Scuffed | USMNT, World Cup, Yanks Abroad, futbol in America - #453: Natalia Astrain on USWNT challenges and opportunities

Episode Date: November 29, 2023

Natalia Astrain, the Telemundo soccer commentator who's coached youth and professional women's soccer on both sides of the Atlantic and coaxed intentional, lovely soccer from the U17 women's national team in 2022, joins the pod. She has a distinct vantage point for observing the challenges and opportunities facing women's soccer in America as the national team prepares for the beginning of the Hayes era. Wide-ranging conversation -- everything from Onyeka Gamero's path to the first team at Barca to the superpowers of the American player and the overemphasis on results at young ages in the States.Subscribe to Scuffed on Patreon! Patrons get a private feed for the Monday Review, which is, among other things, a run-down of club action for national team players every week with Watke and Vince. We have recently added patron-only content that’s available every Friday. Patrons also get access to our private Discord server, live call-in shows, and the full catalog of historic recaps we've made: https://www.patreon.com/scuffed Skip the ads! Subscribe to Scuffed on Patreon and get all episodes ad-free, plus any bonus episodes. Patrons at $5 a month or more also get access to Clip Notes, a video of key moments on the field we discuss on the show, plus all patrons get access to our private Discord server, live call-in shows, and the full catalog of historic recaps we've made: https://www.patreon.com/scuffedAlso, check out Boots on the Ground, our USWNT-focused spinoff podcast headed up by Tara and Vince. They are cooking over there, you can listen here: https://boots-on-the-ground.simplecast.comAnd check out our MERCH, baby. We have better stuff than you might think: https://www.scuffedhq.com/store Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to the SCUF podcast, where we talk about U.S. soccer. Our guest today is Natalia Estine, the first coach of Barcelona Feminil in the early 2000s, who once headed Barsa's Women's Academy. She is a former assistant at Atlago Madrid and what's now the Kansas City Current. She coached the U.S. U-S. U-17s at the U-17-2020 World Cup in India, and now she's a commentator for Telemundo, sharing the booth with Andres Cantor. few people have as good of a vantage point into U.S. soccer where it stands right now in the women's game. And I'm grateful to have her on the show. Thank you for being here, Natalia. Oh, thank you very much.

I'm really excited. And, yeah, I feel really happy to join this conversation with you. Good, good. So let's start with the U-17 team that you coached. They played with a lot of patience and sophistication. I think that was noted by a lot of people who watched. and not just crossing the ball, but actually possessing and working it through the defense into the final third. It wasn't perfect, but the intent was obviously there.

And I wonder, how did you achieve that with that group? Well, first of all, I was really happy and lucky with the player, right? I think that when we made the decision about the roster, we did a good job. The talent ID department and all the people that are. behind making these decisions. And I feel like it was really interesting and really beautiful to coach this age because you can work with them really good, right? And for me, the key with them was make them to believe in the idea and not only the idea, right, because sometimes you have the idea, but it's a difficult work in the process. And I feel like the most beautiful thing

with this group was they believe in the process. So we have a, a purpose. During all year before, we were working to put the focus in the purpose. What we want, what we want to achieve, no? And then every camp that we were doing for preparing the work up was with some objectives trying to achieve this. So we put all the focus in the process. I feel like sometimes the people don't realize that they are younger, they are under 17s, there are girls you know and then oh because it's US you have this press

oppressor like they have to win and I feel this is a big mistake because them the team are right there need to manage play very far from home in a different country with a different culture with a different food

away from their families and they have this pressure to wearing the of course the uniform right and we feel and they feel really privileged to wear in the uniform, but the key was putting the focus in the process, talking about the purpose. Our purpose was to sow everybody around the world

that US players can play a beautiful soccer. And the good thing with this group, they embrace, and they really wanted, and they did the world really easy for me to try and to achieve this, right? And one of the things differently was, let's try to play through the middle, right? Sometimes we see in other teams or different styles. Like they tried, like I just say, play more long balls and then cross the ball and then we try differently.

Let's try break the lines, go through the middle, no? But of course we have a really talent players, right, like Martino, Riley Jackson, Charlotte, Mia Butta, that they were able to do this really, really good. But I feel like the most important thing was made them. believe in the process, not only the idea, but the idea sometimes, oh, it's really beautiful. Let's try it, right? But then it's like a step by step, make the process to then believe and achieve the process. So what is the process?

Like a lot of Rondo's, just Rondo, Rondo, Rondo. Well, Rondo sometimes have like a bad reputation, no? And sometimes people say, well, I don't know if they say good way or, well, Rondo is a beautiful activity, no, but I work a lot more positional games, right? All the drills that

I try to work always there are decision making implicit. The player need to make decision. And I try not coach only the drills, you know, coach soccer. The player understand inside the drill that is not the role, it's not to touch or

free touches or here or there. It's like, okay, you get the big the game that is the big piece and you get a small pieces, no? And then after this, you create the session with the objective that you want for achieve the big picture, but making the player, okay, this is a small part of the game. If we understand this part, then we go bigger and bigger and bigger, right? But this put the focus not only the drill is coach soccer and try the player,

understand that the decision making in this is small drills, like a rondo positional games, we'll help then make a decision in the big picture that is the game. Do you stay in touch with any of those players? Yeah. Like Riley Jackson or Onyika Camero? Yeah. Yeah, yeah, I follow them. They follow me.

We keep the contact and, yeah, I'm so happy. And, yeah, for their future. I think that they are a bright player currently, but I feel like the future is really bright for them. I was going to ask this later, but I'll just ask it right now. Somebody who I do the podcast with Tara wanted to know about Gamero specifically. She signed with Barsabee in the summer. And obviously you know that club pretty well.

What is the path to the senior team for a player like her? How like if it's going to happen, how long will it take? And just give us an idea. I know those things are hard to predict, but just give us an idea. of what that looks like for her. Well, I think that it's a good decision, right? Because sometimes coming from US to the Europe teams and more specifically, Barcelona that have very defined identity

and a style of play is so difficult, no? So I feel like a One can make a really good decision going to the B team because this makes to her like, okay, let's try to learn and adapt, you know, little by little, the style of play of Barcelona, right? The B team, the objective of this team is develop priors. They don't have the pressure to win the league. That is really important.

And I think this helps to this process and the coaches and the players. Like, okay, you belong to the FCB Barcelona. You have this responsibility, of course, to play beautiful, to try to play under the style of play. But the most important thing is develop this player. And have you seen FCB-B-B-B-B-B-B, a lot of this young player are now playing with the first team. Last weekend, for example, Dragoni, the Italian player that they signed for Varsabee,

she played her first game with the first team, right? And this is like an important thing. And I hope that Oneeca one day, when she will be prepared, get this opportunity and I'm sure that she will take up on this. But for me, it's like a, it's important piece, is the slow, the process, when they are prepared. It's not like the player have to be ready for the first team immediately. I feel like with the B team, they are doing a really good job putting this player.

Because for me, it's not like, okay, there are players that can play with the first team. But then it's like this makes sense or no. For me, it's like a need to be like when you make a player play with the first team, you need to be as a coach ready. understand like a displayer can play more times there because arrive is easy right but then it's like continue being there and be consistent for me is the most difficult so if you make draconi for example obiki no biki lopez that she is a superstar in the under 70th national team the spain and she played in the b team she's practicing with the first team as well if you make this player play

one day but then never more play you are harming her You are not helping her. You need to make sure that when you make this player the opportunity or provide the player this opportunity to play in the first team, this can be something that she can do more consistency. Not every weekend, but yes, she is prepared for doing this more often. It's not like, for example, of Nekka play one game with the first team, but during all season never play a game,

I don't think this will be helpful for her. So I think that she's doing good. She's getting the right pathway, and when she will be prepared, she will play there. I guess maybe the harmful thing could be if you take a player from the B team, playing with the first team, and they don't do so well, and then you bring them back down, and maybe they lose some confidence? Or is that one of them? Yes.

They know that they belong to the B team, right? And they take the play with the first team as an opportunity. But I think it's good that they feel like they are prepared, like they play with the first team, they overwhelm me and they, yeah, like I just say, like an impact on them and on her in lack of confidence, for example. This focus on the process that you're talking about and maybe some pressure for results even at the U-17 level.

Was that something you had to struggle against? Let me ask it this way. Is there buy-in from the top to the bottom at the Federation on this idea of like, hey, we want to, we got to, it's important to focus on the kind of soccer we're playing, not on, you know, necessarily winning at the U-17 level? Well, I was very lucky because Ernie Stewart, the former sporting director, he was with us during all the games in India and the walk-up. He was. Yeah, he was unbelievable. He was with us. And he was helping making this message really clear to the player, like a belief in the process.

And I feel so comfortable working with him and under his structure, right? Because he understood what mean be under 17. But outside this, the people, the, you know, the media, sometimes the families or the clubs, okay, they say, you have to win because you are US, right? And of course, we have this responsibility, and we know that we are the best federation in the world, right, because the four stars. But I feel like it's important to understand in what level we are coaching or working.

And I feel like it's important to provide this player the experience and make this player provide all the opportunities and tools for them. one day they can play for the first team. So for me, this was my job, right? Trying to make this player or provide this player and help this player in their process for being able one day they can play in the first team. But you feel this press and you feel like the player talk with people

and you know, there was funny conversation or fun conversation after the game. I remember specifically with a player that she played amazing. and she played in the midfielder, right? And it's not like a very often arrive to the box and score. And I say, oh, you made or you did an amazing game. Well, I'm not very happy because I know the score. I say, well, this is not your role, right? But yeah, but someone outside the environment there told her, oh, you need to score.

And she was really sad because she didn't score. And I was, oh, my God, you are amazing, player who play unbelievable. let's put focus in what is in reality your role, right? But yeah, you can feel like the player feel this pressure. And for me, what's really important during all year, prepare them, not only physically, not only tactically, you know, mentally. We did a lot, you know, work about webinars,

about activities with them, workshops, trying to improve and prepare them mentally for this. big, beautiful and, no, a challenge that is a woke-up. Was that Riley Jackson, you're talking about? Because she did play very well in the midfield in that game. She's amazing. She's a player that she's unbelievable. She's a game changer and she's a really, really good player.

Yeah. Can't wait for her to get back from injury. I'm very interested in your thoughts on the women's national team's performance at the World Cup. You know, you had some time to think about it, I guess. and you called those games, right? What was the problem? Oh, well, I don't have the magic solution, right? I think it was like, I was not there inside the team, right?

And it's difficult to talk about this, or sometimes Sisi and the people talk, oh, what's this? Well, but you are not there, right? I feel like during all year before, from the Olympics, the team didn't win, sorry. Then in the free and list, when Spain in October, they played with Germany. It was like something was not working, you feel like, oh, this is,

but we and I was the first as well. Everybody hoped like, okay, let's go, but in the World Cup, I'm sure that the magic will happen and we will win again, right? But this not happened. I think that the other national teams are working really good and the distance is shorter. And probably before, US play was the way they play and was easy.

Easy. Understand me. It's not easy, but like, okay. I get it. Yeah. Other teams was not the same level. But now other teams develop other things, right? And I feel like there are national teams,

but like we saw Japan, but didn't progress longer, but they played beautifully and really tactical Spain and, I see, Netherlands, in the game against US, Netherlands was really, really good about tactical understanding on the game plan, how they prepare, how they execute this game plan was beautiful. And we see that now this is more close to US, no? And I feel like a US need other things, like a plan B. and if I need to be sorted about what was the problem or I feel like a US didn't have a plan B.

And I feel like now the teams can play plan A, V, C because they're rich and complex about tactical understanding. And I feel like a US went there or played like a plan A. But when you saw the games in the Woka and the teams did some variation, for example, after halftime, and some variation and this, I didn't perceive this from US. Yes, was chance of players, no, subs, and different players, but I was not sure if there was a different plan or different structure or tactical components.

And I see that the other teams was more versatile, we can say, about tactical components. US didn't show this. I don't want to say, didn't have, but at least they were not able to sew this. this in the field. Yeah. On the field. Interesting. Yeah.

Well, you know, I think there's a little bit of a contrast between, and I'm not just trying to flatter you, but the way the U-17 team played at that World Cup, there's a contrast between that and what the national team does or has been doing under Vladko. And also the U-20s. There's just a lot more of that, like, just play it out wide, send it into the mixer and hope something good happens, you know? Is that an unfair way to describe it, do you think? Well, I feel really happy that you were able to see this because when we ended in the walk-up and I was going to events, not to scout players and different coaches and people

stop me and say, oh, Natalia, you play, the team played really beautiful and this is amazing. for me was the most beautiful thing that the people could tell me about my players, about the team. Because this is something that we wanted. This was the focus, like make them to play beautiful, to have a purpose, to feel like it's possible, no, to play differently. And when the people were able, like you and other people to perceive this and now you say this, because this made me really happy, no, because this was the main objective with this group. because for me again, this group is developed the players.

It's not like we have to have results immediately. Because for me, this is the mistake. When we ask this player, oh, US under 17 didn't want, yeah, but let's be honest and go through what we want to achieve with this group. What is the process again, right? but we cannot expect win always because then for me you lose the focus in what is important in each age. Probably in under 20s we can demand in something else and in the first team we can demand in something else, right? I feel like the steps are different.

But yeah, it made me really happy that you say this about the under 17th honestly. But I guess my question is the women's national team doesn't, I don't perceive the same type of philosophy from the way they played for the last year and a half. And hopefully it changes under Emma Hayes, but it hasn't been that way. And I wonder how much of that is because of

the limitations in the player pool and how much is it because of the coaching that we didn't see a more purposeful sort of tactically versatile performance from the national team at the World Cup. How much is the players? How much is the coach? This is the key question, right?

When you are, yeah, I feel like each coach is able to implement their style, no? This is like a you want as a coach. This will be a good question for Flacco, right? How much he could implement this. But, yeah, probably we need to wait a little bit and make the player that are growing in this. style of play are right there and so what is the style? I feel like it's necessary a little time to see this style of playing in the first team and I feel like Emma now I'm very excited about

the Emma High is joined US soccer because I feel she has this point more tactical understanding and I hope we can see more like this kind of tile of play in the in the first team. Okay. I sent you the op-ed that she wrote for the telegraph, and I wanted to ask you a couple things. I'm talking about Hayes. A couple. See if you could respond to something, she wrote, and I'll just read the quote. She said, there's still a huge amount of talent in this U.S. team, but with so many of the squad playing solely in the NWSL,

it doesn't offer enough diversity to their squad in terms of playing against different styles. She said here in Europe where you're playing in different competitions, champions league or cups, players aren't going to be phased by other things because they come up against different football week in, week out. Is this correct? What do you think? Is NWSL limiting the experiences that players are getting? Well, I always try to see the things in the positive way.

And I would love to say that for me, the NWSR provides. a unique experience. Okay. Yes is very defined style and we need to take in consideration the NWSL is the most transitional league in the world. The physical component

and the transitions, you see the games in Europe and you don't have this kind of transitions. With the team recovery, the ball, they sometimes keeping more the possession. So the piece is slow. But here in the US is you need to fly.

Okay, we need player that fly. This can limit the player. For me, when I was talking with the 17th and say, okay, we are really, really good about this, right? Instead of take this as a limitation, let's take this as a strength. But then, let's add some components to the menu. This is the way I was talking with them. We have this base in the menu, but let's add other components. Let's add more this decision-making, these tactical things that sometimes in US we don't see, right?

But the base is unique and the base is the best. Any other countries in the world have this base. This transitional and physical component of the game, only US have. So let's make something different, right, adding more components to the menu. but not restrictive. But for me, it's a really good advantage. It's no a problem. And for this, I really, really enjoy coaching the under 17th

because what's the opportunity to have these base and then adding these tactical things? All the teams in Europe, yes, Emma is right. They prepare differently every game because they put more focusing tactical component. But they don't have this strong, or this strength, sorry, about physically. and they need to prepare differently, right?

But for me, instead of state, like, negative, let's say like you are privileged. In US, I tell the player always, this player are privileged, and when we are coaching them, we are privileged to have them. But then it's our job as a coach to make them versatile, different.

But it's our job. Let's provide to the player with other tools, with other drills, with other, make them open to see, the but not losing their things that they are unique keep the things that you are unique and then adding other things in europe you cannot have this you have to put the focus completely in the tactical component because you don't have this physical component like here i don't know if i explain good but for me it's at a advantage um but if you put only this you play only physical and transitional

yeah you are only one yeah one version but let's try to you to have different versions, but this is that the job here of the coach is necessary. So I feel like Emma Hayes will have a lot work, but she's really good on this to adding these ingredients to the base menu, right? Okay. Man, there's so much more we could talk about with that. Like, where does the base menu come from? Like, is that a product of college soccer?

And what are the superpowers? I mean, you've talked about physical superpowers. Is it endurance? Is it, what, like, what is that? It's endurance. It's fast. It's, um, and the mentality. For me, the big difference in US is the mentality.

The player, you coach, you see the youth environments, like in the clubs. And they play the same way. You know, it's like they want to win. They go forward. They were vertical. They want to score, score, score. Right. And this is amazing.

And you see this in like, oh, They are something different. They have these superpowers. I feel like this comes from the US mentality. You guys here are so competitive. You want to win always. And this is something that is inside the American people. And it's very unique.

And this may, for me, when I was moving here, this made one of the most attractive thing to move here. I want to coach this player that they want to win always, right? But it's not about sport. I feel like in the day by day in the U.S., the people is this way. You want to be buried every day. You want to be the best winning. And I feel like this is very unique.

And you can see in the youth level in the clubs, then in the college as well. And this is something that is inside the DNA of the player. Okay. All right. I got to ask, you were hired in the fall of 2021 by U.S. soccer. and I think to work, quote, work across age groups with the focus on the under 17 team, of course. What happened? Why did you leave?

Why did you give your job at the Federation? It seems like we could use you there still, you know? Well, what's different things, right? When it happens something is not only one thing, you know, there are, there was different things, right? In January, Ernie Stewart was leaving the Federation. I feel like he was a big mentor for me. He was a person that was understanding perfectly and fit about, you know, I feel really good with his ideas and the style that he was managing all the national teams.

And then there was like, okay, some changes will come. And we didn't know exactly how the change in the structures, but it was very obvious that will be some changes, right? And then I was in Qatar with the Telemundo broadcasting the men's walk up, and I have an incredible experience with them. I was not sure if I could continue doing this, if I continue with my role in the Federation. And Telemundo wanted that I go with New Zealand and Australia. Yeah. And then was some different things that finally made this decision to put more focus in the broadcasting pathway than in the coaching because all the changes that happened there, right? I mean, that makes perfect sense. I want to ask you more about your work on TV in just a minute.

Perfect. You've talked about the tactical tradition of a place like Spain, your home country, where men and women both grow up with a certain understanding of how to play the game tactically. Can you elaborate on that and also explain that a little more? And also, how could it be achieved in the USA, you know? Yeah, I feel like, well, here in U.S., there are this component in all the levels, you want to win, right? And in a plane, which is a problem, which is a problem, right?

It's a problem all the way down to like U-10. Well, depending if you not manage this good. It's always good if you use as a motivation, but not as this is only or result. If you have this as a result, for me, it's a problem. If you use this as motivation, it's a big, big advantage, right? I feel like in Spain the process is slow and the teams have more pace about, okay, we develop players, but it's not only win the most important thing, right?

For example, I put an example before the FCB-B-B Barcelona B that Oneika is there. Last year, they did no good season of our results. but in the club was good. No one said this was a failure or a problem because the job that they wanted was develop the players. And when you see this job player having these games with the first team, okay, this is the successful, no, the success of this team. I feel like this is important.

And then other thing important for me in Spain is the structure about the teams and the club. you start playing with a team both Athletical Madrid, the FCB, Barcelona or other teams can be not these teams that play in the first division, but all have like a different level and the structure, right? Here in the US sometimes the environments are very spread out. There are a lot options to play,

but sometimes the talent is spread out or the structure of the teams is not the same objective. When you enter in a spaining a club, you have very clear defined what is the process, the pyramid, like I'm going, pap, blah, but I'm here. Sometimes the environments are very different and you don't have this focus on this. So for me, it's not like it's a problem, but probably because the country is so big and there are a lot options. Probably we need here in US more clear structure, right? When I come here six years ago, the DA League that was under the structure of the Federation,

I think was a really good idea because it was like the more similar to Europe, right? Like at the clubs working in this environment, everything was very structured. And was like the umbrella of the Federation, right? But then this shutdown disappeared. Stop the, yeah. And then now it's like a, all this talent on all these pathways are not different. And sometimes it's more difficult to have this pathway, the same clear than in Europe. Right.

Yeah, I don't know that we've really ever fully gotten an explanation for the end of the Development Academy, but I'll leave that for another podcast. Yeah. Andre, so I have some questions from listeners. Andre and Utah asks, would any of the current women's national team players play for Barcelona, start for Barcelona Feminol today? Well, we need to ask the coach, right?

If I say, yeah, then the Jonathan, the Barcelona coach will call me, and Talia, what happened with you, right? Well, I feel like they can, right, but they need to adapt. It's like the same like you play in Washington Spirit and then you move to rain, right? I feel like, yeah, they play in the same league, but they are a different style, right?

Probably. So I feel like, yes, of course, they can, but they need to be able to adapt. It's like they will know, you know, like I feel like probably they need a little time to adapt and understand what is the game there, right? or the style there. But of course they can.

For me, it's like a US have the best player in the world, right? It's like amazing have this player, but then we need to work good with them. Yeah. Jorge in the Bay Area asks, what have you liked most being on the Telemundo broadcasts? And obviously it became interesting to you

because you wanted to do more of it. And how does it help you get different perspectives on the game? Well, the thing that is very interesting for me, first of all, is the opportunity to see different games, right? Travel in Qatar and broadcasting the men's woke up, when this is very rare that the woman can do this, right? And see different style of play and this summer in New Zealand and Australia.

Yeah, for me, the beauty of this is try to explain or to share the beauty of the game. I'm very passionate about the aesthetical things, about the soccer, but the beautiful soccer, right? And then when I am able to explain the people or to share the small details, try to, well, share that not the obvious thing, that the people can see in the TVs, you know, let's go deeper and try to find, okay, this situation in the game and we can share this with the people and explain about the beautiful game. For me, this is the most important. I love

the tactical component of the game and imagine being able in the TV to talk all the time about this and explain the people is very, very interesting for me. Do you think people, in your experience, do people actually want tactical

analysis to you know to explain what's going on on the field or yeah does it turn out they do go ahead yeah i think yes um well i received some comments during the walk up like oh yeah because you explain but explain the way like everybody can can understand no and i think this is a other thing very beautiful for me it's like okay let's see the tactical things but let's try to explain for everybody can enjoy because sometimes we listen comments like you listen and say well I don't understand anything I don't know what they these people try to to say right but when you are able to connect with the people and say okay explain the way like everybody can join this and for me it's not only joins you know enjoy right this is there and yeah I received some good comments about they they understand they see the game differently when they are listening the Cella Mundo and for me this is the

the most beautiful thing when they say oh we see now the game different or yeah this is a good thing I guess I guess part of why I asked that is because

we our podcast is a lot we talk a lot about process with the national team you know like if somebody misses a big chance it's okay because you know we've created the chance

and if we created the chance in a and I think I find it can be frustrating to some of our listeners sometimes because they're like they want to they want to hear that like proper football man like you know he he has to do better there you know or he has to he has to bury that chance you know and i feel like there's you know there's different kinds of fans and there are some who really want to get into like the stuff that you are into and that i think i'm i'm into but there are some who don't you know and i just wonder if you ever run into that

Yeah, I feel like the best thing is balance, right? Be able to explain something that for the people that don't want more deep information is enough and then there are moments of the game that you can go deeper or, for example, preview pregame or after the game when they ask you what is the, I don't know, the overview about the game, then you can go deeper there. So there are different moments during the game or the broadcast. that you can manage or go deeper or go more, you know, I think that this is a understanding like a coaching, no? There are moments that you need to manage the game one way, other.

But when you are broadcasting the game, I feel like you do the same, no? Now, yeah. And then show up some, I don't know, movement in the game so interesting. And you can see this as a tendency or like a friend. I say, like, okay, I want to explain this because it's very important. for the game, right? And then you take advantage and go. What's the hardest part about the job of a commentator? Because you have to, there's like a cadence to it, right?

You have to find the right moments to speak. Yeah. Yeah, I feel following the rhythm, right? Adapting with the person that you are doing the game. For example, Andres is so passionate, so intense. and then you need to adapt your level, no. He can know, what, go, the typical goal, and then you're, well, no,

and then you need to adapt in your intensity. He makes you be like, okay, let's be ready, right? And when you are coming in the game with other person that is more calm, but I feel like it's like a good conversation with someone, right? And you need to be adapting the peace and reading, what is the rhythm? And I feel like it's very important to read this situation.

It sounds very difficult, honestly. It does. Well, and sometimes I start talking and then other person talk. I feel like I try to find the moment to talk, right? And be very precise because sometimes you have a big explanation in your mind about what just happened. But then the game not allowed to you to talk one minute. You need to try to say this that you want to say in one minute in 15 seconds, know, be precise and take a funny moment and go.

But I feel like I'm learning, of course, and this is something very interesting for me when you talk about why you are doing this. I really like to be an environment that I feel that I continue growing and continue learning. And I feel like for me, this new way, like I'm in the TV, is something. that made to me be better every day and learn, when is the moment to talk, where is the person that I broadcast in the game. And this makes me be absolutely focused 100%.

Yeah. You must be tired after the games. How do you train? How do you train for it? Because, you know, like with the U-17s, there was a process and there were training games and Rondos. But like how do you train for your... I like a great when you say Rondos.

I want to ask, when we finish a... podcast, if you feel positive about Rondos or no? I feel positive about Rondos, yeah, 100%. Interesting. It's curious, Rondos. I just don't want to, I don't want people to think I'm being too presumptuous or something, you know? We can say positional games and it's good. Okay, okay, positional game.

So how do you train for the, for the work in the booth? Do you, um, well, there are no practice. No, there are like, let's go. It's like, you go the game. directly. It's like a no option. It's like, okay, let's do it. Do you watch other games to get ideas

for how people do it? Or like you listen to the comment? Yeah, I follow and listen to other games and other, yeah, broadcasting people, commentators doing and I try to always learn. And I have the opportunity in, you know, in New Zealand and in Qatar

to meet other people from other TVs. And And I always ask questions and I, okay, how you do this? And always really, really humble. And I try to learn from everybody and this is helping. And everybody's so nice and always they give you advice. And Andreas Cantor is the first. Andres makes you feel so comfortable.

And I asked you him, hey, Andres, do you feel good? This is good. What do you think? And he always is helping. This is really, really good. Yeah, I was going to ask what it's like to work with him because he's, I don't know how well-known he's in Spain but in the western hemisphere you know he's a he's a legend he's been uh he's been very encouraging it sounds like yeah he's amazing no you he's uh and everybody knows him and he's a big big right

in the in the yeah in the broadcasting and tv and it's amazing uh but then as a when he's all the time help him and i think he's my mentor right and it's really interesting and beautiful to have this And I feel privileged because who better than Andres can tour for mentoring me, right? That I just started in this TV wall, right? But yeah, he's so nice. He knows a lot of people. And he always said, Natalia, and he introduced to you the people. Yeah, he's, and during the game as well, yeah.

We are in the TV, in the game with this. And then sometimes he write you something or tell you something. this is this is good awesome yeah um so do you want to return to coaching eventually um no i feel like i am i will be always soccer coach right uh but now i am in this pathway in this way for now uh i feel like i will have all different opportunities in the future but for now i feel like this is the place that I want to be. I feel like I am growing, I'm learning, I'm not see, I am a curious person,

always I want to, and for now this environment is helping to achieve this, right? But I feel like I will be always soccer coach, right? And I feel like a prologel in the future I continue coaching. Okay. One other question about the U-17 team. You also coached Giselle Thompson, Alyssa Thompson's little sister, and there have been rumors of her signing with PSG.

Is it a good idea for young players like her to go to Europe instead of go to college here in the States? Yeah, I think yes. Why not, right? I feel like Europe provide different options. Giselle is a player really talented. I coached her sister as well when I was assistant coach with 20s. I feel like they are so special.

They have this unique way to play soccer, right? They are playing with boys. Or Jocel, Alisa, now is in L.A., right? But why not try the experience in Europe and more in this big team, like a PSG? I feel like the environment is good. And she always can come back and go to college. It's not like you make a decision and this is for a... I feel like why not have this opportunity, right?

Maddie, another one of our listeners asks, I think I have two or three more questions. Maddie asks, can you tell us about the talent identification process at the youth levels in the US? What are they doing to keep talent at lesser known under resource clubs from falling through the cracks? Well, there are a big, big network of talent, identification. I was so impressed and always I try to recognize them and tell them thank you

when I have the opportunity because honestly we see the job of the 17th in the World Cup in the Okonka Cup but behind this there are a lot of work a lot of people working right so I feel like the structure is really good these scouts are going during the week to the games and then after, you know, like there are the E-C-N-L or G-A big events in December, well, during all year, in June and in October. And then it's when all the scouts and the national team coaches we go there, right? It's impossible that the national team coaches go every week to see different games. But this is like the talent ID identification, they cover this.

and then have a big, big data, right, a program in the Federation that have names, all the information about the player, videos, yeah, the key qualities have really defined what are the key qualities that U.S. soccer is looking for for players, and then the scout complement this with information. And then after this, in the big events, you as a national team coach, and then see thousands millions of games. We are watching a lot of games, but the scouts are doing the hard work every week

going to the environment, the clubs. Okay. I do want to ask about one specific player, Lily O'Hannis, I don't know if you've been following her at all, but she's an American from Virginia. She plays for IACs in the Netherlands, and she's 16. She just got,

she just got her first Champions League start against PSG a couple weeks ago. And I think she has not been, I think she's been sort of on the fringes of the youth national teams in the U.S. But I wonder how like a player like her could not be more, not get more of an opportunity with the youth national teams and yet be ready for it. And it becomes a little bit of urgency to it because she, she's now being, being asked to train with the Dutch national team, youth national team. And so everybody's like, ah, you know.

Yes. Yeah, I wonder how a player like her doesn't seem to warrant the same attention as other players, you know. Yeah, I feel like the attention is there because the scouting and the talent identification, yeah, the department have all the information. But then it's after when you make a decision with this sign identification department and the national team coach for the camps, right? It's like we try to call the player that probably fill the key qualities and then is the final decision the coach, right, to call her or no.

Sometimes happened with me that there was players that have the double nationality with Mexico, for example, and we have some of them in our camps. But then when the time to arrive for a World Cup or Concacav, they, okay, Natalia, we are in the, you know, between and then you see if you will provide the opportunity to the player or no, right? And then I am as a coach, I prefer to be honest with the player and tell her it's better you play with Mexico or with whoever. but have this opportunity.

I don't want that the people, oh, no, only US. Well, but probably the pathway of this player is go with the national team, and finally they can change, right, when they are like a Sophia Werta did, right? But for me, the most important in thinking about the player, what is the best? And if you see that she cannot have the opportunity with US soccer because we, US soccer have these specific key qualities, then why not provide the opportunity with other environments? I feel like the development again and the process is the most important.

But I don't think that is the final war for this player. I feel like I choose to play with Netherlands, but can have this experience. The talent ID department in US soccer will continue monitoring her. I don't know, in the future, you know. sometimes it's not the right moment. But I'm no coach there. I don't make a decision.

I don't know what is the reason, but this is more or less what I did in my experience as a 17th coach. Makes sense. Claire in Texas asks, what is your opinion on college soccer and how much of a place it should still have in the national team pipeline? Well, I feel like this is something that is unique again in US. This is not in Europe.

In Europe, the player playing the club. And then you study in college. You can balance both things, you know, but now that everything is more professional, you will focus more in soccer. But here is something unique, right? And I feel like it's important for the development and for the life of the player have this experience, right? But it's true that sometimes the style of play in the college soccer is different

that you want to implement in the national team and sometimes it's difficult or sometimes the schedule, no, for trying to come for the walk-ups. But I feel like, again, is the work of the coach to be, to take this as advantage and then try to mix and do your work. I don't think that is fair to say, oh, this, the coach. college is a problem. Well, no, because you have this option that the player are exposed this competition, really high-level competition, that you don't have this in other countries. Let's make the things that we have in US unique as a advantage instead, like a complaint

that is a problem, right? I feel like you can take something positive from there. Does it make the job of the U.S. Women's National Team Coach a more complicated job? than say the coach of the Spanish women's national team. I mean, like he wasn't even, the players didn't even like him, right? And they still won the World Cup. I mean, at least reportedly that the players didn't like him. And in the U.S., you have to, you take these advantages, but then you have to add these other important things.

Maybe for in Spain, it's just like it's built in, you know. The system is built in. The tactical understanding is built in. you don't even have to coach maybe like did he even coach well then i feel like every coach is important right and if no i will kill in all my co-workers and it's no no i am a coach and i believe that my work and the work of the co-workers are are important we are killing all the coaches here but i feel like the national team in spain was a special situation because they were really, really hungry to win. They were playing really good. They were doing a really good

performance in different, like Euro Cup and Olympics and this, but they didn't have this last step. And I feel was like an organic process, right? They were winning in 17s, in 20s, and then I was like, okay, why. And I feel this player has really complex and beautiful understanding about the game, right? They are a really, really high-level understanding tactical player, right? But then, I don't know, then in US, I feel like this is the work of the coaches, right? You need to, Guardiola, say, Peg Guardiola that I admire, I always talk about, you need to try to make the player something like is interesting, like take the player and say, okay, I want to play this way, make this interesting and beautiful and engage the player there.

And this is the hard work of the coach. It's not like, oh, I want to play this way. Let's do it. No, no. You need to, uh, suggestion there. We can say in English like a persuasion. Persuade. Persuade.

Thank you. I didn't know the synonym. Convinced. Yeah. The adjective. Thank you. Uh, yeah, pursue them and say, okay. Let's.

And I feel this is the most beautiful part of the coach as well, right? Uh, try the player belief. in the idea that you want to implement. But the Spain was, I think, an interesting and beautiful example that how much the player was hungry about to sow the wall that, yeah, they were doing really good in the youth level

and was the moment to win the walk-up, right? They were so fun to watch, I thought. Well, anything else? Anything you wish I had asked you? No, I think you asked a lot of things. I asked about the Rondo as well. And yeah, it's good. I feel like that.

You were good. I don't know. We should talk about that. I don't have a problem with Rondos. You need to see yourself in the video later and see your body language when you say. I will. I'll study it. I'll study it.

Yeah. I don't know if I forget something or the things that I was talking was not that you wanted or yes. but you feel free to us. Something else. What about, so one other thing. I'll be nice. Be nice.

I'll be nice. I'll be nice. Trace asks, what do you think about coaching development here versus in Spain? Is it coaching development where it should be in the U.S.? I mean, because we're asking a lot of a coach. And yeah, what do you think of that? Yeah, I feel like it's different, right? And I mentioned before that probably in Spain you have different time and tempo to coach.

Like there are not this stress to win and win and so that you win. I feel like sometimes in US in different clubs or environment, there are this entity to win, win, win, it's like, okay, let's coach development, right? like you say, let's have a process, a time to the player, understand the way we want to play, right? I feel like here there are this necessity or this situation that is unique again, like the college, right? And then when you go these big events, no,

that a thousand million of college coaches are there scouting you for, And then there are this, okay, as a coach, you want to help the player, right? In her career, it's a beautiful responsibility as well. But the player have to play and you have to perform and good. And there are this pressure or there is this pressure that in Europe doesn't exist. You don't play with the club for the player go to the college, no? You play with the player to develop the player in the style of play that you want for the club. So I feel like everything is more the same continue, continue, continue, continue.

Both for players and for coaches. Both for players and for coaches. And here there are like a little this, okay, you want to help the player, but then the player wants to go different college and the player want to perform and good. And sometimes the player lose the focus and, oh, I want to be good. And they try to do for themselves. And this is what you're talking, well, let's try to think about the team. Yeah, but the college coach is in the stand scouting me, you know, and then there are this, I think, like, you need to translate to the player, like, okay, the best way you can arrive there is performing good as a team, no, only individual, no?

But sometimes there are players that are confused, right? And like, okay, they want to do very good themselves and forget about, and sometimes this is different, right? this stress doesn't exist in Spain, for example. Yeah. Like if you're trying to get a hat trick to impress the coach so you can get the scholarship to the university, it's not good for... Well, it's not the right way to play.

Is this component different that made the development a little, I think sometimes russ? Like there are these like a rass, like an impatient, like okay, we need to perform good. who need to well, but it's not only the results or the performance good. It's like about teaching the player about the process and learning and slow. And for me, it's necessarily a little more calm in the process of development in this young age. Yeah.

How far are we from that, from getting to be that way in the U.S.? It feels pretty far, but what do you think? Could we get there? I feel yes. I think that one thing that I would love to see in US is one day the NWSL have like the second team and the academy probably relate with the professional team

like I was doing the MLS right I think that in the voice way I think it's really good and it's like this, no MLX Pro and next and this and it's very organizing pro academies and I think that I would love to see this in US in the women's game. I think if NWSL can get this,

can be a beautiful way to start organizing and structuring the pathway to the players. Are you going to do the Copa this summer? Probably, right? Yeah. I think, yes, the Olympics as well.

I will go to Paris to broadcasting the Olympics. Okay, so both, probably, probably. Yeah, we hope. Yeah, well, we'll be listening. And I really appreciate your time. Thank you so much. Yeah, thank you. I really enjoy the conversation.

And again, very grateful for have this opportunity to talk about soccer. All right. Thanks, Natalia Strein. Thank you so much. Thanks everybody for listening. We'll see you.