Scuffed | USMNT, World Cup, Yanks Abroad, futbol in America - #639: World Cup roster predictions with Doug McIntyre

Episode Date: October 22, 2025

The Fox Sports reporter joins the pod, again, to talk through the past window, a little about Champions League, and mostly to discuss who he thinks will be on the World Cup roster. There's a big surprise in there! And lots of good discussion of the state of the pool.Here's the Chris Richards interview: https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/who-u-s-mens-national-team-defender-chris-richards 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. We talk about U.S. soccer. Hey, everybody, it's Wednesday, October 22, and we've got Doug McIntyre here to talk about the past window, the injuries, and Champions League, and who is going to be on the World Cup roster, which is going to be a big conversation for the next eight months. Doug, how are you doing?

Doing well, Adam. Good to see you. Thanks for having me back on. Appreciate it. My pleasure. Let's talk about what you thought of the window first. A pretty good performance in the draw. against Ecuador. Then we had to face Australia without Pulisic, without Jedi, without Tillman. What did the team show you in that game?

Yeah, without Tyler Adams for both games. They showed a lot. I mean, I think they showed a lot of character and fight in both games. You know, conceding an early goal, neither of those goals should have happened. The first one against Ecuador comes on a counterattack. Way too much space left in the back and a very good finish. by a very good player in Intervalencia. And then the goal against Australia,

I mean, I thought at the time in Mauricio Pachino said the same thing as press comments after. That goal happens to the World Cup. You are dead. You're dead. You're losing that game. So, you know, they have to clean up that sort of stuff. But the comeback in each game was really encouraging. It's very hard when you concede first at the international level to get back into a game.

And there's not that many chances, even when, you know, scores are tied. at that level. And they did. And they came back in both matches. You're right, again, without a lot of really good players, guys that we all think are going to be in the starting lineup come June 12th in L.A. And guys took advantage of their chances. So, like, I've seen progress the last two windows. It appears like things are moving in the right direction, which I think is what is all anyone can ask for, really. I mean, people can ask for a lot more than that. But Yeah. It's an encouraging sign after, particularly after that South Korea game, which I thought

was the, you know, the low part of Pocino's first year in charge. And the three games since then have been the best three games they played since he's been the coach. So I'm looking forward to see if they can build on that next month. Potch is enjoying being serious, you know, he's enjoying that. Yeah. Well, on the Australia goal, the goal Australia scored. I mean, it's a nice finish.

But I agree with you, we got to clean that. up. Who do you, you know, Zuprooting it for a second. Who do you blame the most? Who do I pin it on? Yeah. I think there was a lot of play to go around. And to their credit, like, so I, you know, Chris Richards and Christian Raldane were asked about that play after. And both of them put their hands up right away and said, I needed to be quicker to react. It was a weird play. I mean, it came off a throw in. And before the ball even, like to get really into the weeds, I think. Let's do it. Just going from memory. Before the ball even. the ground, James Sands got a toe on it and kind of deflected it up and back towards his own end

line, which I think threw everyone off. I mean, Richard says something about like, like McKenzie and Miles, or was it Miles that was on that side, had a hard time picking up the ball, like the flight of the ball. So I think that little touch by Sands threw them off and then, and then the goal scored, the kid from Fienord, I forget his name, but he was fabulous in that game. Yeah, he was great. And he was his throw. I mean, he made the throw. And then he ends up, you know, seeing the confusion and jumping on it. And then he gets a little bit fortunate that the, like, Roald Dan had a late clearance. He said he got caught flat-footed and it deflects into his body. And, you know, I don't think there was much of a chance for Fries to do anything. But, I mean,

a couple of errors on that play. Like, you can't, you can't concede goals from from throw-ins and you can't ever let the ball, like, bounce in the box. I mean, those are, those are cardinal sins at rec soccer level, let alone at the highest level there is. So it's the good thing is that though, I think that mistake in particular is easily correctable. It was a little bit fluky. Yeah. And again, you know, the, the response was really good. I mean, Richard said that he thought that the goal woke them up and you would hope that they don't need that to wake up, but they did. And the response again was was what you would want to see. And they ended up, you know, it ended up not hurting them in that game, which I think was good. Yeah. So what's the best,

we know, well, I was just going to say, Sands, the one who pops it up in kind of a dangerous area, I noticed that he just kind of like stood and watched it for a couple of beats. And I'm like, you know, if you pop it up in your own area, get in there and start solving the problem. But yeah, that's just, I think it was a situation where everyone's looking. Yeah, I know, I agree. Look, everyone's looking at someone else to jump in and no one kind of did. So a lot of, you know, to bring it back to the start, a lot of blame to go around on that goal. I wouldn't pin it on one player in particular.

Totally fair. What's the best we know about Pulisic's injury now? So, yeah, so I think it's a hamstring issue. They're tight-lipped about specifics in Europe because of privacy laws surrounding medicine. But Max Allegri, Milan's coach, came out and said that he thought that Pulisic wouldn't be back until after the international break in November, which would seem to rule him out for the games against Uruguay and Paraguay. I don't think we should be completely surprised about that. Right.

The way he walked off the field. So hopefully he gets back sooner than that, but it doesn't sound like he'll, you know, he's coming back anytime soon. Not the worst injury in the world. I mean, hamstrings are always scary and because they don't, you know, they tend not to heal quickly and the risk of reagravating them is always there. When players of hamstring injuries, they can come back. Tim Way has dealt with it a lot.

We know Giorina has. There's other players that have. Christian has as well, but he seemed to, you know, it's not, been a thing the last few years, came into camp nursing and ankle issue that he'd had since preseason apparently, according to Botasino. So in a way, it's encouraging that it's a new injury. And it's not long term. I mean, it's something that's going to keep him out for a month. It's not two, three months where it could really, you know, impact his rhythm and make it difficult for him to get back. He should be back running, you know, up and running and be ready to go well in

advance of, you know, the March window, let along the World Cup. I mean, in a way, it's good that it's, that there's an international window coming up because it'll give them a chance to, you know, get a running start back with the club, which is honestly more important at this point than, it is. And Bell's the other thing I'd point out is like the fact that, so, I mean,

all three goals the U.S. scored this October window were without Christian Polisic on the field, but far in a way their best attacking player. I think we all agree. And that's really encouraging too. I mean, this team has struggled to score goals and, you know, they have two really good performances effectively without

Christian Policic. So when he's back and he's at his best, I mean, he didn't look right in either game. I didn't think. He came on late after the goal was scored against Ecuador. And the U.S. played better after he was out of the game against Australia. And that's not because Christian's not a good player, obviously. Is there a better, more dangerous team with him on the field, to be clear. But it's still good when you can get results and you can perform well.

It's so good. The guy that you're relying on. Yeah. So that, I think that's a good, a good sign. And we all want to see Christian Polisic at his absolute best. And you're right, he needs to be at his absolute best next June, not now. Right. So it looks like Malik is out for a couple of weeks with a thigh tweak per buyer lever because I don't know how much we need to talk about.

It doesn't sound too serious. But what did you, did you think he kind of took a step forward with the team? I mean, he was good in the Gold Cup. Yeah. I'm not sold on Malik Tillman as a locked-in starter. I know he's in a lot of people's lineups. He was in my roster prediction after the last camp. He's not in my starting lineup for the next roster prediction

that should be publishing on Fox Sports.com any second now. Probably out by the time you are watching this. But, I mean, still a guy that I think is he did enough this summer and this year that he's going to be on the World Cup squad. you know, barring something completely unforeseen, whether he starts or not, or he's the first or second attacking option off the bench, is another conversation.

But Tiltemun to be back, disappointing that he missed Leverkuson's Champions League match yesterday, you know, love watching these guys play in those games. So that's a little bit unfortunate. But Tillman will be back soon enough. And yeah, he's got a lot of season left, so not too worried about him. Maybe a good one to miss the facing the buzzsaw of PSG. Correct, correct, yeah.

And then Jedi's injury. Does it feel like maybe he got run into the ground a little bit last season at Fulham? And how concerned are you about this? I'm concerned. I'm very, it's to the point where I think there has to be like legit worries about Jedi's fitness out of the World Cup. There's, again, there's time. But he had surgery in May, I think, or June. He hasn't really played.

He's not. He played like a cup. Not really played. No, he hasn't, right? So he's played only, you know, limited minutes off the bench in the Premier League. And here we are almost into November. He came into camp and the staff determined that he wasn't able to play in either game. He didn't dress for Fulham over the weekend.

So, you know, this is a guy that, I mean, he was arguably the best left back in the world last year. You know, you could make that argument. Certainly in the conversation, top, top three, arguably the best Premier League left back. there was last year. We all expected him to move on to bigger and better things this summer. And this has been a setback for him. And, you know, now we need to see him back playing regularly for the cottages every week. But he's not quite there yet.

And the length of time that it's taken for him to get back is concerning to the point where, you know, the staff has to be considering some contingency plans. I think, I mean, he's going to, Jeddye is going to do everything in his power to be there for the World Cup. I believe he'll be there. I believe he'll be starting. You should be fine. But if you're not concerned, I mean, if the coaching staff wasn't looking at other potential options, they wouldn't be doing their job.

And I know they're doing their job. So it's something to keep an eye on. But I think everyone's going to feel a lot better when Jedi Robinson's back on the field and playing the way we know he can when he's at his best. Yeah, I don't want to be like a, you know, like a UFO truth or something. but have you seen the um have you seen the i think it was brian shoretta on big soccer was talking about the type of knee surgery he had when he was in yeah do you know what i'm talking about do you i do i do know is i haven't heard anyone reference big soccer in a long time uh brian shretta is still

cranking away on there you know yeah yeah yeah he is uh no bryan's a great friend of mine yeah no he he had i mean he had micro fracture surgery a number of years ago um and he's dealt with other stuff as well. I mean, there's been, there's been concerns about his knee now for a few years. So it's, again, just something to keep an eye on. Sometimes athletes, you know, they're at the top of their game and, or their, and just their bodies don't cooperate. We've seen it with guys like John O'Brien, Stuart Holden in the past. It's really unfortunate. Jedi's obviously, you know, he's been pretty durable. He's been so durable. He's been a great servant for the U.S. Yeah. And again, I think that this World Cup, you know, he's going to do everything he can to be there and be healthy.

But, yeah, just something to keep an eye on for sure. And, you know, we all want to see Jedi back on the field as soon as possible. Okay. And you've talked about this other places, but it seemed like Wes's, we've talked about it on our pod. It seemed like Wes's personality was a little muted in camp this time. What's that about? From what we saw. We don't see the inside.

Yeah. And I don't think, you know, Wes is going to be Wes. you know, no matter what, that's just his personality. But he was, I mean, there was a level of professionalism and seriousness that I think stood out. And that's what you want to see when a player's, you know, I don't want to say he was benched, but he wasn't called in for September. I do think, I mean, Pachitino hasn't said this. You know, but I think there was a message sent there a little bit that what happened in March

wasn't acceptable was didn't play well in those games in March. And, you know, I think it was a wake-up call for him to know that, look, if you're not at your best, you're not coming in. And that's what we expect. And we expect you to be, you know, 100% locked in and focused. And he was. And I thought he played well. And that's a great side. I mean, he talked openly about, like, the diet plan he's on.

He looked great. He's a phenomenal player. He said he was afraid. It's the first time he hasn't been afraid to take his shirt off at the pool. So, yeah, we got a little bit. bit of the personality there. We did. We did. And that was, that's a great thing. I mean, that that's, you know, I asked Christian about having Wes back in the camp and he said, he puts a, he's got a smile on his face, puts a smile on other people's faces. And,

and again, like, and I have said this elsewhere, Weston McKinney's a phenomenal player. And they need him next summer. The US team needs him that next summer to have a good World Cup. And we've seen how good he can beat a World Cup. I think back to that England game I mentioned on here before. So if, if Wes is serious and he's, and he's taking things seriously and he's ready to play next summer. It's a huge advantage for the U.S. So I hope that continues and I expect that it will. I believe he told Alexei Lallis that Weston is the best midfielder

that America has ever produced. And I wondered how much he was grinding his teeth and firing off text messages to former teammates about that while you guys. I did preface it by saying with all due respect to guys like Todd Ramos and Michael Bradley. You did. I mean, I did. You got to speak truth to power sometimes.

you know listen what west i i did so i was asked to do last year um before the cope america like my all-time u.s. 11 and not like not who has the most caps who is the most the best career because that's hard you can't then you wouldn't be able to include guy you know current guys like holistic or jett i or desk or whoever um you know weston for me i mean the guy's what 25 years old 26 he's been a starter for eventus for the last five i think he's 26 starter for you Venice for the last five years, right? This guy's a consistent Champions League performer. I watch every game he plays.

When he's at his best, he can do things. No U.S. midfielder. He has it all. The technical ability, the engine, the physicality, you know, the ability to arrive late in the box and score goals. Other players, you know, notably Michael Bradley was very, very good at that. But I think Wes, when he's at his best, he's at a different level. And I think when it's all said and done, you know, he will be. he recognizes the best the best midfield midfield that the men's national team has ever had i firmly

believe that yeah i can imagine fans in like 20 years like new fans going back and watching some of those goals he scored in champions league for eiventis the like the the scissor-kick goal versus barcelona and just being like wow exactly yeah i mean he pretty much whenever i watch him play for yventez he always plays well and it doesn't matter where he plays i'm always i always come away and press like man what a player yeah i agree what a player I think that highly of him. So when he's at his best and the U.S. needs him at his best, he's a huge, huge asset. And he just makes the U.S. team so much better.

And he loves the bright lights, which is a point you've also made. You know, he's going to show up for the World Cup. Yep. Well, I think so. What's your assessment of Haji Wright? Some lovely goals in that game. Where's he fitting in right now? Haji helped himself, no question about it.

I mean, he's, so he's a finisher. Like, he's a guy as good as Pepper. as a finisher. We know he's, Pepe's, you know, goals to minutes ratio speaks to himself, scored in the Champions League. Again, you know, yesterday, limited minutes, had an assist. I think he was on the field 10 minutes, 12 minutes, right?

Game was over against Napoli at that point, to be fair, but, um, what a scene, what a scene that was. Amazing. Amazing. Right. And you can only, you can only, you know, do what you can in the time you have and he consistently takes advantage and finds the net. But the way, some of the goals,

Haji scores are fabulous. He's, and it's a striker that came in in form. He's the co-leader in goals in the championship right now tied with one of his teammates, although Haji's played one fewer game. And I just thought he took both goals really well. The second one was obviously beautiful, but the first one was a lot more difficult than it looked. Agreed. How quickly he took it, how he realized that, like, he had to take it when he did,

kind of, you know, off the outside of his foot and just stabbed it into the net. So, Haji absolutely helped himself. I think that, you know, you can't have enough guys that can score goals. He does it. He scored at a World Cup. I don't know how much he knew about that goal, but it went in and it counts. And yeah, like that, I think he's, there's a long way to go. It's only October.

But, I mean, if you think Haji didn't help himself by scoring two goals against a, you know, a packed in Australia defense that's pretty stingy, they came into that match having not lost in 12 games. And, again, both of his goals were fantastic. drastically well taken. So, yeah, I mean, Haji was on my roster before this, but he's even more entrenched. And I think that, you know, he does have that versatility that he can play out wide. But I think that he's center forward on this team. And he should be, you know, my top three guys right now, Balagan, Pepe, and Haji writes right behind those two.

So, yeah. Yeah, it was, it was interesting. It was interesting that Big Pat didn't play a single minute in this camp, wasn't it? You know, I was saying this to someone the other day. Some of Marisa O'Pachino's, like, some of the decisions he makes are hard to, they're hard to figure out because, I mean, you had, you had at the Gold Cup, right? Like Mark McKenzie and Miles Robinson, like, hardly played at all in the Gold Cup with a really short-headed U.S. team.

And then this window with, you know, the varsity team, so to speak, right? Like Miles starts both games and McKenzie, I think, started the other ones. Is that right? Or do I have that right? They start one each. Anyway, I know they both started games this window. I think Miles started two and McKenzie started the second one. I think you're right.

I think that's right. Let me double check. Tim Ream didn't play in the second game against Australia, right? So yeah, so they both came in. So yeah, I mean, like, what does that mean? Are they, you know, Tristan Blackman started ahead of both of those guys last month? So, like, to find, like, a consistency, I think is, is, it's hard to kind of parse through that stuff with some of those decisions. It does feel like, doesn't it feel like the decisions now are more meaningful than they were even a month ago?

I think so, too. I think so, too. And look, Aji Man is coming in off a long injury layoff. He just got back. You know, I think it was good. He wasn't there in September. He had the hernia surgery, I think. that it was hard, you know, it was not the way you want to start off when you move to a new club.

He's getting on the field. He's making an impact now for Darby County. Had a good assist the other day. I think our friend Brian Shreda put the video out there. He did what he does. He uses his body. He's very good at that. We know Potch likes that.

The one knock on him is his finishing, and that's, I think, what Haji, you know, provides. I'm not saying it's one of the other, but there's, you know, Ajiman, They're playing in the same league, playing in the same league as Josh Sargent, Damien Downs, and Hajjee. So it's easier to compare, I think. So the opportunity is there. If he does well and he keeps playing well, he has a chance to get on the squad. We know Paschino likes him. We know he sees the potential.

There's 26 spots. So I'm not counting him out yet, but as of now, I think Big Pat has some work to do. Yeah, poor Josh Sargent. I don't think he scored since the September window. And then they lost to Darby County in that game that Ajaman got the assist. Rico, you know, we mentioned earlier that just like that crowd in Einhoven just in full voice as they, in that 6-2 romp over Napoli. You know, they love that having a big win in Champions League. And like you said, Peve came on in the last 10 minutes, got a goal and an assist.

Do you think he is number two in the striker depth chart right now? and it's like these other guys fighting for that third spot. I mean, you never know when someone has missed as much time as Pepe has. Really unfortunate to get injured and missed basically the second half for last season, you know, right after scoring a goal in the Champions League at Anfield, you know, gets hurt right after that. But he had three goals in Maricio Pachino's first four games in charge. And I know Maricio is very much a what have you done for me lately kind of guy.

But I don't think that he's going to forget that anytime soon. You know, I think that made an impression on him and Peppie's just not been able to be back in since. And again, he scores whenever he's on the field for club or country. You cannot leave a guy like that off the World Cup roster. He's only 22. He's still getting better all the time. You know, he's a good guy.

He's a good teammate. And he has that thing that strikers do where, like, he just wants to score goals. Yeah, right? He's hungry. That's his thing. More of it, I'm not saying, like, Haji and Baligan, like, or Josh or any of the other guys. Like, they don't have that. But a lot of them, like, they do a lot more away from the ball.

Or, like, I mean, I thought Balligan, you can look at his two goals in the last two camps. But, you know, I thought he was the best player they had because he was just so dangerous. Every time he got the ball, it seemed like he did something. Whereas Pepe's more like he just wants to score. And he's very, very good at it. And if he gets a half chance, he gets a chance he can do it. Yeah.

You cannot leave that off. So for me, yeah, he's number two. And I think that once he gets back to full fitness, I do think there'll be a real competition between him and Balagan for the number one strikers job. But right now, that for me is Balagin's job to lose. He's proven that over the last couple of camps since he's been back with the team.

Okay. Well, Yuvay, Monaco, and Atalanta play later today. But I think basically the PSV game was the only USMNT relevant Champions League action. Yes. Without Tillman, yeah, yeah. So on the center back to the centerback tip I You know I have it on How do I say? I heard a rumor that your forthcoming roster prediction includes a certain 6-4

Manchild Yes And the projected starting lineup at the World Cup Yep Let's talk about that because that's that's gonna be Yeah Yeah People are gonna kill me for that and that's fine

So making a World Cup roster is often about momentum. And Noa Kai Banks is he was called up for the September window, as we know, was probably the biggest surprise on that roster. And was supposed to play, I believe, in the second match against Japan and picked up a little bit of an injury camp, didn't play, still uncapped. But he went back to Augsburg and carved out a starting spot. and now he's playing week in and week out in the Bundesliga.

That's not what was happening before. He got some time at the beginning of last season. He did okay and then he sat on the bench for the rest of the year. And, you know, when everyone back in September was saying, this guy should be starting, this guy should be at the World Cup, I believe my Fox sports colleague, Stu Holden had banks in his starting lineup for the October games. He ended up not getting called in. But the fact that he's playing now at that,

level. And the fact that the centerback competition for the U.S. is essentially wide open after Chris Richards and Tim Ream, again. Who is 87 years old? Who's the next? Right. Who's the next guy after those two? Let's just say, let's just say Tim Rame's going to be great and he's going to play through the World Cup and be fabulous. And then the wheels are going to fall off sometime after that when he's, you know, 46 or however old, he'll be after that. Yeah, there's no third centerback spot. The third center back spot, if we just take, you know, if we say Richards and Reamer 1 and 2, is wide open. I think we've seen that.

Again, Miles Robinson and Mark McKenzie, like they didn't play it all in the October window. They get starts to this window. In the September window, excuse me, they both get starts this window. Last window, Tristan Blackman, a guy who had never been involved with the national team, I don't think at any level, right? And as a journeyman, 29-year-old MLS lifer, started both games. it's clear to me that Pachino does not love his options after Riemann Richards. When you look at what Mariso Pachitino said about Noa Kai Banks, when he brought him in the September camp,

he talked about his profile and his potential. And he basically said this guy is a potential to be, I mean, he said this, which is, you know, he's not one for hyperbole usually. He said that banks could be the best centerback in Germany or in Europe. by the end of the season. Yeah, kind of in like a who knows sort of way, right? Who knows, right?

Who knows? But his point is this kid's 18 years old and like he can explode. Right. That's what he said. I think we're starting to see Bank the beginning of that. And if Banks at 18 years old, having gotten some experience last year, can prove that he is a good centerback that starts every week for his club, you know, the next 30 games in the Bundes League or whatever it is,

25 games plus cup games. given that guys like Walker Zimmerman, Tristan Blackman, Miles Robinson are about to go on a three-month layoff because the MLS season's going to be over. Yep. Right. Even if, you know, Vancouver goes to MLS Cup, Tristan Blackman is not going to play a game between December 6th and the end of February, right? Banks is going to be playing every single week during that time. I know the Bundesliga takes a winter break. Yeah, but it's short. It's a lot. It's short, right? So I think he is well positioned to make a big leap. And also, it's just fun to put him in there. This is a roster prediction. I know I'm going to be wrong.

So there is logic to it, but I am taking a little bit of a flyer. Like, there's always surprises on World Cup teams. Like, no one thought that John Brooks at 20 was going to make it in 2014. And he did. And the World Cup's a young man's game. And I just think this kid, he has something that Pachino likes, doesn't love the rest of his options and now he's playing and that's what it's all about if you're playing you have a shot he wasn't playing before yeah right so it was pointless to talk about him starting for the national

team when he's not starting for his club now he's starting for his club things have changed so we'll see if i'm wrong you know i i this roster that i will not be the world cup roster i'm sure that but yeah it wouldn't shock me to see banks come out of nowhere make a late push to make this team. It's better to be fun, fun when you're wrong than to be boring. Exactly.

Exactly. Yeah. Yeah. I don't want to be boring. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I really like Banks' game, and I think there's a lot of sickos are going to love to hear you say that, you know,

because I think everybody recognizes we do need an upgrade at centerback past Richards. I mean, if we're honest, Richard didn't have a fantastic two games in the last window. I mean, he is the guy, but. Yeah. is, and Tim Ream, by the way, is about to go on hiatus too, right? Charlotte's in the playoffs.

But again, even if they go all the way to MLS Cup, now he's sitting around. And I don't think that's the worst thing in the world for Ream because, like, he, you know, last year, he didn't really have an offseason. He went from Fulham and then, you know, full season of Fulham, went to Cove America, joined Charlotte right away. He takes really good care of his body as a professional. MLS teams start training in early January now, which is not something they did in the past. So, you know, he's a good enough professional that hopefully doesn't affect him. But again, when, you know, the guys that I think the guys that are playing every week are going to have a little bit of an advantage going into the March camp over the MLS players. And you think that gives Mark McKenzie a little bit of an advantage too, right, at Toulouse.

But yes, over guys like Zimmerman and, and Tristan Blackman, yeah, I do. He's playing at a good level. He's playing every week. He's an important part of that team in Toulouse. and why do you think he hasn't Why do you think he hasn't been better for the U.S.? You know? Because I don't think he looks super comfortable even in these games.

No. No, I think there's, I don't know the answer. I know he's, I mean, he's made mistakes at times. I wonder if it's a confidence thing. I think it's one of these guys. I've heard that he cares really deeply, he wants to do well. And if he doesn't do well, it kind of gets to him.

But I don't know that for sure. It's just what I heard. Yeah. But he's a good, he's a great. teammate by all accounts, very, very well-liked. Very close with Chris Richards. I know Chris and... Yeah, he's a good dude.

And Mark McKenzie have been playing together since... And I asked Chris Richards about this a couple weeks ago in Austin. I mean, they've been playing together since Youth National Team Days. So, you know, there's a comfort level there. And McKenzie was a big part of the first few games under Pachitino as well, started the first few games for him. So, you know, I think he's a guy that he impressed. during the goal cup. He didn't play, but was a great teammate, and I think that that really

goes a long way with this staff. So I think, I think Mark's got some momentum as well if he continues to do well in France. That's the whole thing Pach said in the, I guess it was before the September games where he said, you know, that's really important to me is that you act the same way, whether you're playing or not playing. Yeah. And yeah, that's interesting that Kenzie gets a bump from that. Yeah. All right. So the big provocative thing coming out in this roster prediction is that Banks is going to be in the starting level.

I love it. I love it. I hope you're right. We'll see. We'll see. Yeah. Well, with the switch to the 352, right, or the 343, and there's people quibble with information. I try to make it simple. 343, we know it can be a five in the back.

We know that, you know, the attacking. Three, two, five. And Tyler Adams are not. Right. It's like three, exactly, right? So, yeah, if they're going three in the back, like, now you need another center back. And again, like, that comes into it, too. It's not, it's, it's a combination of factors that led me to put banks in that spot.

Yeah. I love it, Doug. Thank you. Yeah. You still think no Gio, no Gio on the World Cup roster. Not a chance. Not a chance. Not now. Why?

Why would anyone think Gio Rainer should be on the team right now? He's done, he's not played. He started one of the three games. I know he's dealt with a little bit of. injury at Gladbach, but he's started one of the three games he's been available for. He's no goals. He's no assist. Worst team in the Bundesliga. Mm-hmm. Right?

Fighting, they're probably going to get relegated, right? A lot of season to go, but they have three points. They're in a relegation battle. Three points so far. Not a good situation for him. And that's before you even get into if there's any questions about how will this guy act in a World Cup squad for five weeks if he's not playing. Not a great track record there.

I think people, you know, you forgive, but you never forget. That's part of the equation that comes into it. So, you know, the staff would have to be sure that he would be a good citizen in addition to deserving to be on the team. Right now, Gio does not deserve to be on the team. He's done nothing to be on, you know, to prove that he belongs there. I hope that changes. We know, you know, I would like nothing more than the CGO absolutely ball out for Gladbach. And show everyone that, you know, he's still the player.

we thought he was, you know, he would turn out to be when we saw him, you know, starting Champions League games for Dortmund against Mboppe, a 17 year, a 17 years old and looking really good and scoring absolute bangers. Yeah. You know, in the Bundesliga and the polo and, you know, he's going to be 23 years old, sorry, next month, next month. So this is not a young player anymore. And he's, he basically hasn't played at all for the last four years.

So rooting for Gio. I hope, you know, be a great story if you can turn it around and make the World Cup team. As of now, there's no chances on that roster. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, he needs to, what? He needs to basically start regularly, you think? He needs to, yeah, I think every player needs to, like, of course he does.

He needs to start every game and provide goals and assist as an attacking player. Simple. If he does that, he'll be on the team. If he doesn't, he won't. Okay. I mean, it makes sense when you put it like that. I mean, who, and also the other thing is like, this is a numbers game. There's 26 spots.

Pontchino's called up more than 60 players. Like, there's going to be players that have been regulars that will not make this team. So if Gio makes it, who comes out? Yeah. Who are you taking out? Diego Luna? Tillman? I don't think so.

Yeah. I mean, is that what Pachitino is going to do? I mean, let me give the, let me give the case. for it. He is, I mean, I don't really disagree with anything you've said, but he is still, you can see he is a higher quality player. When he plays, which is rare, he's a higher. At certain things, yes, correct.

I mean, he's just, like, when he, so he doesn't, his work rate is not that great. He doesn't have a lot of, like a large volume of things that he does on the field, which is a huge problem. I'm not I'm not denying that. Right. But when he does get on the ball, like usually something good, usually something good still happens. And it's not a goal or an assist necessarily.

I mean, definitely hasn't been. But he gets on the ball, he controls the space around him, he has the passing vision and the technique to hit a good pass. And I think so the case for it would be in a World Cup, do you leave a player of that quality?

And I think, you know, for the very discreet moment that I'm talking about. He is maybe top two or three players on the team in the pool. Do you leave that little bit of magic at home for a World Cup? Maybe you do. It's a fair question. It's a fair question. I mean, I look at like, all right, look at the goal.

Look at the equalizer against Ecuador, right? Like, we want to get into the weeds, right? How'd that goal happen? Malik Tillman, not a guy who's known for his work rate. Yeah. presses the center back. By the way, was it the, no, it wasn't the kid from PSG? I don't think it was that. He beat, Balagan beat him on the goal. His name escapes me, the moment. But anyway, good, I mean, good, like Ecuador is a really, really good team. Tillman creates that goal by pressing the center back. Yep. Who coughs up the ball to Wea. Waya finds Tillman. Tillman back to, sorry, Waya find him.

to Tessman, Tessman to Tillman, Tillman across the six for Valguyen to tap in. Yep. Right. Tillman created that goal by pressing, right? Now, that's a similar situation to the one you described, right? Last 10 minutes of a game or 20 minutes of a game, you're chasing the game, you're down a goal. You bring in a guy that can create something in a tech.

I don't see geo pressing that center back the same way, Tillman. You're right. And again, Tillman is not a guy that you would say is, you know, has a engine and is running all over the field all the time. Very much a player like Gio, like, you know, very skillful and kind of he's elegant. He makes it look easy, slows the game down, right? Lovely player to watch, just like Gio, right? Super elegant, great on the ball, can make a pass, all that stuff. But that goal doesn't get created by, you know, elegance. A bit of magic. It gets created by hard work. Yeah. And that's what it, and then a bit of quality, right? Quality by, on all counts, right?

Like, there was a quality goal. Quality passes and a good finish. Baligan beats his man. Right. So, yeah, I see it, but like there's a lot to it. And you said when Gio's on the ball, okay, how much is the U.S. going to be on the ball at the World Cup? Well, let's say, for the sake of argument, if you're chasing a game, right? If you're losing, you probably have more of the ball.

So let's say 60%. So what about the other 40%. Yeah, it's a disaster. I mean, the evidence of the last few games with Gladbach is a disaster from Gio. He doesn't do anything. Correct. And if you look, like, Diego Luna is an attacking player. He busts his ass defensively.

He's everywhere. I don't know that Raina because of the injuries can even can do that. I don't know that it's a lack. Like, I'm not saying it's a lack of effort or he doesn't care. He does not trying. I'm not saying any of that. I don't know, like, he's dealt with hamstring injuries and different kinds of injuries, leg injuries, broken.

Like, he's had bad luck, too. like I feel to the guy. But I just don't know that he that he can play at a World Cup level. I mean, those games are 100 miles an hour, right? Like, again, I hope he can. I haven't seen it this year with Cloudback. And I want to.

I hope he's part of the solution. I hope he turns it around and they stay in the Bundes League. It's a historic club. That's the level they belong at. And if he can be part of that, then yeah, he can do it. There's time left for Gio to make this team. But based on what we know today, I don't see how.

anybody can think that he's going to make it on the World Cup roster over, you know, I mean, I would have Jack McGlynn ahead of him at this point, in all honesty, right? Because I know Potch likes what he brings. He has that amazing left foot. I mean, he has an amazing left foot. Yeah, he brings his own magic for sure. He brings his own. He can do things in if he gets, you know, in a limited time that, you know, with, it's just

different than any other player in the pool. How many of those guys can you. bring, though. You can't bring too many of them. Right. Like, there are going to be guys that get cut. Like I say, I don't know if you can bring Jack McGlynn or Sebastian Burrhalter. If you can bring both of them, rather. I don't think you can bring both them. I don't think you have enough room. Like, there's just, there's only so many spots to go around. And by the way, I don't have either McGlynn. I don't have Rayna of McClint or Sebastian Burrhalter on my latest roster. One guy you'd be. And again, I'd be happy to wrong about, to be wrong about any of them. But they're going to be good players that don't make this team. For sure. For sure. Yeah, we would,

Geo would need to have, like, make big strides this season, I think. Yeah. He'd have to force his way. He'll have to force his way onto the roster. And if he can do it, he deserves to be there. And it would be, to your point, I mean, I, I'm a huge fan of what Gio Rata can do when he's at his best. Yeah.

Like, he's phenomenal when he's at his best. They need him at his best, period. You know, one player we haven't talked about who is on you. your roster is Tanner Testman. He's, he, what did you think of his, um,

showing? Very good window for him. You know, I think he benefited by Tyler Adams not being there. Um, you know why Tyler Adams wasn't there, not a knock on him. Hope everything went well with the birth of his second child.

Have you heard? Um, but I, we haven't. I haven't, you know, and I, you know,

I, check. I, no, you know, I don't check the personal life stuff as much as this, the soccer stuff. I have enough soccer to watch.

But Tyler Adams is a great, great guy and, you know, wish him and his family the best. Childbirth, just, but yeah. I know you hate the, you hate the off-topic stuff. I got to say this. Childbirth, an amazing thing. I just watched the movie. A hundred percent. I just watched the movie, Children of Men.

Have you ever seen this movie? I have it, no. Oh, man. You got to see. It's about, it's about, just bear with me for a second. It's about a world where no children are being born anymore. A movie made in 2006. Something happened.

Children aren't being born anymore. And the main character is in this like dystopian England. And he runs into, he happens upon the one woman in the world that's pregnant. She's like a 20-year-old refugee. And he has to protect her. And there's a scene where the child is born. And it's like into a world where there are no children being born for the last 20 years. And I swear, I was on an airplane.

I started crying. I started crying watching. It's the thin air bells. Yeah. Also I'm getting old, you know. but anyway, all the best to Tyler. All the best to Tyler. I'm a parent to.

Yeah. Yeah. You know, the right thing. You put your family comes first no matter what. Yeah. There are more important things that, than soccer with all due respect to was it. Jeff Hurst or whoever said, you know, it's not life and death much more important that. Forgive me if I'm, I'm crediting the wrong.

I don't know. Yeah. Famous, famous quote. But no, family's more important than soccer. But testament. Yeah. So testament. Yeah.

Testman. Yeah. Tanner Testament. Yeah. Took advantage of it. Look, he's having a really good season. He's having a really good season for Leon. I mean, he was interesting because he was excellent in the last camp of 2024, the Nation's League

quarterfinal two legs over Jamaica, particularly in the second game. So he ended 2024 on a huge high note. Potchino raved about him in his post-game press conference. And then he started him in the Nation's League. match against Panama and like everyone else that day, Tanner wasn't good. None of the, players were good that day. Like they just weren't their day for, you know, however many reasons, maybe we'll find out exactly what went into that camp because Batch, you know, references it a lot and I don't know that it was just the results. Seems like the results were like the least of

his concerns. Maybe, but the results were terrible. The performances weren't good. I mean, like, they just weren't. Like I was in the building for that game and it was just like as bad a performance from a U.S. team as I've ever seen. Or, you know, in recent memory, you know, 18 months out from World Cup or whatever it was, like shockingly bad they were. And I think that, you know, everybody got a little dirt on them coming out of that window.

Testament wasn't on the Gold Cup squad, as we know. I don't know if that was, you know, to send a message or anything. I'm not sure, but he got a summer to, To recuperate and started the season in terrific form, you know, scored a fabulous goal from long range and came back in with a lot of confidence. And I thought he played really well. And, you know, now, now he's got something to build on. And I, you know, I like his game.

He's a big, strong midfielder. He has, you know, we've talked about, you know, at the international level, like, that stuff matters. Like he has, you know, he has the physical profile that you want from a central midfielder at the World Cup level. And he's a good player too. And he's getting better. So I like, you know, again, talk about momentum. I like the momentum Tanner Testament has, you know, ahead of the next window ahead of March, ahead of the World Cup. He has a little bit of elegance too.

He, like the, for instance, the pass to set up Tillman to pass it to, you know, was a nice little pass. Ironically, he doesn't have as much steel to his game as you would want. I know. And for me, there's still no real understudy for Tyler Adams. I'm not sure it's James Sands who got his first start more than two years against Australia. I thought he was all right. But, like, you know, Tyler covers a ton of ground and he, you know, he can win balls. And, like, they just don't have anyone, I don't think, in the pool that can really do the same things.

Christian Roaldon can do it a little bit. Oh, yeah, we should talk about him. Yeah, for sure. Well, one thing I wrote about Roaldon is, and I actually went back and looked it up, right? So, like, everyone talks about his intangibles. And he is beloved in that locker room. Staff loves him. Everyone likes Christian Roll.

He's a likable guy. I've been around him, you know, even long before he was on the national team when Seattle was making all those MLS Cup runs, you know, clearly a great dude. But he can play too. And I was really happy for him. I mean, those two assists that he had in that game were really, really good. They were really high quality. Yeah, especially the first one.

Well, the second one was a different kind of quality, but the first one was... Different kind of quality, but just smart heads up play and executed it perfectly. You know, the way he, where he put the ball, right, was perfect. Like, he, Hajie was able to run into it. You know, it's not a fluke. Like he, like, they were both impressive in their own ways. The first one, yeah, the way he slipped. slipped Haji in, you know, with pressure on him, past, you know, past centerbacks.

Again, I don't think Haji touched the ball until he put it in the net. I don't think he took a touch if I remember correctly. I think you're right. Yeah. So like the weight of the past, like that's really, really hard. You know when the last time Eunice Moussa had an assist for the national team was? Has he ever had an assist? He hit, I went and checked.

He's had three. Two of them were in 2021. And the other one was during World Cup qualifying in 2022. Right. So Christian had more, you know, goal contributions, more end product, which is what we've been waiting for with Eunice Musa for years now in that one game than Musa's had in the last four years. And I'm not saying, by the way, I do have Musa on the World Cup team,

even though he's not playing. I don't think he started a game for Adelanta and Saria yet since his loan to Milan. But I think the world of Musa, I don't, he started. I think he started one in the Champions League. Yeah, that's... Maybe, but I don't... I looked it up today, and I don't... I think the only Syria-a start he has this year,

he was still with Milan. It was before his loan to Adelanta. Okay, yeah, it's been, it's been Rocky. It's been a Rocky star. He's been, he's, so he's got work to do, but again, I think that he'll find his groove and he'll end up carving out a starting spot. Al-Alanta, still in the Champions League.

You know, a lot... There's a lot of games for them to play. And I believe in Eunice Mous as a player. I think he's, you know, he has a proven track record, you know, take without the goals and assists of being a good player for the national team, which is something like, like, you know, he tilts the field. He tilts the field. He does.

Yeah, he does. And he brings certain things that I think, you know, are intriguing. And also a guy that made a really good first impression under Poach. I know there was, I know that under Posh. There was, you know, personal reasons for missing the goal come and stuff like that. I'm not sure that that sat particularly well. with the staff, but I think that they believe in Musa and they know him and I think he'll when it's all said and done, I believe he'll be there.

Johnny Cardozo is another story. I do not have him on my roster for the second straight month because again, first of all, he's injured, but he lost his starting spot with Athletico Madrid before he got injured. He's now out a month. They're winning without him. And that's one of the deepest teams in global soccer. and he's never played well for the national team. So I think he has a real uphill climb to get back in.

He's got to win his job back with Athletico and then get in. They're playing well now. They were not playing well when he was starting. No, no, exactly. And that's a worrying thing. And Diego Semione is not the kind of coach that's going to care at all that his bosses spent 30 million euros on this player. He's going to play the guys that are going to help him win.

and it might mean, Johnny might come back and he's training superbly and he just can't get in because, you know, coaches don't like changing winning teams. So I worry a little bit for Cardozo. I think that I think that it's going to be a lot harder for him to get back in to the lineup with his team and then to come in and prove and have that game that he needs for the national team that's like, man, Cardozo was unbelievable today. Like, did you just like he was, he was, that's the best game he ever played for the national team. He needs to have a game like that, I think, before the World Cup. And we only have four games left before Pachitino has to submit his roster. Four games. That's it.

Two next month, two in March. So Johnny's running out of time a little bit, and he does not have that track record. I mean, Moosa's a proven World Cup player. Yeah. Cardo's a wisdom. He played well at the World Cup, too. Yeah. He was great.

Now, it was four years ago, and it was under a, you know, or three years ago, almost three years ago. And Pachis said repeatedly, I don't care what you did last World Cup. But again, everything will come into the equation when it comes to making those choices because they're so hard. And your history does come into it. And Lusa has a history where Cardo's it doesn't. So I think that tips it in his favor in the end. Well, real quick, before we go, though. So Roldon, you have him on your roster now?

I do, yes. Okay. I do. Yep. After the last two camps, yes, I think he makes the team. I do. I guess I don't have I think he stole potch on what he brings

he'll have to keep bringing it but as of right now I say he's there yeah yeah the two the two assists and then he also nearly scored a really nice goal that curler and it just was generally I think pretty good in the final third but I do worry so I guess I want to say

I do worry about him in that this is an Australia team I know they were they were tough but outside of like boss that eridivizzi winner not a ton of like blue chip talent out there we're talking like guys playing in norway or the championship and so i wonder you know we talk about musa versus rhodan and the end product but like in a game against a bunch of really good players it feels i said musa tilts the field in our favor i sometimes feel like in a tougher game rhodon contributes to tilting the field. against us because the games just move it too fast for him and, you know, things are... I don't know. I mean, I don't know that I've seen Roldon play in enough, against enough top-level opponents to...

I guess I'm picking up World Cup qualifying, yeah. Yeah, maybe. I don't know. I mean, look, Roldon's not a player that's going to start at the World Cup, I don't think. He's a guy that'll come in and do a job. I think he can, you know, if you're winning a game and you take a forward out, you put Christian Roldon there, he's not going to make a mistake. you know, he's going to

he's going to make a safe pass. He's better technically than most people think he can tackle. And he did get some really good experience. And I asked him about this after the game, like playing in the Club World Cup. He said, like, that's the first thing. He's like, I never went to Europe.

I went to World Cup, but I didn't play. And so that's the first time I really got to play in competitive games against top level opposition. And remember, their group was, I mean, their group was. And he was really good. Right. PSG and Botafogo.

I mean, like, that was the group of death in that in the club world. World Cup. And I thought he was Seattle's best player. I thought he was really good. I thought he was really good. I think he scored the goal against Botafogo. I believe I was at an airport.

I think it was a day of the Gold Cup opener against Trinidad. So I vaguely remember watching that while eating a late dinner. But look, so, you know, I don't, again, I don't think he's a guy that's going to start. Do I think he's going to make the team at this point? Yeah, I do. I do. Okay. Yeah, and then all the intangibles, they do matter.

Like, we've talked about in the past. So, hey, everybody, check out Doug's roster prediction when it drops on foxports.com. Also, oh, I forgot to ask you about the Chris Richards interview. Just real quick. Is he the best personality on the U.S. men's national team? I think there's a lot of guys that have big personalities and we're going to see them come out next year. So it's really fun getting a note. Like, I've said this elsewhere too, but like talking to some of the guys that played in 94,

Alexi or Kobe Jones, like they, and it's a different media landscape now. I understand that it's a lot more fragmented. But those guys went from being completely anonymous to being household names overnight, like in the span of a week or two. You know, no one knew who Alexei Lalas was in May of 2014. And in July of 2014, everyone in the country knew you couldn't walk down the street. I don't know that's going to happen this time to that extent, but I think it will happen.

And a lot of these guys, it happens every World Cup. I mean, I remember, like, you know, Graham Zuzi, like everyone was talking about Graham Zuzzi in 2014 and his hair and all this stuff. Like, that's what happens at a World Cup. It's the biggest event. Everyone gets, you know, and if the U.S. team does well and they win a game or, you know, they give the country or reason to get behind them, and I think they will, you know, they get to know these guys.

And they're eager to know about their stories. And there's a lot of great stories and there's a lot of really interesting people on the team. And, like, I found out stuff about Chris. I didn't know. I didn't know his dad was a professional basketball player who played in, like, Bolivia and Iceland. Like, that's fascinating to me. Yeah. But he's a great, he's a great dude.

You know, it was supposed to be like a 15-minute interview. We ended up sitting there for half an hour just shooting the breeze. So really, really good, really good person and really insightful. And, you know, I hope fans learned about him. and I'm happy to share those stories and more of them as the World Cup approaches. The fact he's a World War II buff. I didn't know that. Yeah, right.

He's really into the, he's really into the, he said saving private his favorite movie. And his grandfather fought in World War II. Like that's, I mean, just fascinating. And I think that's the sort of stuff like, yeah, the country's going to eat that stuff up. Like all these guys have, everyone has a story. Every one of these guys is a story. They're all fascinating. Like, to get to that level, like, it takes a lot.

more than talent. You know, I remember Jill Ellis when I covered the women's national team. She used to say, these guys aren't just elite players. They're elite people. And that all was stuck with me, you know? And it's like, it's really interesting because, like, you have to be a good player. But like when it comes back to like the, you know, the intangibles and stuff, like, if you're just a complete jerk and your teammates hate you, like, you will get found out

long before you reach the professional level. Yeah. So like, there's a level of like. Character. You know, character that's required. to get to this level. Yeah. Right.

It's not an accident and it's not talent alone that got these guys where they are. So I think it's really interesting. And by and large, like, these guys are good, they're good dudes. Like, you know, they're not, they know they're not household names in America. They know that soccer is not the most popular sport. They still feel, I think, that they have to be ambassadors a little bit for the sport. and I think they're going to relish the opportunity and a lot of these guys are going to be

become household names next summer. At least that's the hope of the team does well, which I know is something we all would love to see because it's great for all of us and great for the nationals. I'm really hoping for it. Chris Richards, I could see him scoring a game winner on a set piece at the World Cup

and then like being the guy for the team. Yeah, and he's got the look too, right? Like whether it's the big asterer or the corner, Rose and like his post game press conferences are becoming like can't miss or his postgame media scrums I should say are becoming like can't miss he's getting the big crowd around him no well I wouldn't go as far as to say big crowd but he's consistently like he's someone we always ask I always ask for I want to talk to him he's really good at putting things in perspective yeah you know win or lose you know very even sort of even killed um and he's been given us like a golden quote in every press conference or in every

in every scrum, I should say, the last number of windows, which we really appreciate. The great one, this camp was like, you know, said the ref gave him a shit yellow in the corner. And if it hadn't been a friendly, he might have killed somebody, which, you know, is refreshing because normally you don't, you know, hear people threaten murder in a media setting. Right. No, you love to hear that. You love to hear that. Yeah. So, no, but, you know, obviously he didn't mean it literally.

But he's got a personality. He's not afraid to show it. And I think that's, I think some of us. his teammates could even take note from that. You know, I get, you know, I understand why guys are reluctant to make headlines, but, you know, Chris, Chris speaks his mind and it's really appreciated. And I think that it goes over well with, with everyone, with the fan base, too, because you like people that call it like it is. And he does that. He's comfortable in his own skin.

I've, I've actually been to his parents' house. His dad's been on the show. Yeah. And they are just the most salt of the earth people. Like, I'm not surprised. Yeah, really, really good. I'm not surprised to that. Yeah, Chris is incredibly down earth and easy to talk to.

And yeah, so not surprised to hear that at all. All right. So check out the Chris Richards interview. It is really good. And the roster prediction coming on line here in the next day or two. Any minute. Yeah, any minute. Doug, thank you so much for your time.

Thanks everybody for listening. We'll see you.