1 00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:02,680 Speaker 1: We scored in the thirty ninth minute, and between the 2 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:05,840 Speaker 1: thirty ninth minute and the forty eighth minute when the 3 00:00:05,880 --> 00:00:09,320 Speaker 1: half ended, Belgium could have scored three times. Right, the 4 00:00:09,360 --> 00:00:12,160 Speaker 1: game changed. The game completely changed when we scored, which 5 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:13,640 Speaker 1: means the opponent changed too. 6 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:20,080 Speaker 2: Greetings, folks, and welcome to Inside American Soccer. I'm Matt Doyle, 7 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:23,279 Speaker 2: the armchair analyst. I'll be filling in for new dad 8 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 2: Tom Bogert for just a couple more shows. He's back 9 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 2: soon and he'll be joining my friend in yours. Tab 10 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 2: Ramos one of the greatest players in US men's soccer history. 11 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:36,640 Speaker 2: Veteran of three World Cups, not a veteran of any 12 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:41,200 Speaker 2: beatings like the one the US took on Saturday. Actually, yeah, 13 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:44,080 Speaker 2: you had that Czechoslovakia game. That was a learning experience. 14 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:48,200 Speaker 2: Let's you guys came back better from that in nineteen ninety. 15 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:52,240 Speaker 2: Let's hope we see the same thing from the boys 16 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:55,319 Speaker 2: on Tuesday, because it was a humbling five to two 17 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:57,960 Speaker 2: loss to Belgium in front of a big crowd in 18 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 2: Atlanta that was ready to celebrate. Honestly, after the first half, 19 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:06,040 Speaker 2: tab it felt like they had reason to celebrate and instead, 20 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:10,960 Speaker 2: things went completely off the rails in the second forty five. 21 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:13,480 Speaker 3: What do you see, man? What happened? 22 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:17,240 Speaker 1: Well? You know, first of all, obviously it's great to 23 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:19,679 Speaker 1: be on with you once again. I was watching the 24 00:01:19,720 --> 00:01:23,399 Speaker 1: game here with a buddy of mine, and you know 25 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:26,560 Speaker 1: what you just said about the Czechoslovakia game in nineteen 26 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 1: ninety is exactly what I thought towards the end of 27 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 1: the game. And the reason I'm mentioning that is because listen, 28 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: in sports, sometimes you just have a bad day, right, 29 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 1: and you just have to deal with it. It is 30 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:40,200 Speaker 1: what it is. You know, even the best players I'm 31 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:42,759 Speaker 1: George Jordan got hammered a couple of times in his life. 32 00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 1: But here's the thing, you don't forget it, right, And 33 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:50,600 Speaker 1: so I didn't think that at this point, this late 34 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:53,000 Speaker 1: in the game, being this close to the World Cup, 35 00:01:53,480 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 1: we would have a result that we're not going to 36 00:01:55,720 --> 00:01:59,120 Speaker 1: forget for a long time. And because that's what it 37 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 1: looked like, you know, I still remember, and I think, 38 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:04,000 Speaker 1: by the way, I think I've left at it with you, 39 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:06,240 Speaker 1: right like we I sat here and said, hey, we 40 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:09,079 Speaker 1: didn't belong on the field that day. We were we 41 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:11,280 Speaker 1: were just kids playing with men. And you know, like 42 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:14,680 Speaker 1: they just hammered us every you know, last night, the 43 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:17,240 Speaker 1: second half had a little bit of that feel to it, 44 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 1: and this close to the World Cup, but you know, 45 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:24,560 Speaker 1: it's here's the thing here, I will leave it at 46 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:27,400 Speaker 1: this is my first assessment of what I see. I'm 47 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:30,960 Speaker 1: I'm disappointed at the at the fact that this close 48 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 1: to the World Cup we got deflated yesterday, not just 49 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:37,440 Speaker 1: the players, but I think the fan base, I think 50 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:40,639 Speaker 1: everybody that watched the game. We left the game, by 51 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:44,360 Speaker 1: the way, not necessarily thinking that we can't recover from this, 52 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:48,600 Speaker 1: but the way we're all walking off the field. Let's 53 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:50,240 Speaker 1: face it, we're deflated at this point. 54 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:55,440 Speaker 2: And that's disappointing, especially coming after the previous three camps, 55 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 2: which had produced so many good performances and a couple 56 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:01,239 Speaker 2: of good results, and then a great result the five 57 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:05,680 Speaker 2: to one over Uruguay, which is the mirror opposite of 58 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:09,360 Speaker 2: this one. The vibes were so high, and to come 59 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:11,960 Speaker 2: into this game and play really well in the first half, 60 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:15,799 Speaker 2: I honestly thought the US played out outplayed Belgium in 61 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:18,399 Speaker 2: that first half, and then to have it all fall 62 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 2: apart so completely in the second half, I think deflated 63 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:23,240 Speaker 2: is the right word. 64 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 3: Before we jump in into the. 65 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:31,959 Speaker 2: Specifics, we should talk for a second about the jersey issue, 66 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 2: because the US were, you know, breaking out for the 67 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 2: first time the kind of the flag Waldo, which I 68 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 2: thought looked sharp, really great jerseys. The Waldos are my 69 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 2: all time favorite US jersey, and Belgium had a very 70 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:54,520 Speaker 2: similar color palette on their own jersey. My understanding is 71 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 2: that there was communication between the two team and men's 72 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 2: but maybe not enough, and then once it got close 73 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:03,680 Speaker 2: to game time and they realized that they were wearing 74 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:08,360 Speaker 2: essentially the same look in jersey, Neither team had backups 75 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 2: on hand, and the players, you know, Christian, Polistic, West, McKenny, 76 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 2: a few others said it was an issue. Politic says 77 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:19,600 Speaker 2: it's not an excuse at all because both teams dealt 78 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 2: with that, but it's just it can't happen. McKenny says, 79 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:26,040 Speaker 2: I won't put that at all for an excuse of 80 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:28,360 Speaker 2: the game, but definitely it was a little bit difficult 81 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 2: whenever you do a quick glance to tell which is which. 82 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:34,880 Speaker 2: It was almost like a fifty to fifty thing. I mean, 83 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:37,640 Speaker 2: Belgium didn't have many problems with it to that but 84 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:40,039 Speaker 2: it was it made for a tough watch. 85 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:43,000 Speaker 1: No, it's difficult. It's difficult for players on both teams. 86 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 1: There's no question because I think I think I'm going 87 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:48,320 Speaker 1: to go back to one of Christians quotes maybe and 88 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 1: he said something about sometimes you look up and you're 89 00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:53,839 Speaker 1: just looking for the color, right, because it's normal. The 90 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:57,920 Speaker 1: game moves by quickly. It's not like you're necessarily aiming 91 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:00,880 Speaker 1: for a certain player, but you're looking at the color 92 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 1: and you know that's your player. And sometimes when you 93 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:05,599 Speaker 1: especially when you play quickly, you're looking for the color 94 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:08,160 Speaker 1: and that has it has a big effect on that 95 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:11,159 Speaker 1: type of on that type of path. So I do 96 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:13,440 Speaker 1: agree with the players in this case. And you know, 97 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:16,840 Speaker 1: taking into consideration that now we're dealing with timeouts and 98 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:19,760 Speaker 1: everything else with the you know, the the quarters that 99 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:21,840 Speaker 1: we're playing now, in all of these things that we're 100 00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:25,360 Speaker 1: implementing to I guess make the game better. I think 101 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:28,320 Speaker 1: this is this is something that shouldn't have happened. 102 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:34,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, And the timeouts tabs referring to there were hydration 103 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:38,599 Speaker 2: breaks in this game, one about the twenty five minute 104 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:41,200 Speaker 2: mark and one about the sixty five minute mark in 105 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:44,200 Speaker 2: the second half, even though the game is played indoors 106 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 2: in a climate controlled dome. 107 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 3: Essentially. 108 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:51,960 Speaker 2: Look, man, I'm all for hydration breaks when the weather 109 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:54,719 Speaker 2: gets dangerous it's outside, you're in the Florida sun or whatever. 110 00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 3: When you're playing in a dome and. 111 00:05:57,320 --> 00:06:01,400 Speaker 2: It's seventy two degrees, that was a little weird to me, 112 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:05,719 Speaker 2: But all right. On today's show, we'll discuss where things 113 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 2: went wrong versus the Belgians and what we can learn because, 114 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 2: as Tab said, you have to learn from situations like this. 115 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:14,599 Speaker 2: It's a bad day, bad forty five minutes, but you 116 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:17,200 Speaker 2: got to figure out a way to make yourself better 117 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:20,719 Speaker 2: because of it. What Mauricio Pocheccino has to say after 118 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:23,839 Speaker 2: the match and what it all means. Will also acknowledge 119 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:26,520 Speaker 2: the few things that did go well, shout out Weston 120 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:29,680 Speaker 2: McKenny and give our starting eleven for the Portugal match 121 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:32,360 Speaker 2: on Tuesday. Plus we'll talk about the roster and what 122 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:35,359 Speaker 2: we think the Belgium loss means for guys on the 123 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:39,920 Speaker 2: bubble for the World Cup. So Tab, let's get into it. 124 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:44,360 Speaker 2: I mean, we should start with the negatives. You've been 125 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:46,760 Speaker 2: banging the drum for months since I've been on the 126 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:50,760 Speaker 2: show about the matchup with Jeremy Doku. 127 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:54,320 Speaker 3: Tim Reim was not. 128 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:56,800 Speaker 2: Quite on an island in the first half, but it 129 00:06:56,880 --> 00:07:01,160 Speaker 2: was close. And then in the second half Belgium realized 130 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:05,440 Speaker 2: we weren't pressing their back line, so they had they 131 00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:08,680 Speaker 2: had time to pick their heads up and hit these big, 132 00:07:08,760 --> 00:07:14,640 Speaker 2: long switches directly to their wingers and tim Weya went 133 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:17,360 Speaker 2: straight into the torture chamber and that was to me 134 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:18,840 Speaker 2: the story of the game. 135 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:22,320 Speaker 1: Well, you know, this is where I sound a little 136 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 1: bit like a dad, because I hate to say I 137 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:26,560 Speaker 1: told you so, right, but I think I wasn't the 138 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:29,520 Speaker 1: only one right. You know, we've been saying you can 139 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 1: go back on these shows for you're right, two or 140 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:34,920 Speaker 1: three shows where I said, okay, we're thinking of playing 141 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:38,000 Speaker 1: Tim waya right back, which is okay. By the way 142 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:40,440 Speaker 1: he does it at Marseille. He does a good job there. 143 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 1: They wouldn't put him there unless he could do the job. Now, 144 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:47,240 Speaker 1: let me start by saying this. You know, I went 145 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 1: to Madrid to the Champions League game to watch Real 146 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:54,360 Speaker 1: Madrid Manchester City. As we know, both top teams in 147 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:57,800 Speaker 1: the world still being top teams in the world, still 148 00:07:57,880 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 1: having Alexander Arnold, Mark King Doku. Madrid still needed Alexander 149 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:08,840 Speaker 1: Arnold to delay to allow Valverde to come back and 150 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:11,880 Speaker 1: Pie Tarts to come in from midfield to triple team 151 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:16,000 Speaker 1: Doku before they challenged the ball. So I'm thinking over 152 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:19,240 Speaker 1: the last three weeks, if Real Madrid has to play 153 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:23,160 Speaker 1: Doku with three players on him, why would we be 154 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 1: thinking that we can do the job with one. And 155 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:28,080 Speaker 1: this is so, this is why I'm not necessarily blaming 156 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:31,520 Speaker 1: Tim Wea for it. And maybe something broke down on 157 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:35,360 Speaker 1: the way right, but he was left one v one 158 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:40,440 Speaker 1: with with Doku too many times, and Doku at this 159 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:43,160 Speaker 1: point can be anyone one v one. 160 00:08:43,760 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 3: Yeah. 161 00:08:44,040 --> 00:08:49,240 Speaker 2: So Pocheccino said afterwards that it was quote a lack 162 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 2: of understanding from the midfield. He said, he pointed to Tanner, Testman, 163 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:58,640 Speaker 2: Johnny Cartoso and Weston McKenny. He said, we had we 164 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:02,080 Speaker 2: had three midfielders arrived to the same line as Tim, 165 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:05,680 Speaker 2: but they never went to help him. And you know, 166 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:09,760 Speaker 2: he said he wasn't upset because he told his midfielders 167 00:09:09,880 --> 00:09:12,920 Speaker 2: they needed to help weya on Doku and be aware 168 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:16,400 Speaker 2: of Doku cutting inside and shooting, which is what happened. 169 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:19,560 Speaker 2: The problem we had Pacheccino said, was no one helped 170 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:23,440 Speaker 2: in the areas you can help and are really important 171 00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:23,959 Speaker 2: to help. 172 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:24,319 Speaker 1: Tim. 173 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:27,640 Speaker 2: That's almost more worrying than the performance, because if the 174 00:09:27,640 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 2: coach is saying, we drilled this again and again and again, 175 00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:33,120 Speaker 2: or I told the players this again and again again 176 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 2: and then they didn't execute. 177 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:39,000 Speaker 3: It at all, but that is a massive issue. 178 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:43,320 Speaker 1: Well yeah, because okay, so you mentioned obviously it's part 179 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 1: of your tactics of the week. Okay, be careful with 180 00:09:45,559 --> 00:09:48,080 Speaker 1: Doku when he get Let's say, and I'm gonna make 181 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:50,559 Speaker 1: this up, but let's say this is exactly what happened. 182 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:51,040 Speaker 2: Uh. 183 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:53,520 Speaker 1: You know, us team trained to know that when the 184 00:09:53,559 --> 00:09:56,360 Speaker 1: ball goes wide to Doku, Weeya goes there, he delays 185 00:09:56,400 --> 00:09:58,680 Speaker 1: a little bit and wastes for help before he challenges 186 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:02,520 Speaker 1: the ball. Let's say that's not happening. Let's say, way, 187 00:10:02,559 --> 00:10:04,280 Speaker 1: I forgot about it, and let's say the rest of 188 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:08,160 Speaker 1: the team forgot about it. But that's what you're there 189 00:10:08,240 --> 00:10:12,240 Speaker 1: on the sideline for, to remind the players that this 190 00:10:12,320 --> 00:10:14,079 Speaker 1: is supposed to be happening. And by the way, I 191 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:17,480 Speaker 1: just made fun of soccer now having timeouts after minute 192 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:20,600 Speaker 1: twenty two, you have the full team in at the 193 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:22,760 Speaker 1: twenty second minute where you can talk to the whole 194 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:27,320 Speaker 1: team and correct that. Right then you have the rest 195 00:10:27,360 --> 00:10:29,760 Speaker 1: of the half and you have half time to correct that. 196 00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:34,080 Speaker 1: So I think, look, I mean there must have been 197 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:37,320 Speaker 1: a breakdown somewhere in communication there, but I think there's 198 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:41,200 Speaker 1: plenty of opportunity as the game is going to correct 199 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:41,880 Speaker 1: that as well. 200 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:48,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, there's Yeah, that is the frustrating part. I will 201 00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:54,360 Speaker 2: say there will be ample film to use during training 202 00:10:54,760 --> 00:10:59,520 Speaker 2: over the next hopefully starting today ahead of the Portugal game, 203 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:04,000 Speaker 2: because there's so much that needed to be corrected. But 204 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:06,319 Speaker 2: I mean you're right to have, like, what's the point 205 00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:09,920 Speaker 2: of those twenty five minute you know, water breaks if 206 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:12,560 Speaker 2: you're not going to fix what's going wrong. And I 207 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:15,280 Speaker 2: will say in the first half it felt a little 208 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:18,800 Speaker 2: bit better because I think that was because Belgium were 209 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:22,439 Speaker 2: trying forcing it really through central midfield, and the US 210 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:26,160 Speaker 2: did a good job of making that really difficult. As 211 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:28,480 Speaker 2: I said, in the second half, because of the lack 212 00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:32,480 Speaker 2: of pressure from the US front line, they were just 213 00:11:32,520 --> 00:11:34,880 Speaker 2: able to skip the midfield. One way they were doing 214 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 2: it was by those long diagonals, the other one was 215 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:42,160 Speaker 2: by playing directly up the gut and challenging the center 216 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:45,920 Speaker 2: back pairing of Tim Reem and Mark McKenzie on long balls, 217 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:49,000 Speaker 2: first ball, second ball. Stuff not really what you associate 218 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 2: with Belgium, but they realized if the US had a 219 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:56,240 Speaker 2: little dislocation between central midfield and the back line and 220 00:11:56,320 --> 00:11:59,360 Speaker 2: two kind of undersized center backs, that was something that 221 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:02,079 Speaker 2: they could take advantage of. So I think the second 222 00:12:02,120 --> 00:12:06,559 Speaker 2: Belgium goal was diagonal. Third Belgium goal was long ball, 223 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:09,120 Speaker 2: over the top, win the second ball and off to 224 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:14,160 Speaker 2: the races. And again the US never really adjusted for that. 225 00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:15,880 Speaker 2: In fact that I think over the final half hour 226 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:17,600 Speaker 2: the game tabit, it actually got worse. 227 00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:20,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, there's a couple of things. So I'll 228 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:23,560 Speaker 1: start with some positives, right, and if I look at 229 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:26,920 Speaker 1: the game overall, I think some of the things that 230 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:29,640 Speaker 1: I saw from Tim Waya in the first half, in particular, 231 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:31,520 Speaker 1: a couple of balls that he got over the top, 232 00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:33,920 Speaker 1: this is something that I can you know, if I'm 233 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:36,520 Speaker 1: looking forward now, and obviously you know in the World 234 00:12:36,559 --> 00:12:38,839 Speaker 1: Cup we don't play Belgium in the first round. We're 235 00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:42,080 Speaker 1: playing Paraguay and Australia as our first two games. You know, 236 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:45,320 Speaker 1: I can see Tim Waya playing that position and actually 237 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:49,320 Speaker 1: having an important effect on what's going to happen with 238 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:52,120 Speaker 1: us offensively. So I like that. I like what he did. 239 00:12:52,360 --> 00:12:55,920 Speaker 1: I like him coming from behind. I don't I personally 240 00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:59,480 Speaker 1: don't see that working without us playing three center backs. 241 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:02,440 Speaker 1: I just don't think we have enough quality at the 242 00:13:02,480 --> 00:13:05,040 Speaker 1: center back position to play with two. I think we 243 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:08,600 Speaker 1: have to play with three, which would free up Waya 244 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:11,200 Speaker 1: to go forward a lot and Robinson to go forward 245 00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:13,560 Speaker 1: a lot. So a lot of that movement that I 246 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:17,040 Speaker 1: saw both from Weea early on and from Robinson early on, 247 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:19,679 Speaker 1: I think it's positive and I think that's something that 248 00:13:19,760 --> 00:13:23,680 Speaker 1: we can do during the World Cup. I also, on 249 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:27,000 Speaker 1: the positive side, saw Johnny Cardoso that got involved in 250 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:29,480 Speaker 1: a good way, right. I mean, I think this was 251 00:13:29,480 --> 00:13:32,800 Speaker 1: a positive outcome for him in this game. And by 252 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:35,400 Speaker 1: the way, we said before this game, we said this 253 00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:37,959 Speaker 1: last week on the show that you're never going to 254 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:41,320 Speaker 1: see a flashy Johnny Cardoso. That's just not the player 255 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:44,120 Speaker 1: he is. But I think he completed the right passes. 256 00:13:44,400 --> 00:13:46,480 Speaker 1: I think he supported the right players. I think he 257 00:13:46,559 --> 00:13:49,600 Speaker 1: made a couple of very nice passes moving forward. And 258 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:52,480 Speaker 1: although we're not asking for a lot at this point, 259 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:57,080 Speaker 1: I think he, if anything, helped himself with yesterday's game. 260 00:13:57,520 --> 00:13:59,959 Speaker 1: Not saying a lot, I know, because not a lot happened, 261 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:02,440 Speaker 1: but I think he helped himself with the game that 262 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:04,960 Speaker 1: he played yesterday. And then I have to go to 263 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:09,360 Speaker 1: the to the negative side. First, I'll start with why 264 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:12,960 Speaker 1: Turner and goal Freeze has been playing in goal for 265 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:15,120 Speaker 1: the last twelve months and has done a great job. 266 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:19,280 Speaker 1: Why why create for me? Why create that doubt at 267 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:22,640 Speaker 1: this point, like with one being the last camp going 268 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:25,440 Speaker 1: into the World Cup. If there's if there's one position 269 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:29,720 Speaker 1: that could make or break your team is the goalkeeper position. 270 00:14:29,960 --> 00:14:32,760 Speaker 1: And we've lived it, fortunately on the good side in 271 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 1: this country for the last thirty years, from Tony Miola 272 00:14:35,640 --> 00:14:39,280 Speaker 1: to Brad Friedel, to Casey Keller to Tim Howard to 273 00:14:40,120 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 1: all of those guys right we've had we've been on 274 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:45,480 Speaker 1: the right side of that. We had been struggling coming 275 00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:49,640 Speaker 1: into the last six eight months in this position, and 276 00:14:49,720 --> 00:14:51,960 Speaker 1: I thought Freeze had done a pretty good job to 277 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:54,760 Speaker 1: earn that position and for us not to worry about it. 278 00:14:55,520 --> 00:14:58,920 Speaker 1: I didn't understand that. I again, I don't think Matt 279 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 1: Turner played a bad game. I don't think he helped 280 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:04,800 Speaker 1: himself in terms of becoming a starter for the World Cup. 281 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:06,880 Speaker 1: But why create that doubt. I thought Free should have 282 00:15:06,880 --> 00:15:11,560 Speaker 1: gotten the game. That's just me. Then you know salamachers 283 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:15,560 Speaker 1: in the middle of the field. We could not track 284 00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:19,000 Speaker 1: him like he was alone. He played alone. He ran 285 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:22,160 Speaker 1: the show for me. Other than Doku. He was the 286 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:25,200 Speaker 1: best player on the field. He ran the show from them. 287 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:28,360 Speaker 1: Anytime he had the ball. He played as if he 288 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:33,680 Speaker 1: was alone, really impressed with his game and disappointed with 289 00:15:33,760 --> 00:15:36,240 Speaker 1: the lack of us putting pressure on him and allowing 290 00:15:36,280 --> 00:15:39,080 Speaker 1: him to turn time after time when he was creating 291 00:15:39,160 --> 00:15:42,320 Speaker 1: so much in front of our back four and in 292 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:46,160 Speaker 1: front of our midfield. You know, other than that, I'd 293 00:15:46,240 --> 00:15:48,640 Speaker 1: have to say, and I'll go back to this, I'll 294 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:52,040 Speaker 1: finish with this, because sometimes it could be a little 295 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:55,600 Speaker 1: bit of fool's gold when you start to think, hey, 296 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:58,760 Speaker 1: you know, we were good for thirty nine minutes until 297 00:15:58,760 --> 00:16:02,480 Speaker 1: Belgium scored, and then I'm sorry, until we scored and 298 00:16:02,520 --> 00:16:06,200 Speaker 1: then Belgium changed. Let's not forget because we scored in 299 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:08,760 Speaker 1: the thirty ninth minute, and between the thirty ninth minute 300 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:12,120 Speaker 1: and the forty eighth minute, when the half ended, Belgium 301 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:15,400 Speaker 1: could have scored three times. Right, the game changed. The 302 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:18,000 Speaker 1: game completely changed when we scored, which means the opponent 303 00:16:18,120 --> 00:16:20,760 Speaker 1: changed too. And this reminds me of one thing. And 304 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:22,840 Speaker 1: I'm sorry I'm going too long on this, but it 305 00:16:22,880 --> 00:16:25,120 Speaker 1: reminds me of one thing. When I coached in Houston. 306 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:28,640 Speaker 1: We were in games all the time. The players worked 307 00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:31,000 Speaker 1: hard all the time, and you know, and we could 308 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:33,960 Speaker 1: always go back and say, yeah, we lost two to one, 309 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:36,760 Speaker 1: but up until the eightieth minute, we were the better team. 310 00:16:37,040 --> 00:16:41,720 Speaker 1: The bottom line is the good teams can just pound 311 00:16:41,800 --> 00:16:44,440 Speaker 1: you until you have nothing left and they will beat 312 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:47,040 Speaker 1: you either in the ninety second minute or they can 313 00:16:47,080 --> 00:16:49,640 Speaker 1: beat you early. And for us, I feel like we 314 00:16:49,720 --> 00:16:52,480 Speaker 1: lost early when we really in this game. If anything, 315 00:16:53,040 --> 00:16:56,000 Speaker 1: although Belgium is a better team, we should have lost 316 00:16:56,000 --> 00:16:57,720 Speaker 1: to them really late instead of early. 317 00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:03,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, to your point, Belgium could have scored three goals 318 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:05,800 Speaker 2: from the thirty ninth minute to halftime. The US could 319 00:17:05,840 --> 00:17:08,040 Speaker 2: have scored three goals from the whistle to the thirty 320 00:17:08,080 --> 00:17:08,600 Speaker 2: ninth minute. 321 00:17:08,600 --> 00:17:10,800 Speaker 3: They had their chances. Christian Polisic in. 322 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:14,520 Speaker 2: Particular, had a beautiful one that he put into row 323 00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:18,000 Speaker 2: thirty and Fochccino said afterwards that has to be a goal, 324 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:23,440 Speaker 2: and I don't necessarily disagree with him. I'll add one 325 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:26,640 Speaker 2: of the positive things you didn't touch on. I thought 326 00:17:26,680 --> 00:17:29,639 Speaker 2: set Peace delivery was really good from the US today. 327 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:35,399 Speaker 2: It was Malik Tillman and Jedi Robinson. It was Anthony 328 00:17:35,480 --> 00:17:38,920 Speaker 2: Robinson who had the assist on Weston mckennie's goal, which 329 00:17:38,960 --> 00:17:41,760 Speaker 2: was actually a really well worked set piece and not 330 00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:45,439 Speaker 2: in the style of the meat wall that Arsenal have 331 00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:48,639 Speaker 2: been doing this year that makes the game unwatchable. It 332 00:17:48,680 --> 00:17:50,439 Speaker 2: was actually just a really good set piece, so that 333 00:17:50,520 --> 00:17:54,600 Speaker 2: was nice to see. Weston mckennie overall playing is kind 334 00:17:54,600 --> 00:17:58,280 Speaker 2: of a right winger. I thought was the best player 335 00:17:59,119 --> 00:18:07,000 Speaker 2: for the US. There weren't a ton of other outstanding performances. 336 00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:11,440 Speaker 2: I don't even know if I could call Weston's performance outstanding. 337 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:16,800 Speaker 2: I will say that Christian Polistics performance was concerning. It's 338 00:18:16,840 --> 00:18:18,960 Speaker 2: now I think he's got one goal in his last 339 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:21,920 Speaker 2: ten games for the US, going back about two years, 340 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:27,439 Speaker 2: all the way to the start of Pachtino's tenure. He 341 00:18:27,560 --> 00:18:31,040 Speaker 2: missed that chance. He didn't create any chances to speak of. 342 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:35,440 Speaker 2: He has now been taken off set peace duty, thank goodness. 343 00:18:36,640 --> 00:18:40,200 Speaker 2: And it was his lack of pressure to the ball 344 00:18:40,640 --> 00:18:44,879 Speaker 2: early in the second half that allowed Belgium to get 345 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:48,280 Speaker 2: out on the run and to open the game up 346 00:18:48,400 --> 00:18:51,879 Speaker 2: and to put Doku into one v one situations either 347 00:18:51,960 --> 00:18:55,400 Speaker 2: with Weya or even skipping Weya who was pushing up 348 00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:58,880 Speaker 2: on the right side and dragging Mark McKenzie out. And 349 00:18:59,080 --> 00:19:01,160 Speaker 2: Mark McKenzie is a good player, but one v one 350 00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:03,359 Speaker 2: in spa. I don't like any center back in the 351 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:07,919 Speaker 2: world one v one in space against Doku. What do 352 00:19:07,960 --> 00:19:11,760 Speaker 2: we read into this into this performance from Christian Polistic? 353 00:19:11,760 --> 00:19:12,560 Speaker 3: And do we read. 354 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:16,760 Speaker 2: Anything into the fact that the best US camp under 355 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:22,280 Speaker 2: Mauricio Pochettino was the November camp that Christian Polistic was. 356 00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:24,800 Speaker 3: Not a member of. Is there anything in that tab? 357 00:19:25,680 --> 00:19:28,040 Speaker 1: Well? I mean, you you, you can't help but to 358 00:19:28,119 --> 00:19:29,720 Speaker 1: read something into it. 359 00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:30,000 Speaker 4: Right. 360 00:19:32,040 --> 00:19:35,879 Speaker 1: Having said that, I think that, you know, Christian just 361 00:19:35,880 --> 00:19:39,800 Speaker 1: doesn't look as comfortable on this team for whatever reason. 362 00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:44,920 Speaker 1: He still had a couple chances to score. You know, sometimes, 363 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:47,720 Speaker 1: especially against good teams like Belgium, is difficult to to 364 00:19:47,840 --> 00:19:51,240 Speaker 1: create those chances. I thought he created himself a great 365 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:53,640 Speaker 1: chance dribbling in the box and a left footed shot 366 00:19:53,680 --> 00:19:56,359 Speaker 1: that went over the top that normally you would think 367 00:19:56,440 --> 00:19:58,600 Speaker 1: he tucks that in the corner right, and it just 368 00:19:58,640 --> 00:20:02,880 Speaker 1: didn't happen for him. I'm not as negative about Christian's 369 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:07,439 Speaker 1: game as I've heard other people be, only because I 370 00:20:07,560 --> 00:20:09,960 Speaker 1: still think he looks to me focused to want to 371 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:13,160 Speaker 1: do well, and I think he did create some chances 372 00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:16,520 Speaker 1: for himself. You know, still we need a lot more 373 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:20,400 Speaker 1: from him. But you know, in general, when I look 374 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:24,680 Speaker 1: at the performance of Christian Polisic and the performance of 375 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:27,240 Speaker 1: Flow Balogun at the same time and see that they 376 00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:30,480 Speaker 1: were not in the game much at all, I think 377 00:20:30,520 --> 00:20:34,320 Speaker 1: this becomes more of a more concerning as to why 378 00:20:34,359 --> 00:20:36,639 Speaker 1: in midfield we didn't have the ball and we didn't 379 00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:40,400 Speaker 1: create enough to put them in good position to make plays. 380 00:20:41,720 --> 00:20:45,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, the US were able to really get a rhythm 381 00:20:45,520 --> 00:20:48,760 Speaker 2: in possession. They were still dangerous at times with the 382 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:52,800 Speaker 2: ball going forward in that first half. 383 00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:55,080 Speaker 3: A couple of good overlaps I. 384 00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:58,560 Speaker 2: Think Jedi Robinson got four twice in about the first 385 00:20:58,600 --> 00:21:00,720 Speaker 2: ten to fifteen minutes or so. Faded out of the 386 00:21:00,760 --> 00:21:02,920 Speaker 2: game a little bit after that, but he did look 387 00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:05,879 Speaker 2: up for it physically, and of course Weea had his 388 00:21:05,920 --> 00:21:08,359 Speaker 2: hands full on the right, but he did provide some 389 00:21:08,520 --> 00:21:12,439 Speaker 2: with in the attack at times. But this actually speaks 390 00:21:12,440 --> 00:21:15,200 Speaker 2: to a little bit of a change in the tactical 391 00:21:15,240 --> 00:21:19,080 Speaker 2: approach that we've seen from the US over the previous 392 00:21:19,119 --> 00:21:22,200 Speaker 2: half dozen gamestaf because we've talked about it on this show. 393 00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:25,520 Speaker 2: How it's a back four, but then one of the 394 00:21:25,560 --> 00:21:28,320 Speaker 2: full back slides in and becomes essentially a full time 395 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:30,879 Speaker 2: center back while the other just pushes forward. And you 396 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:34,240 Speaker 2: think about Alex Freeman what he did against Dorguay. He 397 00:21:34,440 --> 00:21:37,119 Speaker 2: was nominally the right back, but he was basically playing 398 00:21:37,119 --> 00:21:37,919 Speaker 2: as a right winger. 399 00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:39,960 Speaker 3: It wasn't that approach in this game. 400 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:43,840 Speaker 2: It was a back four and the fullbacks would take 401 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:50,040 Speaker 2: turns pushing forward, and which is not unusual. We've seen 402 00:21:50,080 --> 00:21:53,240 Speaker 2: that a lot over the past thirty years as tactics 403 00:21:53,240 --> 00:21:56,119 Speaker 2: in the game have evolved. And then when they wanted 404 00:21:56,119 --> 00:21:59,240 Speaker 2: to form a back three, it was either Johnny Cardozo 405 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:02,280 Speaker 2: dropping off off to left center back, making Tim Ream 406 00:22:02,320 --> 00:22:05,480 Speaker 2: the sweeper, or Tanner Testaman dropping into the middle of 407 00:22:05,520 --> 00:22:08,720 Speaker 2: the back line, pushing Reim out to the left and 408 00:22:08,840 --> 00:22:12,080 Speaker 2: McKenzie out to the right, and then both fullbacks would 409 00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:16,600 Speaker 2: go up and honestly, I don't mind this, but the 410 00:22:16,680 --> 00:22:20,040 Speaker 2: rotations have to be crisp and everybody has to be 411 00:22:20,080 --> 00:22:22,200 Speaker 2: on the same page. And I think what. 412 00:22:22,119 --> 00:22:24,240 Speaker 3: We saw is that they really weren't. 413 00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:28,080 Speaker 2: Because Malik Tillman, if Tanner Testament's dropping out of the 414 00:22:28,119 --> 00:22:30,800 Speaker 2: back line, Johnny Cardos is dropping out of the back line, 415 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:33,960 Speaker 2: Malik Tillman has to drop in and form. 416 00:22:33,800 --> 00:22:36,959 Speaker 3: That double pivot so that they have outlets. 417 00:22:36,600 --> 00:22:38,800 Speaker 2: And he just didn't do that, and so the US 418 00:22:38,840 --> 00:22:40,400 Speaker 2: didn't have a way to progress the ball. 419 00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:43,600 Speaker 1: No, And that's right because Tilman really was not in 420 00:22:43,640 --> 00:22:48,560 Speaker 1: the game at all yesterday, and that's unfortunate. That's why, 421 00:22:48,760 --> 00:22:52,280 Speaker 1: you know, I keep saying that at this point, I'm 422 00:22:52,400 --> 00:22:55,680 Speaker 1: sort of seeing our team succeed if we add another 423 00:22:55,840 --> 00:22:59,679 Speaker 1: center back and have three permanent center backs there. I 424 00:22:59,680 --> 00:23:01,920 Speaker 1: think that would be the best solution to what we do. 425 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:04,680 Speaker 1: It would be the best solution in terms of allowing 426 00:23:04,720 --> 00:23:07,600 Speaker 1: both Way and Robinson to give forward all the time 427 00:23:07,880 --> 00:23:11,119 Speaker 1: and to keep the center of the field steady without 428 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:13,520 Speaker 1: having you know, one of the midfielders dropper or the 429 00:23:13,560 --> 00:23:16,560 Speaker 1: other midfielders dropped. You know, you keep three in the back, 430 00:23:16,600 --> 00:23:19,640 Speaker 1: you keep two defensive mids, and then you let everyone 431 00:23:19,680 --> 00:23:22,640 Speaker 1: else attack and no matter what happens, no matter when 432 00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:25,320 Speaker 1: the turnover happens to come the other way, you're in 433 00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:29,520 Speaker 1: good position in the center of the field and well covered. Uh. 434 00:23:30,359 --> 00:23:33,120 Speaker 2: Mauricio Pocheccino, I think we'll like with this. Marcio Pocheccino 435 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:34,800 Speaker 2: after the game said we need to keep going with 436 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:37,959 Speaker 2: the plan and that's not going to change with the 437 00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:40,200 Speaker 2: result today, and Western McKenny kind of echo that. 438 00:23:40,280 --> 00:23:40,520 Speaker 3: I said. 439 00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:42,760 Speaker 2: I don't think it's a worrisome result for us because 440 00:23:42,920 --> 00:23:45,320 Speaker 2: within the team, we know we can do better, we 441 00:23:45,400 --> 00:23:48,719 Speaker 2: know what went wrong, and we also know and believe 442 00:23:48,840 --> 00:23:52,840 Speaker 2: fully that we can play with a team of this caliber. 443 00:23:53,640 --> 00:23:58,000 Speaker 2: We have seen it before against Uruguay. They're top ten team, 444 00:23:58,280 --> 00:24:03,080 Speaker 2: just like belgiumar We've seen the US beat Paraguay and Australia, 445 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:05,440 Speaker 2: teams that they'll have to beat in the World Cup. 446 00:24:06,320 --> 00:24:09,240 Speaker 2: Hopefully that is the real version of the US and 447 00:24:09,280 --> 00:24:11,919 Speaker 2: not the team that fell apart so completely in the 448 00:24:11,920 --> 00:24:14,440 Speaker 2: second half of this one. We should mention shout out 449 00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:17,120 Speaker 2: to big pat Agiamont. He came off the bench, got 450 00:24:17,119 --> 00:24:19,320 Speaker 2: a goal, I thought. Ricardo Peppy came off the bench, 451 00:24:19,800 --> 00:24:22,800 Speaker 2: helped himself set up the goal with his pressing. Both 452 00:24:22,840 --> 00:24:27,360 Speaker 2: those guys did some good for themselves. Not a lot 453 00:24:27,359 --> 00:24:32,120 Speaker 2: of US players can say that. After this one for US, 454 00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:34,040 Speaker 2: I think it's time for a break up. Next, we'll 455 00:24:34,040 --> 00:24:36,760 Speaker 2: discuss what we want to see the US do against 456 00:24:36,800 --> 00:24:39,800 Speaker 2: Portugal on Tuesday, and we'll give our starting eleven for 457 00:24:39,880 --> 00:24:40,320 Speaker 2: the match. 458 00:24:40,520 --> 00:24:43,000 Speaker 3: Please rate, review and subscribe to Inside. 459 00:24:42,680 --> 00:24:45,679 Speaker 2: American Soccer with Tom Boger and Tam Ramos wherever you 460 00:24:45,720 --> 00:24:59,400 Speaker 2: get your podcasts. All right, folks, welcome back to Inside 461 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:02,280 Speaker 2: American Soccer and TAB. Let's just get right to it. 462 00:25:02,359 --> 00:25:06,600 Speaker 2: We got another game coming up on Tuesday against Portugal. Uh, 463 00:25:06,720 --> 00:25:11,440 Speaker 2: let's go through your starting eleven. Let's go line by line, right, 464 00:25:11,480 --> 00:25:15,320 Speaker 2: We'll start in goal. You made your case for Matt 465 00:25:15,359 --> 00:25:17,920 Speaker 2: Freeze earlier in the show, and I assume that he's 466 00:25:17,960 --> 00:25:18,880 Speaker 2: your starter for this game. 467 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:21,960 Speaker 1: Uh, yeah, he is. And and only because you know, 468 00:25:22,440 --> 00:25:25,199 Speaker 1: why change more than anything else, Why add doubt to 469 00:25:25,280 --> 00:25:28,440 Speaker 1: that position? I think you know, Uh, Matt had done 470 00:25:28,480 --> 00:25:30,399 Speaker 1: a Matt Freeze had done a good had done a 471 00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:33,040 Speaker 1: good job, and and I thought, you know, for his confidence, 472 00:25:33,040 --> 00:25:35,240 Speaker 1: would have been better to stay on and get more 473 00:25:35,240 --> 00:25:38,359 Speaker 1: minutes with the national team. So he'll be for me, 474 00:25:38,520 --> 00:25:40,879 Speaker 1: he should be back in goal. Again, this is this 475 00:25:40,920 --> 00:25:43,359 Speaker 1: would be my lineup, not what I think Pochettino is 476 00:25:43,359 --> 00:25:46,000 Speaker 1: going to do. I would have three center backs, I 477 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:49,800 Speaker 1: would add considering the injuries we have, so I'm obviously 478 00:25:50,119 --> 00:25:53,040 Speaker 1: thinking that you know, uh Richards is not going to 479 00:25:53,080 --> 00:25:57,359 Speaker 1: be available and so because of and Miles Robinson's not 480 00:25:57,359 --> 00:25:59,720 Speaker 1: going to be available. Because of that, I would start 481 00:25:59,720 --> 00:26:03,480 Speaker 1: free Men as the right center back, with Mackenzie and 482 00:26:03,560 --> 00:26:11,240 Speaker 1: Reem as a three center back way on the right side, Robinson, 483 00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:14,200 Speaker 1: Jedi Robinson on the left side. I would have McKinney 484 00:26:14,200 --> 00:26:19,199 Speaker 1: and Tesman in the central two central spots with Aaronson, 485 00:26:19,520 --> 00:26:22,720 Speaker 1: Pulisick and Balligan. And the reason I'm gonna add Aaronson 486 00:26:22,800 --> 00:26:25,720 Speaker 1: is because I think the team, without a doubt, will 487 00:26:25,760 --> 00:26:28,359 Speaker 1: be a little bit deflated, as we mentioned before, and 488 00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:31,440 Speaker 1: I think the energy that Aaronson brings, I think and 489 00:26:31,600 --> 00:26:34,280 Speaker 1: have a really positive effect on the team at the moment. 490 00:26:34,359 --> 00:26:38,840 Speaker 1: And I think at this time, although I think normally 491 00:26:38,920 --> 00:26:41,119 Speaker 1: at the World Cup this is not one of the 492 00:26:41,119 --> 00:26:43,480 Speaker 1: players that I would put on the starting eleven, I 493 00:26:43,520 --> 00:26:46,800 Speaker 1: think the team needs Aaronson a little bit at this time. 494 00:26:47,880 --> 00:26:48,080 Speaker 3: Yeah. 495 00:26:48,080 --> 00:26:52,960 Speaker 2: I've never been a huge Brennan Aaronson fan, but coming 496 00:26:53,000 --> 00:26:55,720 Speaker 2: off that game where I've already said it three times 497 00:26:55,720 --> 00:26:58,639 Speaker 2: on the show, but the US sproatline was not doing 498 00:26:58,680 --> 00:27:02,040 Speaker 2: the work to get pressure to the Belgian back line. 499 00:27:02,200 --> 00:27:04,600 Speaker 2: But let's you never have to worry about that with 500 00:27:04,640 --> 00:27:07,840 Speaker 2: Brendan Rison. He is going to do that work defensively, 501 00:27:07,960 --> 00:27:11,560 Speaker 2: and the US badly needed that one. And against teams 502 00:27:11,600 --> 00:27:14,720 Speaker 2: of that caliber, you can't take your foot off the 503 00:27:14,800 --> 00:27:17,880 Speaker 2: gas even if you're one hundred yards from goal, and 504 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:20,800 Speaker 2: I think Aaronson can maybe set the tone a little bit, 505 00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:21,600 Speaker 2: so I don't hate that. 506 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:23,879 Speaker 3: Let me ask you about Tanner Testament. He's a player 507 00:27:23,920 --> 00:27:24,480 Speaker 3: I really like. 508 00:27:25,240 --> 00:27:27,720 Speaker 2: He almost scored a goal and it had a really 509 00:27:27,800 --> 00:27:30,520 Speaker 2: good shot from about twenty two yards early in the 510 00:27:30,560 --> 00:27:33,280 Speaker 2: game of a well worked set piece. Didn't do much 511 00:27:33,359 --> 00:27:35,920 Speaker 2: else other than that except end up being about three 512 00:27:36,000 --> 00:27:39,399 Speaker 2: yards behind the play for the entire game. When asked 513 00:27:39,440 --> 00:27:44,680 Speaker 2: about him afterwards, Rise, which kept it really short, said 514 00:27:44,960 --> 00:27:49,080 Speaker 2: he can do better. What did you see from Tanner Testaman, 515 00:27:49,320 --> 00:27:51,280 Speaker 2: Because tab he's a guy that you and I have 516 00:27:51,440 --> 00:27:54,679 Speaker 2: both consistently had in our best eleven for the US, 517 00:27:54,680 --> 00:27:56,920 Speaker 2: and he looked nothing like that in the game. 518 00:27:56,960 --> 00:27:57,600 Speaker 3: Against Beltium. 519 00:27:57,800 --> 00:28:01,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think he struggled with having to come back 520 00:28:01,720 --> 00:28:04,280 Speaker 1: and put himself in between the center back, so let's 521 00:28:04,280 --> 00:28:08,119 Speaker 1: say in between Robinson and reim right in that spot. 522 00:28:08,400 --> 00:28:11,560 Speaker 1: He struggled with being able to do that and getting 523 00:28:11,640 --> 00:28:14,679 Speaker 1: into that line, which he did at times, but then 524 00:28:14,720 --> 00:28:17,080 Speaker 1: at the same time to then be able to take 525 00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:20,160 Speaker 1: six or seven, you know, steps forward, to be able 526 00:28:20,200 --> 00:28:22,119 Speaker 1: to receive both, to be able to create for us, 527 00:28:22,119 --> 00:28:24,720 Speaker 1: and he didn't do that. I did notice that in 528 00:28:24,760 --> 00:28:27,880 Speaker 1: the first half when we were attacking and Belgium had 529 00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:32,680 Speaker 1: some some turnovers and recover the ball and try to 530 00:28:32,680 --> 00:28:34,920 Speaker 1: play through the middle. He did intercept a couple balls, 531 00:28:34,920 --> 00:28:36,920 Speaker 1: so he was in the right place. I just feel 532 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:40,080 Speaker 1: like the game, the game didn't help him at all, 533 00:28:40,120 --> 00:28:42,239 Speaker 1: and I don't want to make excuses for him, but 534 00:28:42,280 --> 00:28:45,320 Speaker 1: I'd like to see him again because I think he 535 00:28:45,360 --> 00:28:46,000 Speaker 1: can do better. 536 00:28:47,200 --> 00:28:50,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's exactly what Mauricio Poccino said. And you're not 537 00:28:50,840 --> 00:28:54,640 Speaker 2: you're not dropping wesn mckennye back a line into that 538 00:28:54,800 --> 00:28:58,160 Speaker 2: double pivot with Tanner Tasman, and I understand that because 539 00:28:58,200 --> 00:28:59,800 Speaker 2: West has played there a lot for the US, He's 540 00:28:59,800 --> 00:29:02,440 Speaker 2: played there a lot for Juventus. I thought he was 541 00:29:02,480 --> 00:29:06,680 Speaker 2: really good in the attack for the US against Belgium. 542 00:29:06,680 --> 00:29:08,960 Speaker 2: But is it just a case of like, Okay, he's 543 00:29:08,960 --> 00:29:11,320 Speaker 2: probably this team's best player at this point, so you 544 00:29:11,400 --> 00:29:14,360 Speaker 2: want to have your team's best player in the heart 545 00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:16,640 Speaker 2: of it all, stirring the drink and give him the 546 00:29:16,680 --> 00:29:20,080 Speaker 2: responsibility to set the tone. Probably have the most touches 547 00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:20,560 Speaker 2: on the team. 548 00:29:20,760 --> 00:29:22,840 Speaker 1: Well, you know, the one thing you can always count 549 00:29:22,920 --> 00:29:25,719 Speaker 1: on with Weston is that he's going to make that effort, 550 00:29:26,400 --> 00:29:29,000 Speaker 1: you know, to get around the field to try to 551 00:29:29,040 --> 00:29:32,120 Speaker 1: recover the ball. I think, if anything, what didn't help 552 00:29:32,200 --> 00:29:34,880 Speaker 1: him yesterday was getting that early yellow card in the 553 00:29:34,920 --> 00:29:37,960 Speaker 1: first half and he lost a little bit of aggressiveness 554 00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:41,240 Speaker 1: at that point. But I think we can't I wouldn't 555 00:29:41,240 --> 00:29:43,080 Speaker 1: take him off the field. I think he was still 556 00:29:43,120 --> 00:29:46,160 Speaker 1: one of our best players yesterday and he needs to 557 00:29:46,160 --> 00:29:48,760 Speaker 1: be on the field. And in order to fit Aaronson, 558 00:29:49,440 --> 00:29:51,360 Speaker 1: that's the player that I have to drop a little bit. 559 00:29:51,360 --> 00:29:54,040 Speaker 1: So I wouldn't mind doing that. I think that would 560 00:29:54,040 --> 00:29:55,960 Speaker 1: be that would be the right solution for me. 561 00:29:58,120 --> 00:29:59,520 Speaker 3: Let's talk about. 562 00:29:59,480 --> 00:30:01,480 Speaker 2: The back, the center backs in particular. 563 00:30:01,520 --> 00:30:01,680 Speaker 3: Now. 564 00:30:01,720 --> 00:30:05,080 Speaker 2: Alex Freeman did get on for a late cameo We've 565 00:30:05,120 --> 00:30:07,800 Speaker 2: talked about his move to via Real quite a bit 566 00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:09,880 Speaker 2: on this show. It's a move that both of us 567 00:30:10,080 --> 00:30:14,160 Speaker 2: like in macro level micro level. We worried about playing time, 568 00:30:14,240 --> 00:30:16,920 Speaker 2: and it turns out that was justified. He's played about 569 00:30:16,960 --> 00:30:19,320 Speaker 2: fifty minutes I think since the. 570 00:30:19,320 --> 00:30:20,640 Speaker 3: Move in January. 571 00:30:21,360 --> 00:30:24,240 Speaker 2: But he's been good for Manicio Pocheccino, and he's played 572 00:30:24,240 --> 00:30:27,480 Speaker 2: it either as a you know, really attacking fullback, but 573 00:30:27,560 --> 00:30:31,440 Speaker 2: sometimes he's played as a third center back. In this setup, 574 00:30:31,960 --> 00:30:35,480 Speaker 2: you have him as kind of a true center back 575 00:30:35,720 --> 00:30:38,320 Speaker 2: in that back three tab and walk us through that. 576 00:30:38,520 --> 00:30:41,640 Speaker 1: Yeah. I what I like is he's he has the speed, 577 00:30:41,680 --> 00:30:44,120 Speaker 1: He's able to defend one v one. I think he 578 00:30:44,160 --> 00:30:48,000 Speaker 1: would be a good addition to way Aside because he 579 00:30:48,040 --> 00:30:50,720 Speaker 1: can cover Way and at times he can go forward too. 580 00:30:51,720 --> 00:30:53,800 Speaker 1: I think he's a he would be a great addition 581 00:30:53,840 --> 00:30:56,200 Speaker 1: to the three center backs. I guess you know. What 582 00:30:56,280 --> 00:30:58,560 Speaker 1: I would say is, obviously we don't have we don't 583 00:30:58,600 --> 00:31:01,040 Speaker 1: have Richards, and we don't have Miles Robinson. Although Miles 584 00:31:01,120 --> 00:31:03,680 Speaker 1: Robinson is not in great form at the moment, I 585 00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:08,160 Speaker 1: think for what we have in this current roster, I 586 00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:11,760 Speaker 1: think I think try and Freeman in that position would 587 00:31:11,800 --> 00:31:12,280 Speaker 1: be helpful. 588 00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:17,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, he's done it before. Hopefully he'll get a chance 589 00:31:17,280 --> 00:31:20,000 Speaker 2: to do it again. On the other side, left center back, 590 00:31:20,280 --> 00:31:25,080 Speaker 2: you have Tim Reim who had moments with the ball 591 00:31:25,360 --> 00:31:27,800 Speaker 2: where he looked like the Tim Reim of old. His 592 00:31:28,200 --> 00:31:32,560 Speaker 2: line breaking passes, he puts guys in better positions than 593 00:31:32,600 --> 00:31:35,400 Speaker 2: any of our other center backs. Like he still has 594 00:31:35,440 --> 00:31:38,200 Speaker 2: that to his game. But one of the things that 595 00:31:38,240 --> 00:31:42,160 Speaker 2: Belgium was able to take advantage of was his lack 596 00:31:42,240 --> 00:31:44,840 Speaker 2: of size and athleticism. And if you go back and 597 00:31:44,880 --> 00:31:48,680 Speaker 2: look at that second half, they made him challenge a 598 00:31:48,720 --> 00:31:51,400 Speaker 2: lot of aerials and he has never. 599 00:31:51,200 --> 00:31:53,640 Speaker 3: Been great in the air, and they were able. 600 00:31:53,400 --> 00:31:56,400 Speaker 2: To go first ball, second ball, and off to the races. 601 00:31:57,560 --> 00:31:59,440 Speaker 2: But we still have him out there. I think I 602 00:31:59,440 --> 00:32:02,920 Speaker 2: would probably start him too. Is there any argument in 603 00:32:02,960 --> 00:32:05,680 Speaker 2: your mind for Austin Trusty getting this start at left 604 00:32:05,680 --> 00:32:06,520 Speaker 2: center back instead? 605 00:32:07,960 --> 00:32:09,959 Speaker 1: At this point, I would say no, you know, I 606 00:32:10,000 --> 00:32:14,560 Speaker 1: think and I've been critical of Tim and not critical obviously. 607 00:32:14,680 --> 00:32:16,920 Speaker 1: Tim is a great player, has been a great player, 608 00:32:17,880 --> 00:32:19,720 Speaker 1: you know, But I've been a little bit critical because 609 00:32:19,720 --> 00:32:22,960 Speaker 1: I think we can do better in that position. I think, 610 00:32:23,040 --> 00:32:25,600 Speaker 1: considering where we are today with the roster, that we 611 00:32:25,680 --> 00:32:28,520 Speaker 1: have and the guys that are injured. I think that's 612 00:32:28,560 --> 00:32:30,719 Speaker 1: the best solution. And to be fair to Tim, I 613 00:32:30,760 --> 00:32:32,920 Speaker 1: don't think he played a bad game. I think you're 614 00:32:33,120 --> 00:32:36,400 Speaker 1: right in the fact that you know, Belgium try to 615 00:32:36,440 --> 00:32:38,800 Speaker 1: take advant advantage a little bit over the top, but 616 00:32:38,960 --> 00:32:41,200 Speaker 1: you know that's what you do as a team. But 617 00:32:41,280 --> 00:32:43,720 Speaker 1: this is the reason why I would play three center backs. 618 00:32:44,480 --> 00:32:46,920 Speaker 1: I would pair him with with other guys who can 619 00:32:46,960 --> 00:32:49,160 Speaker 1: help him in that position, and by and by being 620 00:32:49,200 --> 00:32:51,440 Speaker 1: a third center back. I have to say, you know, 621 00:32:51,480 --> 00:32:54,920 Speaker 1: Tim was excellent in distribution in this game. I don't 622 00:32:54,960 --> 00:32:57,520 Speaker 1: know that he missed the pass. He may have, but 623 00:32:57,600 --> 00:33:01,040 Speaker 1: his passes were Chris. They were sharp between lines that 624 00:33:01,160 --> 00:33:05,880 Speaker 1: were right to the perfect foot. You know. He actually 625 00:33:05,880 --> 00:33:07,320 Speaker 1: with the ball, he did really well. 626 00:33:08,360 --> 00:33:11,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, he's always been gifted with that. It's a weapon 627 00:33:11,160 --> 00:33:13,360 Speaker 2: for the US and you can see why so many 628 00:33:13,400 --> 00:33:16,880 Speaker 2: coaches have trusted him club and country to be sort 629 00:33:16,880 --> 00:33:20,120 Speaker 2: of the main distribution hub for the teams that he 630 00:33:20,160 --> 00:33:23,120 Speaker 2: plays for. Let's go back in the other direction up top. 631 00:33:23,320 --> 00:33:25,360 Speaker 2: We've talked about it a lot on this show. For 632 00:33:25,560 --> 00:33:29,240 Speaker 2: ac Milan, Christian Polistic plays as a second forward. He 633 00:33:29,360 --> 00:33:33,680 Speaker 2: doesn't have the responsibility to make the plays. It's more 634 00:33:33,840 --> 00:33:38,200 Speaker 2: just finishing plays off and that's kind of what we 635 00:33:38,320 --> 00:33:41,240 Speaker 2: have him as here. The way you have it set 636 00:33:41,360 --> 00:33:44,240 Speaker 2: up is this sort of a you know, a three 637 00:33:44,200 --> 00:33:47,800 Speaker 2: to five to two with Aaronson dropping deeper almost as 638 00:33:47,840 --> 00:33:52,160 Speaker 2: a as a playmaker, and Pulisic and Baligan up top together. 639 00:33:52,600 --> 00:33:54,440 Speaker 2: Or is it more of like a three four two 640 00:33:54,560 --> 00:33:58,240 Speaker 2: one with Pulisic and Aaronson kind of on the same 641 00:33:58,360 --> 00:33:59,840 Speaker 2: line underneath Balligan. 642 00:34:00,160 --> 00:34:02,320 Speaker 1: I have it more as a three four to two one, 643 00:34:03,120 --> 00:34:05,480 Speaker 1: only because I think Aaronson can help a lot more 644 00:34:05,520 --> 00:34:08,319 Speaker 1: in an early bowl recovery. I wouldn't want to see 645 00:34:08,400 --> 00:34:09,880 Speaker 1: him deeper in midfield. 646 00:34:10,120 --> 00:34:11,480 Speaker 3: Well we will see. 647 00:34:12,440 --> 00:34:18,520 Speaker 2: You know, Mauricio Pocchettino has not hesitated to to to 648 00:34:18,600 --> 00:34:21,280 Speaker 2: throw stuff at the wall see what stakes And sometimes 649 00:34:21,280 --> 00:34:24,200 Speaker 2: it has and sometimes, as in the second half against Belgium, 650 00:34:24,239 --> 00:34:26,640 Speaker 2: it has it. With this lineup, tap, do you have 651 00:34:26,760 --> 00:34:30,120 Speaker 2: any subs in mind? I mean we saw gi Arena 652 00:34:30,440 --> 00:34:33,279 Speaker 2: come off the bench. He didn't really do much. There 653 00:34:33,320 --> 00:34:36,120 Speaker 2: are obviously a couple of defensive midfielders you could choose 654 00:34:36,160 --> 00:34:40,080 Speaker 2: from anyone in particular that you would want to see 655 00:34:40,360 --> 00:34:43,440 Speaker 2: at say the hour mark, if this is the lineup 656 00:34:43,800 --> 00:34:45,840 Speaker 2: that the US trots out on Tuesday. 657 00:34:46,080 --> 00:34:48,120 Speaker 1: Well, first I have to say that I had one 658 00:34:48,160 --> 00:34:50,200 Speaker 1: doubt on the roster I put together, and that was 659 00:34:50,239 --> 00:34:53,640 Speaker 1: whether I would start Testament or Cardozo, right, because I 660 00:34:53,640 --> 00:34:57,160 Speaker 1: think Cardozo likely deserves another start at this point. And 661 00:34:57,160 --> 00:34:58,680 Speaker 1: if you were to put him to McKinny and make 662 00:34:58,719 --> 00:35:01,680 Speaker 1: them that true defensive mid I think that can work. 663 00:35:02,400 --> 00:35:05,200 Speaker 1: So I would say that that that's one place. But 664 00:35:05,239 --> 00:35:08,000 Speaker 1: then up top, really you have a lot of different options, right, 665 00:35:08,000 --> 00:35:11,200 Speaker 1: because you could potentially go you could take Aaronson out 666 00:35:11,200 --> 00:35:13,720 Speaker 1: and go to two forwards and just have Christian polistic 667 00:35:13,840 --> 00:35:16,960 Speaker 1: play uh sort of a ten behind those two forwards. 668 00:35:17,719 --> 00:35:20,480 Speaker 1: I can see that happening. If that's gonna be, let's say, 669 00:35:20,960 --> 00:35:24,040 Speaker 1: uh Ajimon or you know, or or Peppy, if one 670 00:35:24,080 --> 00:35:26,879 Speaker 1: of those two guys comes into add to Balagun being 671 00:35:26,960 --> 00:35:30,480 Speaker 1: up top, I didn't really see Raina as being he 672 00:35:30,480 --> 00:35:32,759 Speaker 1: didn't look fit to me. He'd looked like he was 673 00:35:33,160 --> 00:35:37,759 Speaker 1: sort of roaming on the outside, not really connecting. He 674 00:35:37,800 --> 00:35:40,440 Speaker 1: didn't look ready, he looks he looks like he hasn't 675 00:35:40,480 --> 00:35:40,920 Speaker 1: been playing. 676 00:35:42,120 --> 00:35:45,200 Speaker 4: And then other than that, I I you know, I 677 00:35:45,760 --> 00:35:47,920 Speaker 4: would say that you know, the only other thing you 678 00:35:47,960 --> 00:35:50,720 Speaker 4: could do is potentially adding Arstin to the left side 679 00:35:51,360 --> 00:35:54,320 Speaker 4: instead of Robinson if he's not doing well, because obviously 680 00:35:54,320 --> 00:35:56,480 Speaker 4: this will be two games in a row and he 681 00:35:56,480 --> 00:35:57,600 Speaker 4: hasn't been playing as much. 682 00:35:58,640 --> 00:36:00,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, or excuse me. 683 00:36:00,080 --> 00:36:03,040 Speaker 2: Robinson played sixty minutes in his final game for Fulham 684 00:36:03,080 --> 00:36:09,040 Speaker 2: before this camp. He played sixty minutes against Belgium. We 685 00:36:09,160 --> 00:36:11,239 Speaker 2: will see how much he's got in the tank. And 686 00:36:11,320 --> 00:36:14,040 Speaker 2: this one, Johnny Cardozo should be noted, came off at 687 00:36:14,040 --> 00:36:19,800 Speaker 2: halftime for Christian Roaldon. Pochettino said that Johnny had picked 688 00:36:19,880 --> 00:36:21,680 Speaker 2: up a little bit of a knock or maybe just 689 00:36:21,719 --> 00:36:24,520 Speaker 2: some tightness, so he wanted to be careful with him. 690 00:36:25,000 --> 00:36:27,200 Speaker 2: Maybe we'll get to see Iden Morris, he's also in 691 00:36:27,239 --> 00:36:30,080 Speaker 2: this camp. Didn't get in the game this past weekend. 692 00:36:30,320 --> 00:36:32,319 Speaker 2: Might be a good thing for his chances to have 693 00:36:32,360 --> 00:36:34,000 Speaker 2: not been on the field for that one. 694 00:36:34,080 --> 00:36:36,879 Speaker 1: And Matt before we go. I'll add this to that, 695 00:36:37,640 --> 00:36:40,279 Speaker 1: the fact that we're gonna have twenty six players at 696 00:36:40,280 --> 00:36:42,719 Speaker 1: the World Cup. But I think, you know, yeah, we 697 00:36:42,760 --> 00:36:45,319 Speaker 1: can give other players opportunities, but the fact is we're 698 00:36:45,320 --> 00:36:48,280 Speaker 1: gonna play the World Cup with about seventeen or eighteen players, 699 00:36:48,680 --> 00:36:50,839 Speaker 1: and so I think it's time to narrow that down 700 00:36:50,920 --> 00:36:53,000 Speaker 1: and to now just start putting in the guys that 701 00:36:53,040 --> 00:36:54,799 Speaker 1: are actually are going to get the playing time. 702 00:36:55,520 --> 00:37:00,160 Speaker 2: Got two three friendlies left to go, starting on Tuesday 703 00:37:00,160 --> 00:37:01,000 Speaker 2: against Portugal. 704 00:37:01,080 --> 00:37:03,440 Speaker 3: We'll see time for one more break. 705 00:37:03,560 --> 00:37:06,400 Speaker 2: Next up we will talk roster and who needs to 706 00:37:06,400 --> 00:37:09,200 Speaker 2: play well Tuesday to save their spot for that World 707 00:37:09,200 --> 00:37:09,800 Speaker 2: Cup squad. 708 00:37:10,120 --> 00:37:12,120 Speaker 3: Thanks for listening to Inside American Soccer. 709 00:37:12,160 --> 00:37:26,600 Speaker 2: Please rate review as subscribe. Welcome back to Inside American Soccer. 710 00:37:26,640 --> 00:37:30,760 Speaker 2: All right, Tom, I mean, let's talk roster. In your eyes, 711 00:37:31,400 --> 00:37:35,160 Speaker 2: did anyone play their way off the World Cup roster 712 00:37:35,880 --> 00:37:38,480 Speaker 2: with their performance against Belgium. 713 00:37:39,040 --> 00:37:42,320 Speaker 1: I wouldn't be as cruel as to say that anyone 714 00:37:42,600 --> 00:37:46,440 Speaker 1: necessarily played themselves off of the roster by what they 715 00:37:46,480 --> 00:37:49,160 Speaker 1: did yesterday, But I think guys that had an opportunity 716 00:37:49,200 --> 00:37:51,799 Speaker 1: to help themselves didn't really help themselves, right, And so 717 00:37:51,840 --> 00:37:54,919 Speaker 1: I look at guys like, maybe, you know, maybe Rain 718 00:37:55,239 --> 00:37:57,759 Speaker 1: you know, because he did come in with about twenty 719 00:37:57,800 --> 00:38:00,920 Speaker 1: twenty five minutes and we didn't really see him do anything. 720 00:38:00,920 --> 00:38:03,759 Speaker 1: And by the way, it was a difficult situation that 721 00:38:03,800 --> 00:38:06,239 Speaker 1: he comes in. But this is maybe your chance to 722 00:38:06,239 --> 00:38:11,800 Speaker 1: make the team, so you probably need more than what happened. Yeah, 723 00:38:11,880 --> 00:38:14,919 Speaker 1: I wouldn't say that there was a player who eliminated 724 00:38:14,960 --> 00:38:17,839 Speaker 1: themselves from the World Cup roster, but I just think 725 00:38:17,880 --> 00:38:21,160 Speaker 1: that just guys who got an opportunity late didn't help 726 00:38:21,200 --> 00:38:22,080 Speaker 1: themselves at all. 727 00:38:23,200 --> 00:38:26,279 Speaker 2: Yeah, Geo in particular, and I'm a big Geo fan 728 00:38:26,280 --> 00:38:29,800 Speaker 2: and I would take him basically no matter what because 729 00:38:29,920 --> 00:38:33,440 Speaker 2: he has that special playmaking talent. But he looked indecisive 730 00:38:33,920 --> 00:38:37,200 Speaker 2: when he came off the bench, which is not what 731 00:38:37,239 --> 00:38:39,120 Speaker 2: you want to see from a guy who's supposed to 732 00:38:39,120 --> 00:38:44,120 Speaker 2: be your late game match winner. The Sebastian Burhalter really 733 00:38:44,120 --> 00:38:48,160 Speaker 2: struggled obviously, had a colossal error that led to one 734 00:38:48,200 --> 00:38:51,319 Speaker 2: of the Belgium goals. Max Arston, after being really good 735 00:38:51,360 --> 00:38:53,560 Speaker 2: for the past year, was really bad. 736 00:38:54,760 --> 00:38:55,560 Speaker 3: In this one. 737 00:38:55,840 --> 00:38:58,960 Speaker 2: I don't think anybody played their way off the roster 738 00:38:59,360 --> 00:39:03,080 Speaker 2: from one game or one half. But we all know 739 00:39:03,160 --> 00:39:05,600 Speaker 2: Diego lun is coming back and where he is in 740 00:39:05,640 --> 00:39:08,160 Speaker 2: Pochettino's eyes. We all know Tyler Adams is coming back 741 00:39:08,160 --> 00:39:11,239 Speaker 2: and where he is in Pachectino's eyes. And we know 742 00:39:11,320 --> 00:39:14,800 Speaker 2: that Virginia Desk is coming back and where he stands 743 00:39:15,080 --> 00:39:17,960 Speaker 2: in Pachettino's eyes. Those are three guys I think that 744 00:39:18,040 --> 00:39:20,560 Speaker 2: are going to be in the twenty six man roster. 745 00:39:20,680 --> 00:39:23,600 Speaker 2: So that means three guys who we saw on the 746 00:39:23,600 --> 00:39:30,080 Speaker 2: field or at least in the squad, you know, probably 747 00:39:30,160 --> 00:39:33,360 Speaker 2: not going to be there this summer. So we'll just 748 00:39:33,400 --> 00:39:38,319 Speaker 2: reiterate once again, this is a chance to prove it, 749 00:39:38,440 --> 00:39:42,040 Speaker 2: and coming off that loss against Belgium, I think there's 750 00:39:42,040 --> 00:39:44,000 Speaker 2: got to be a little bit more urgency in the 751 00:39:44,040 --> 00:39:48,040 Speaker 2: group and tap that'll bring us back to how we 752 00:39:48,080 --> 00:39:51,480 Speaker 2: started this show, mentioning that five to one loss you 753 00:39:51,560 --> 00:39:55,000 Speaker 2: guys took at the World Cup in nineteen ninety against 754 00:39:55,040 --> 00:40:00,959 Speaker 2: Czechoslovakia and the immediate bounce back that we saw from 755 00:40:01,000 --> 00:40:04,080 Speaker 2: you guys with your performances in the next two games, 756 00:40:04,680 --> 00:40:07,839 Speaker 2: particularly the Italy game, which was again for those who 757 00:40:07,840 --> 00:40:11,200 Speaker 2: don't know or don't remember nineteen ninety, Italy was the host, 758 00:40:12,200 --> 00:40:16,640 Speaker 2: one of the favorites. The US one nil loss could 759 00:40:16,680 --> 00:40:19,359 Speaker 2: have been one one if not for walters Anga's rear 760 00:40:19,480 --> 00:40:25,120 Speaker 2: end really a borderline I think legendary performance from you guys, 761 00:40:25,360 --> 00:40:30,839 Speaker 2: the guts that you showed in that moment. What was 762 00:40:30,880 --> 00:40:35,320 Speaker 2: the discussion like in the group after that five to 763 00:40:35,400 --> 00:40:39,520 Speaker 2: one loss, and how did you spin that together into 764 00:40:39,560 --> 00:40:40,880 Speaker 2: that performance against Italy? 765 00:40:41,560 --> 00:40:43,719 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean we could put a show together on 766 00:40:43,760 --> 00:40:46,839 Speaker 1: what happened in between the Czechoslovakia game and the Italy game, 767 00:40:47,280 --> 00:40:51,200 Speaker 1: But there were fights in practice. I mean, the tension 768 00:40:51,280 --> 00:40:54,440 Speaker 1: in the group was incredible. I mean we you know, 769 00:40:54,480 --> 00:40:56,400 Speaker 1: I always say I was fortunate to be part of 770 00:40:56,440 --> 00:41:00,719 Speaker 1: that early generation that started in nineteen ninety because we 771 00:41:00,719 --> 00:41:03,239 Speaker 1: were just guys that kind of refused to lose. We 772 00:41:03,320 --> 00:41:05,759 Speaker 1: refused to accept that we were not as good as 773 00:41:05,800 --> 00:41:07,839 Speaker 1: the other teams, and by the way, we weren't even 774 00:41:07,920 --> 00:41:10,400 Speaker 1: close as good to the other team, but we just 775 00:41:10,480 --> 00:41:12,799 Speaker 1: refused to accept that. And I think that's what it was. 776 00:41:12,880 --> 00:41:15,359 Speaker 1: It was really just a strong mentality, and I think 777 00:41:15,360 --> 00:41:18,080 Speaker 1: that's why that started to show the very next day 778 00:41:18,120 --> 00:41:21,120 Speaker 1: in practice, with guys fighting in practice. And then by 779 00:41:21,160 --> 00:41:24,000 Speaker 1: the time we got to the game, we were on 780 00:41:24,040 --> 00:41:27,960 Speaker 1: the bus on our way into the Olympic Stadium in 781 00:41:28,080 --> 00:41:31,000 Speaker 1: Rome and people on the sides were showing us the 782 00:41:31,040 --> 00:41:33,160 Speaker 1: two hands for the ten goals that Italy was going 783 00:41:33,200 --> 00:41:35,879 Speaker 1: to score on us that day, and the newspapers were 784 00:41:35,920 --> 00:41:38,560 Speaker 1: saying that records were going to be broken. There was 785 00:41:38,600 --> 00:41:41,839 Speaker 1: a Hungary nine to one win against El Salvador as 786 00:41:41,880 --> 00:41:44,080 Speaker 1: the record and the newspapers were saying that Italy was 787 00:41:44,080 --> 00:41:46,200 Speaker 1: going to break that record that day, and so we 788 00:41:46,239 --> 00:41:48,399 Speaker 1: had a lot to prove that day and we did. 789 00:41:50,400 --> 00:41:55,560 Speaker 2: You're talking about the mentality and the fights, and how 790 00:41:55,640 --> 00:41:58,319 Speaker 2: much of that is from guys being like, I might 791 00:41:58,360 --> 00:42:01,000 Speaker 2: have lost my job, I have to fight, I have 792 00:42:01,040 --> 00:42:04,200 Speaker 2: to really get stuck it in practice because I want 793 00:42:04,200 --> 00:42:06,480 Speaker 2: to hold onto my starting spot or I want to 794 00:42:06,520 --> 00:42:09,520 Speaker 2: win a starting spot. Is that the or is it 795 00:42:09,680 --> 00:42:14,919 Speaker 2: just embarrassment because of what happened and you need some 796 00:42:15,200 --> 00:42:19,120 Speaker 2: sort of escape hatch for that, some way to let 797 00:42:19,160 --> 00:42:21,240 Speaker 2: that out and to take it out, and you actually 798 00:42:21,320 --> 00:42:22,920 Speaker 2: end up taking it out on your teammates. 799 00:42:23,000 --> 00:42:25,239 Speaker 3: But it ends up being a good thing in the end. 800 00:42:25,440 --> 00:42:27,799 Speaker 1: Yeah, of course, because don't forget you're playing for your 801 00:42:28,000 --> 00:42:29,479 Speaker 1: I don't want to say you're playing for your life, 802 00:42:29,480 --> 00:42:32,319 Speaker 1: but you're playing for your job. And at the at 803 00:42:32,320 --> 00:42:33,960 Speaker 1: the same time, you don't you don't want to be 804 00:42:34,040 --> 00:42:36,480 Speaker 1: This is a team sport, so it doesn't only depend 805 00:42:36,520 --> 00:42:39,200 Speaker 1: on you. It depends on everybody else. But it's important 806 00:42:39,239 --> 00:42:41,319 Speaker 1: for you to go to practice and for the other 807 00:42:41,360 --> 00:42:44,560 Speaker 1: guys to understand that I'm not accepting this. This is 808 00:42:44,600 --> 00:42:47,200 Speaker 1: not good for me and my career. I want to 809 00:42:47,239 --> 00:42:49,359 Speaker 1: have a career at this and if you're not on board, 810 00:42:49,360 --> 00:42:52,080 Speaker 1: you're gonna pay for it this week because we're we 811 00:42:52,160 --> 00:42:54,880 Speaker 1: all we I want to be on the field against 812 00:42:54,880 --> 00:42:57,359 Speaker 1: Italy the next game with guys who want to win 813 00:42:57,400 --> 00:42:59,840 Speaker 1: the game. And that's and that's what happened. 814 00:43:00,360 --> 00:43:03,320 Speaker 2: Does it have to be Christian Polistic and Weston McKenny 815 00:43:03,320 --> 00:43:05,799 Speaker 2: the leaders of this team who set the tone like 816 00:43:05,840 --> 00:43:07,319 Speaker 2: that in practice for the US? 817 00:43:07,840 --> 00:43:10,759 Speaker 1: You know. The other thing is it's different much different times, right, 818 00:43:11,320 --> 00:43:13,799 Speaker 1: and so players are different Now there's you know, a 819 00:43:13,800 --> 00:43:17,359 Speaker 1: different way to approach players, different conversations to be had. 820 00:43:17,960 --> 00:43:21,399 Speaker 1: But I think players will realize that, regardless of where 821 00:43:21,400 --> 00:43:24,200 Speaker 1: they are in the great clubs that they're at this 822 00:43:24,239 --> 00:43:27,000 Speaker 1: summer is an amazing opportunity that they all can be 823 00:43:27,080 --> 00:43:29,920 Speaker 1: losing if they don't, if they don't get together on this. 824 00:43:30,239 --> 00:43:33,040 Speaker 1: So I think after taking this loss, I think, if anything, 825 00:43:33,080 --> 00:43:34,960 Speaker 1: would be a good time for a team meeting for 826 00:43:35,040 --> 00:43:38,040 Speaker 1: guys to kind of hold each other accountable and say, hey, guys, 827 00:43:38,280 --> 00:43:41,120 Speaker 1: that's it one more game and they name the team 828 00:43:41,480 --> 00:43:43,960 Speaker 1: it's all or nothing right now, and I think it 829 00:43:43,960 --> 00:43:45,719 Speaker 1: would be a good time for something like that. 830 00:43:46,840 --> 00:43:49,440 Speaker 2: Well, that seems like a good time, good place for 831 00:43:49,600 --> 00:43:53,439 Speaker 2: us to leave it on this episode. Thank you all 832 00:43:53,520 --> 00:43:58,600 Speaker 2: for listening to Inside American Soccer. Please rate, review, and subscribe. 833 00:43:59,040 --> 00:44:04,200 Speaker 2: Will be back midweek for our reaction to the Portugal match, 834 00:44:04,280 --> 00:44:06,520 Speaker 2: hopefully a less somber show. 835 00:44:06,800 --> 00:44:09,640 Speaker 3: We'll have more happy things to talk about. 836 00:44:09,280 --> 00:44:13,400 Speaker 2: In that one, and so please rate, review, and subscribe 837 00:44:13,600 --> 00:44:16,120 Speaker 2: wherever you get your podcasts. 838 00:44:16,200 --> 00:44:17,319 Speaker 3: We'll see you in a couple of days.