a little bit of an edge over France because if you look at the French side there are a lot of young players who are not that aggressive. As hosts we are always told that we need to practice impartiality and not disclose the teams we supporting but you know I was rallying behind England which got eliminated at the semifinal stage by you know France but now in the final I think I'm rooting for France to defend the title but I've been impressed by Makalista. A huge revelation for Argentina side. Yes Makalista has been excellent the Brighton midfield and like I told you of the next transfer season it's definitely going to... You want to stay at Brighton? Top five clubs in the world will take it it's been excellent in the middle of the park with Rodrigo de Paul and Leandro Paredes I think some of these tournaments when you pick Is a platform to showcase what you are capable of so that you get supported Yeah look at Konate nobody even knew him before he went to Liverpool Now he is one of the keymen at the back for France and so I think this tournament has showed us that some of the players that have been picked have taken the chance and shown and this is perhaps what we will see even today Yusef Onayi maybe is definitely a style they are making the 20 year old player for Morocco and tomorrow also we will see other players shine for both sides so it's something to be very, very alive Yeah there are always platforms for you to get to market yourself internationally you remember during the 2018 World Cup in Russia this striker from Colombia played for Madrid and he was a top scorer Yeah James Rodríguez I think buying in six goals and no one knew him before so he got an opportunity to play for headweight clubs like Madrid so I think most of the players who are featuring in this World Cup edition will be sold to some lucrative clubs elsewhere Yeah yeah especially from the Moroccan side guys like Amrabat and even the goalkeeper he might get a better move guys like Zahiss have shown great experience so yeah you'd expect big, big moves in the January and next year summer transfer window Wow now let's talk about Ken the niti grittis of what is expected let's start with this evening Croatia up against Morocco you said you would like Morocco to win but you are a little bit skeptical that Croatia might carry the day Yeah I feel like it's a game for both teams because of how both have played Yeah either can get it because there's a great story at the end for each you know for Modric that's two semi finals in a row and also a bronze medal for Morocco is a shining light to all those who think will not make it So this is a winning game At 37 Is one of the oldest players to grace this tournament Yeah it's one of the oldest to grace this tournament alongside the guys like Pepe, Cristiano to see those guys go it will be sad but for Croatia it's a good ending for them they've had a great time the fold of players Lovren, Perisic and sad for them not to make the final but if they can get the bronze medal it will be an amazing send off for them still but for Morocco, credit to them no one saw them reaching this everyone had their hands on Senegal to be the African representation past the quarterfinal but it's Morocco and you know they can add to their shine by getting the bronze medal Someone was saying that it's high time this third place player gets scrapped off because there's no significance about it any longer I know there's no significance but remember even like in athletics Do people remember the third place? Actually they don't remember the winner they don't even remember the runner So I think it's just a formality so that all medals are given they'll be given bronze I don't know number two get silver and then gold or something the medals Tomorrow's final I think for me what I'm looking at is the battle in the middle use the term Rolls Royce the French team will be a bit fluid but they have to be careful because we have people who are coming for them the aggressive style of the midfield I think the battle will be in the midfield whoever controls that midfield also we expect maybe France to utilize the cleverness of Antoine Grisman just sitting in front of the maybe two holding midfielders So him At the semifinal stage the success and win for Le Bleu revolved around him So he'll be a key player this guy I hope he doesn't if he doesn't get hacked because of course Rajatana going to be very aggressive but he'll control the dimension of the game and I think for Messi to suffer in this game is if this guy is cut that supply of the midfield and the aggression of the midfield So Messi might have to struggle a bit maybe at some point I saw him in that the last game he was going a bit inside to look for the both another thing maybe is to look at the wing play the wing fullbacks and the wing as of either side they can also carry the day best on how they defend and how they attack because some of the goals for both each side come from the flanks so how you defend or how you attack Both managers do you think they will stick to the scores that you know want them semifinal stages I think yes they will because you know there's sort of been some sort of consistency in selection for both managers for the shamp it has happened longer just as some players are said to have been hit by a virus so that might hamper his plans but I think he'd naturally want the words for being there before to start the game again there won't be a lot of changes but the game will be characterized by both teams being so fast and so efficient in terms of play when they get the ball they want to score because we've seen that with Argentina they are monsters on counterattacks but also you have to remember Usman Dembele and Kilian Mbappe the other side they are fast and they can beat anyone in the world so that's the game might become an open game where the ball is just moving because you know in the midfield it's been really really hard for anyone because of the aggression of the Argentines and also Chaumenia has been great you know he's shown good wisdom in the midfield so that's going to be a great battle to see and whoever wins it I think will assist his team in the match gentlemen it's been a pleasure doing this with you guys every Saturday afternoon of course from 1 to 3 we're keeping exposure talking about the headlines shaping you know the most vibrant and robust field locally and even international coming to a culmination tomorrow it's been a month long great show piece bringing the two teams together African teams as well participating 5 of them unfortunately getting eliminated at the group stage 1 at the quarterfinal and Morocco you know defying all wards to get it to the semifinal stage getting beaten by Argentina one of the probable and potential winners of the tournament heading into finale tomorrow it's up again it's two sides that were tip favourites to clinch the overall championship front the holders and reigning champions up against Argentina two time warkup winners also known as Albi Celeste Lionel Messi looking forward to win something that he has not won in his cabinet so that he becomes the greatest of all times god that happen we look forward to see that coming to pass and remember that getting curtain raised by today's third place player of Croatia up against Morocco which did extremely well in this warkup despite having the religion of when the tournament was commencing my name is Maxav Vaseke kwa skip talking to us ashtag touchline y255 to Vaseke Maxav continue interacting and mingling on our social media platforms even as the show comes to an end thank you for tuning in good place and have a fantastic weekend