Scuffed | USMNT, World Cup, Yanks Abroad, futbol in America - #499: Folarin Balogun joins the pod

Episode Date: June 8, 2024

Folarin Balogun, the striker for the USMNT and AS Monaco, joined Watke and Sanjay Sujanthakumar for a conversation yesterday. Outstanding stuff.———Subscribe to Scuffed on Patreon! Patrons get a private feed for the Monday Review every week with Watke and Vince, plus emergency pods and call-in shows. Patrons also get access to our private Discord server, live call-in shows, and our full catalog of historic recaps, plus right of first refusal on our next Scuffed trip to Europe: 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 Scuff Podcast, where we talk about U.S. soccer. Welcome to the scuff podcast. Sanjay here, and I'm joined by Waki and Fuller and Balagan. Palagan, thanks for coming on. Thank you, guys. It's my pleasure. Nice to be here. Thank you. Let's just do the interview. We can just start talking. So what do you look forward to doing every time you come to the States? I think first things first. I'm happy to see them.

boys I mean I always like have little conversations with everyone just asking how things and then yeah I think just getting into camp getting settled I just like to get myself up to up to speed with the jet lag because that's quite tricky so the first day or two are quite difficult but yeah I just enjoy mainly the culture and being around everyone do you guys have any anything you do specifically to get adjusted to the time yeah the staff are really good and they give us different products to help us take prior to us coming into camp. And then that just helps to speed up the process. So they'll just give us like tablets that help with the help you to sleep,

help you to wake up on time. So that's helpful. So let's get to the hard-inning stuff right away. Nandoz or Chick-fil-A. Wow, it's right in there. For me, I've got to say Nandoes. You know, I was driving in Washington the other day. And I saw Enandoz.

I didn't know they had it in America. We went to one last night. Seriously. We'd never been to one in America. That's so crazy, you know? I was hoping you had been since we could ask you what the difference was. How was it? It was decent.

I've had it, you know, back England as well. Yeah, get all the time there. It's good. I was shocked as well. But honestly, we got it to prepare for this interview. Yeah, I couldn't believe when I saw it. I had to, like, tell the driver, like, go back in Sanando's. It's a higher level of place than Chick-fil-I.

I don't even know if it's fair. to compare the two. Natives is definitely better. People don't know as a shame, but it's pretty good. Yeah, yeah, for sure. I think,

yeah, you could do a date in Nandoz, if I'm being honest. Yeah, Nandoz is a good place. Agreed. You could do a date there. You could do a date there. Have you done it at Nandoz? Not me personally,

but I know some of my friends have, but it's on the cards, why not? It's a phantom. You're more of like a pizza express guy? Nah, to be honest, I'm more of a restaurant, low-key, type of guy, but Nando's, I definitely went right now off the cards. What's your go-to type of, if you're going to go out to a nice dinner at a nice restaurant,

what's your go-to cuisine or type of restaurant? I have one at the top of my road in London called Mayhals. They do, like, Turkish, like Mediterranean sort of food. And, yeah, the person who manages it, he just looks after me, he lets me stay there a bit later. So I think that's sort of my spot if I've got a day or something. So yeah, shout out, shout out of Senate. So this is a longer camp than usual.

Are you noticing any differences on and off the field in terms of preparation, the activities with this camp? Yeah, it is a longer camp. I think it's just good, you know, especially for me to just really absorb everything. It doesn't feel like there's a rush. I think the atmosphere from the staff and the players is more relaxed because if we have questions or if there's things we're not sure about you can just work on it on the field

and I think that's always the best way to learn and to practice on the field learning by doing so it's a good feeling from me I'm really happy that we have more time to prepare and I think it will definitely show when we play against different teams and when we get into the cop-up. How much of a training session is working on new stuff, how much is just sort of, you know, working in the training and working in stuff you've already done? Like, how much new information are you taking on each

training? Yeah, versus just getting the touches in, getting, you know, some fitness in. Yeah, I think if I could put it into numbers, I would say it's probably 70% what we've really done, consistency, like trying to just master what we've, what we've been taught, the principles we have. That's the first thing. I was told when you get, to camp just our principals and it's kind of just mastering them because that's what's going to carry us and then of course yeah the other 30% is just we still have loads of coaches we have coaches from different backgrounds different paths that have all led them here so they add their thoughts and yeah they obviously try to teach us new things and on a camp like this is showing more

there's more staff that are able to like maybe do individual stuff of us because we have the time to. So that's what I said to your question before. It's a really good experience. Is there a particular principle that's a big priority within this team that isn't as big as another club you played for, so it's been a bigger adjustment? It's a good question.

I think there isn't anything hugely difference, but at the same time, I mean, the intensity in this group, I mean, we're playing in really hot conditions, we're playing on tough pitches, and of course, most of the boys aren't used to it, but that the intensity and the attitude is something that I've noticed in this group, just get on with it, fight, compete, even in training, they're aggressive in duels. So yeah, I think a US team without intensity would be like a shock to me. So that's something that's really been shown every time I come into camp and every time we play. That's the main message.

Just be chaos to play against. Who are you closest to on the national team? And maybe here we'll add besides Eunice because you obviously knew Yonis before, right? So who have you gotten closer with in the squad? Yeah, I was just about to say Eunice. No, I'm really close with, I'd say, like Timmy, Mark, Western, Gio. Honestly, I could go around, I can go around the team. But yeah, I integrate with all the boys in different ways.

Like, I know that me and Luca, we at this camp, we've been working out a lot together in the gym at the same time. and naturally we've just been able to just bond and speak and get to know each other. And then, yeah, if I've gone out to eat for team dinners, also Shaq, it's the first time I've met him. But now we've just got on so well, so many things in common. And it's just nice, you know, to be able to feel comfortable to sit on any table at a team dinner

and just feel that comfortable and feel that you can speak to everyone. I didn't realize you and Eunice were from the same town, Barking and Dagenham, right? Yeah. Are those two separate towns and are you from one or the other or is it just called that Barking? Yeah, so the borough is called Barking and Dagenham. And within obviously the borough there is Barking and Dagenham. So I was from Dagenham and Eunice was from Barking. Okay.

Yeah, we didn't. I didn't actually know he was from my area even when he played to him. together at Arsenal until maybe towards the end. And I remember him saying that I asked him what school he went to one time when I was speaking to him. He said a school in the area and I was like, that's where I live. Why haven't I seen you? He's been getting the same buses I get.

And he lives like 10 minutes from me. He goes to the same shops that I went to. So it was odd that we never saw each other, but yeah, we're definitely from the same area. And now here you both are in Tyson's Corner. What do you make of this area that this hotel is in? Really, really nice. Really, really nice. We went to, obviously, a nice hotel.

We went to the mall. First time I've seen, I'm all connected to a hotel. I don't know if you guys have had the chance to check it out. But, yeah, it's a really nice area. I've got nothing negative to say. Nice restaurants, nice food. Tell us about how you were brought up with football. You said you played with your brother, is that right?

And you used to talk to your dad about your performance as a game. So was football always part of the culture in your household? Yeah, I think just naturally it was part of the culture in my household. It wasn't really forced. Nobody's told me like, oh, you need to start looking for a team or you need to work hard to be a footballer. I thought that everything was very organic for when I was young. I used to wait my parents up to say that I want to go to training. And yeah, same thing with my brother.

He just naturally enjoyed football and there'll just be times where it'd be like 6 o'clock, we're both both playing. six o'clock, we're both bored, and we just grab a ball and say, like, let's just go out and play. So I would just say it was a very, it was a very, like, organic, relaxed culture, and it was almost like a football found me. I felt like I didn't really have to look for what I wanted to do. It just kind of happened, so I'm quite fortunate in that aspect. Your brother's older or younger? He's older.

Okay. So would you, like, play with him and his older friends? Yeah. How many years older? Yeah, so he's four years older than me At the time when I was really young When I was like 10 Like he

Like his friends were just They're at that stage where they're hitting puberty and stuff So it was a bit too physical for me So I kind of didn't really want to play with them But then as I got older I realized that They're stronger but I'm a bit more Faster

I'm a bit more quicker with the ball than them So I managed to integrate quite well with them And I enjoyed it And then, yeah, if I have time off, like, when I'm ever in, like, barking antagonum, for sure, I would always, like, message my brother, when I'm on my way home or on my way to the family house, just like, oh, maybe set up a football session with your friends. And, yeah, there's times I still do it. So, yeah, it's good. Did you play any other sports, cricket, rugby?

No, I mean, I'm not really into other sports, apart from table tennis. I really like table tennis, but I wish I could have. played it, like I found the club or something, you know. Maybe that's still time, but I really do enjoy table tennis. I have a question about how good are you at it? Because you've said to me, you're very good. And you've won money playing.

We don't need to get into how much money. Yeah. But you're quite good. Very good. I mean, of course, I'm not going to blag and say that I'm the best in the world. But honestly, I think once I get a few rallies going, I do think I'm very, very good. Have you played anyone on the national team?

Yeah, I played the Eunice a few times. He's okay, but he's one of my victims, taking some money of him, but, nah, he's... Yeah, I just think I'm good, you know? At the start, I wasn't, and it's just something I practiced, and I've got good coordination, so I back myself. Good.

Have you been playing any more golf? there's a video of you playing which your first swing wasn't great then you figured out really quickly and were fantastic yeah I mean I've left the golf the boys do play it though a lot I see like Gio Brendan they play it a lot

Joe Scali but I've left the golf this this camp I think it was just something it was good to experience but maybe I'll try again at some point later down the line yeah it seems like they're all addicted they're kind of like my friends all are addicted to golf and I can't hit it well.

So at some point you'll learn, I think. Yeah, I think it's one of them things as well. Seems like a good sport. I respect how hard it is. And it does seem addictive everyone I've spoken to. So they just love it when they get a hang of it. So, yeah, as I said, I think maybe down the line. So back to football.

Tell us about your development positionally. So you said you played wide girls. growing up, right? When did you transition to becoming more of a striker? Yeah, I played wide in the youth set up at Arsenal at the time. I played, there was a left-winger or right-winger. And then, yeah, when I was around 16, I transitioned into a striker. I think the manager at the time just, he just thought I'd be more effective there. I think he just wanted to try and, like, see out a game.

And then I ended up scoring in the last minutes. and the next game he started me as a striker, scored again, and then before I knew it, it just kind of happened. And I was competing with the other strikers at the time he were playing for, like, their country. And yeah, I felt comfortable there. I felt good. And I felt like, because I was more playing as an unorthodox striker,

there was things that I were doing that really did help me, that were to my benefit, I think. Do you enjoy, so you describe yourself as a versatile striker, right? Unorthodox, do you enjoy playing with another striker? Or do you enjoy being the second striker? Yeah, I think I enjoy playing with another striker. I also really do enjoy playing by myself. But I think I wouldn't want to be the deeper striker.

So I think sometimes in systems you'll get two strikers playing up top together, which is, that's fine. That just comes down to your partnership with the other striker, but then in some systems, you'll get almost like a false nine or a 10, and then you'll have a striker. But it's still a two,

but I would prefer to always be the highest, the highest man. So I hope that makes sense to you others listening. But, yeah, I'd always prefer to be the highest point in the field. So there's been a lot of talk about how the team is going to go about replacing Sergenia this summer and a lot of things that's been talked about more and more is potentially playing with the back three playing with wing backs if you guys do that whether it's 343 or 352 and I know that's different for for the striker but just playing with the wingbacks like

how much does that change things for you in terms of the movement and the space if you're going in and out of the service you're getting yeah it changes things I just think naturally in the past and played in formations with wing backs it really depends on on how solid we are in possession, that's what gives to wing backs the confidence to either play as almost wingers or if we're kind of, let's say, in a chaotic game and we're not really dominating possession,

they will just naturally drop off to almost a back five. So I understand it depends on how we control the game, but if you're in a game and you're dominating, having wing backs is really a bonus because they're just in half spaces. They can get early crosses in before the defense is set. They can beat the man and put in a fast cross across the box. They do add a different dynamic,

which does help the striker, but it depends on how we control the game. Votre French, are you still in that phase now where you're listening and absorbing it, or are you now active with it, confident speaking and all that? Yeah, the boys were giving me

a hard time today because they said it's my second year in France and I still can't speak any French but I mean I was able to understand roughly what you said so I think that's that's enough for me you know to be able to understand I'm not really a big talkative person I'm quite introverted so naturally I think whether I understood or whether I could speak it or not I would I wouldn't really say much, but I definitely have picked up my understanding from my two years in France. Did you learn it in, were you learning in school growing up? Yeah, I think we all was, but I wasn't really locked in, you know. I was just in the class.

I don't know what I was doing, but put it like this. When I left school, I didn't know any French. You mentioned that when you were younger in your youth's career, you were kind of a class clown. When did that transition happen? And are you going to reincorporate any elements of being a class clown back into your game at some point? Yeah, I was a class clown when I was in secondary school from my early years, like year seven to year nine. But it's funny, you said that at the time when I was in year nine,

then that was almost the timing of scholarships. So at that time, I just remember almost talking to myself and just, in my thoughts and I was just like if you don't get a scholarship then your sort of dream is likely not going to happen. That was the

thoughts or the message I said to myself and yeah I was almost petrified of that thought of not getting a scholarship or not having a club at that age so I just remember like

nobody even had to tell me twice just started to get my head down, work hard in football, I mean, I started to do my extras and you can ask the coaches at that time. I was just like something clicked. And then, yeah, by the end of my year, my school year and year 9, I got my scholarship and I just realized that when I had that sort of focus, I was able to achieve things. So I think that was probably the transition from being like a class clown into probably more focused individual. But yeah, I mean, when there's a time and a place of everything is what I've come to learn.

So when I'm away from the pitch and I've done what I needed to do, yeah, I'm fun to be around. Before you had that focus, were you on track to be a professional player at all? I was way off track. Way off track, I think. I was told at the time that I was like going to get released if I didn't. Like if I didn't change. And it wasn't so much a situation where, let's say I had the ability, but my attitude was bad. It was more a case of my attitude wasn't great.

And I didn't have the, I wasn't like one of the talented groups. and showcased in my talent, so it was just like a lose-lose. And that's where, as I said, I had that conversation with myself that if you actually want to be a footballer, you actually need to concentrate. Just to be clear, because when people in the States hear a scholarship, they think of, like, uni. So when you say scholarship, do you mean the club that you were playing for? Was it you talking about Arsenal?

So that was based on your grades in school and your performance? No, the scholarship is just more the transition from becoming like a, a kid to you now get paid a sum, like you get paid a bit. And it's just more, it's like the step before you become a professional, but it's vital that you get your scholarship, you know. So it's almost like the two year gap

just before you become a professional. So I'm not sure what the equivalent is over here, but yeah, that was what I was referring to. at a time, but it doesn't have anything to do with your school grades. It's just more the club finally invested into you and saying that we're going to give you a two-year contract and we see you potentially playing for our first team. Got it, yeah, I've heard of this vaguely, but when people say scholarship, we think it's cool, right? So how would you assess your first season at Monago?

It seems like earlier in the season things weren't going as well as you would have liked, but you didn't finish the season with 13 goal contributions in the league. And overall, you know, after leaving for the summer, looking back from the first season after that big move, how do you feel about that? Yeah, as you said, it was a big move. And prior to me, signed for Monaco, I played in France the year before. And naturally, I had really big expectations going into Monaco. And, yeah, when I look back at the end of the season, when I reflect, as I always do after every season, and I haven't achieved what I wanted this year.

And it's not something for me to beat myself over us. It wasn't something where I was really gutted or I let it affect me. It was just more finding out why. And there was different reasons. There was adaptation periods. And at times, things haven't gone my way on the pitch. And there was just adjustments. and things that I didn't realize needed tweaking,

but later I realized they did. And yeah, for me, it was not the season I wanted at domestic level, but it's a part of my journey and I've come to embrace that. So I know that the lessons I've learned this season will definitely put me in a good position for the future. And as I said, I have big expectations for myself and I still have no doubts that I'll achieve it. So, yeah, it's just something I've to take in my stride, learn from, and embrace, as I said.

What was something you tweaked during the season? Yeah, so it's an interesting one, because even though I was aware prior to me moving there, like there's no, let's say, the ambience in the stadium just due to the size of Monaco. In comparison to most teams, even in the French League, we would naturally get less spectators, just because Monofos a smaller place. And in the beginning, I found it quite difficult just maybe to play a game and with the stadium not being definite. I think so. That kind of brought, let's say, a let's say, a let's say, a let's myself and that was something I knew I had to shake off so as the season went on

just studied different ways in which I can almost pop myself up for a game or trick my mind and I realized that these are the things you may have to do to not only know yourself better but to know how you perform best so that's sort of what I meant when I mean there was things that I noticed that I noticed needed to tweak and adjust and that's an ongoing process that would be something that would happen for the rest of my career. So it was nice to know. It was nice to know that. You talked about your awareness of American athletic excellence by watching the Olympics and you said it would be a dream to play in the Olympics. What's the latest in terms of conversations with

Monaco with US soccer about potentially getting released for that? And yeah, can you just talk to us about that consideration? Yeah, still a dream. For sure, something I would love to make happen in my career. But if I'm being honest with you, I left the season for Monaco. I had one week off, and then I came here into camp. And since I've been here on camp, I've had minimal discussions with the people around me, my agent or the people in Monaco about the Olympics.

It's just something I've tried to stay focused. being in camp, I've voiced my desire to play and represent my country always. I've always said that's something I'd want to do. But in this situation, Monaco is in charge and yeah, I feel like I have to respect what they say. And as far as I'm concerned, they've said that it's best for me to play in the Cop of America and then return back to them for preseason. but yeah I mean as I said I've expressed how much that would be a dream of mine

you get more time off right after Copa and then go back yeah we'll have I've been told it's three weeks from the moment the Copa ends so that's all pretty much I've been told

with God and I'm out of season and my return days so you basically just get three weeks off a year or is there somebody you guys are you would do a lot of work. It's unbelievable how much you guys play. Yeah, I think there are a lot of games, but it helps when you love what you do, for sure. And at the end of the day, like somebody, the athletes that I look up to, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messe, Killing-Nabap, they're playing

60, 70 games a year every three days, non-stop, at the highest level, an impacting game. So, I would never look at myself and think while you're being overworked here, especially when they've been doing it for Ronaldo Messi for 15 years plus. I do understand what you're saying and probably is a lot of work, but it's nothing, I'm not doing anything that they're not. Right. Yeah, that's how I try to look at it. Who's the best centerback you've ever played against?

I would say Raphael Varan played against him in the FA Cup and yeah he lived up to what I expected also I'd say Sergio Rambos as well he was very strong, very smart to them to him

Best player you've ever played with can include training I would say I would say Thomas Pate or Bacayo Saka. I think people are aware of that Bacayo's quality I think he gets to showcase him more

but I'd say Thomas is really, really good just naturally him being a defensive midfield, he might go under the razor but he's really good. I think we're probably used up enough with you, thank you for doing this. That was a great conversation.

What do you hope to achieve in your career by 2026 and then beyond long term when it's all said done, create objectives. Yeah, so prior to 2026, I want to put myself in a position where I'm undoubtedly a world-class footballer. So that was the aspiration of mine, even prior to joining the US, and that will obviously include club football, domestic football,

putting up consistent high numbers, goals and assist. And then, yeah, I think overall, when it's all said and done, my aspirations or I'd want my legacy to just look like, a footballer who created a new path, obviously me being from London, but represented the United States using the benefits and the resources I had to the fullest and to be remembered for impacting games at the highest level. So, yeah, I think if people could remember me along their lines, that I'd make me happy. Thanks so much for coming on the pod. Thank you. It's been my pleasure. A bit of conversation. Thank you.