Two-time Olympic gold medalist and Fox Sports analyst Aly Wagner talks to The Post’s Justin Terranova about making history at the World Cup, the grueling preparation and Argentina’s moment.
Q: Do you feel extra pressure being the first female analyst at the men’s World Cup?
A: I really don’t. The pressure that you feel is that this is the biggest event in the world. And these matches — fans wait around four years to watch their national team play — and perhaps they only get three matches in the whole World Cup. So, every match has so much attention and focus drawn to it, the element of being a woman doesn’t strike me when I am announcing. I have high standards regardless.
Q: What is the preparation like getting ready for this many teams?
A: How much time do you have? I started my World Cup prep in January if that’s a glimpse to the hours I’ve been putting in. It’s been insane overall and they’ve even switched some games within the tournament. I think we’ve prepped now for 21 of the 32 teams. And when the teams changed you are suddenly learning about two teams that you didn’t think you had to know. It’s been really intense.
Q: What does that preparation looks like?
A: For me, it’s not just stats. It’s looking at how they are used for their club side as compared to the national team. Often times, in the friendlies that I’m watching it’s not even close to how they are going to line up in the games that matter. It’s just trying to get a really big sense for themes that they try to utilize, and once you get into the match that’s when you start pulling the knowledge together.
Q: Which is the best team you’ve seen thus far?
A: It’s so hard because these groups are not evenly matched. Spain and Portugal were in a group with Iran and Morocco, who are both ridiculously tough teams. Then you have England and Belgium going up against Panama and Tunisia. Having said that, I do think England has performed tremendously thus far and Croatia to get nine points out of their group has been incredibly dominant.
Q: What was the best moment of the group stage?
A: (Lionel) Messi and Argentina’s moment was massive after everyone had written them off. This team was not going to be able to rebound, then he had his amazing goal where he made it look so simple with his stride and touch. And for him to have someone else step up in a big way, like Marcos Rojo, and send them through when everyone thought they were going to be done. Even Maradona fainted.
