Scuffed | USMNT, World Cup, Yanks Abroad, futbol in America - #651: What Poch and the players said about the draw

Episode Date: December 8, 2025

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Welcome to the Scuff podcast where we talk about U.S. soccer. Hey, everybody, it's the Monday Review. We have Sanjay here to help us recap the World Cup draw and the reaction from the players in Potch. He was hustling all over the Kennedy Center on Friday and is now back home in New Jersey. Sanjay, how are you? Good. It gets you back speaking with you all. And, yeah, it was a hectic weekend, eventful, exciting weekend.

and I'm excited to talk about it. Vince, how are you doing? I'm doing great at them, Bills. Good. Good. All right, so I'm pretty good. I'm pretty good. I told you guys before we started,

I was at a coaching class last night in Atlanta. And one of the things, you know, it was a USSF coaching class. So not an inspiring, not an inspiring experience, but certainly useful. And there was one thing that, that the guy brought up. That was interesting. It was a grassroots 9 v. 9 and a grassroots 11 v. 11 class. And he brought up that, you know what?

What's coming up this summer? And, you know, like one of those guided questions. And somebody was like, the World Cup. And then he goes, he goes, I think we have a pretty good group. And, you know, what's going to happen? What's going to happen at your club? What's going to happen at your rec if we go to a quarterfinal? And people are like, oh, people are going to be excited.

And he said, what's going to happen if we go to a semifinal? He's like, it could happen. And so I said, hey, what's going to happen, sir? And he said there's going to be a huge bump in enthusiasm and participation come the fall. And you're going to have a lot more people trying a lot harder to play soccer. So that was kind of exciting, kind of exciting to hear about the direct relationship between this upcoming tournament. and, you know, to steal a phrase, boots on the ground, grassroots soccer, development. Yeah, that's an interesting topic, right, how it'll actually translate if we get that momentum.

Yeah, it seems so close. It's so far. We're into the teens temperature here in the New York area. So, you know, the World Cup in California feels very far away, but can't wait until we're on that wave, on that ride. Yeah, it'll be here before we know it. So let's listen to a bunch of clips from Friday. And we'll start with Potch getting a question in the mix zone and reacting with a little bit of rejection of the question as he's becoming famous for. Here we go.

I feel like a lucky grouping for your squad. I think that is a little bit of the respectful, no. We think in this way I think all the opponent are important and you need to first all because I think we need to respect all the opponent And I just mean relatively, you know, compared to what it could have been.

But I see all the groups, you know, all the groups are very difficult. No one group. We were talking with the another team coach and we all think the same is to show massive respect to all the old opponent and when you are going to compete on a World Cup

I think if you don't respect the opponents because you don't respect yourself and that is kind of start the problem of course we are optimistic because we want to win he was spitting there at the end you know what I'm saying if you don't respect

others it's because you don't respect yourself that's right say more about that I mean on a human level it's where I'm thinking about it but like you know if you can't see the humanity and someone And someone, and if you, if you can't respect yourself, you can't see the humanity in yourself, if you think you are not worthy of respect from other people, you're not going to respect other people. You know, just simple as that. Yeah. As a, I was a nice quote there, man. That really got me. You know, he was, well, first of all, I was thinking to myself, before he said that, I was like, this is just a nothing question. Like, you know what I'm saying? Coaches, maybe one that you have to ask, but, you know, coaches are going to give the canned answer. Like, hey, you know, I'm saying we have respect for everybody, et cetera, et cetera. But then, you know, you get you a nice little potchism on top of it.

That's what really makes it. The pochismo. Yeah, that's right. Pochismo. I have a personal question. Is that what I sound like to you guys, like that reporter, like a Matthew Broderick character from a 1980s movie? No, I wouldn't go that far.

It's funny. getting a taste of that type of mix zone when you have media that's not just, you know, from our little bubble. It's like you realize the magnitude of this event and the type of people that are going to be around as we get closer to June. And it's like that guy who asked that question, he was just like, you know, none of us really recognized him. And he just barked in that question for a while. And there's like a buffer layer of layers of journalists in front of him between him and botch. So yeah, it's going to be funny getting close to the World Cup seeing all that that media

scene descend on this team. I like it honestly, it's good for the sport, right? But it's also like funny. But this is when you have the opportunity to really click up. You know what I'm saying? We got the cool kids. You know, we hear all the time. You know,

Saug, Doug, etc., etc. You know, versus Ron Blum. You know, you got Ron Blum in the group too, you know. Ron Blum, about to make an appearance. here in this podcast episode for sure. You can thumb me nose up at everybody else. I do think there is some value to the...

Sorry. Go ahead. I just think there's some value to the reporter parachuting in because they are like a bull in a china shop. They are like the Kool-Aid man. And sometimes you need the Kool-Aid man a little bit to kind of... I don't mind... I guess I've made this clear.

I don't mind the question that makes the coach or the player angry. You know, and it seems like you're more likely to get that from some guy who hasn't covered the team at all when they come in and say, use this feel like a looky draw. It was funny in Florida. There are Spanish-speaking journalists who often ask questions from a League Amacki's perspective, like Zendayaas, Cool America kind of thing. But the reporter asked a question not just about Zendaihaus, but about other players who weren't there in a way that sounded dated. And potually let him know. the question sounded dated and he didn't appreciate it.

And it's not necessarily the case that you're going to get like bad questions or questions that Potch doesn't love from these reporters coming in from the outside. A lot of them do do their research and make sure they're on top of their stuff. But it's going to be interesting to see Potch kind of like balance that, you know, that patience and understanding with wanting to talk. about what really matters. Like when he walked out, when he was going from spot to spot in the mix zone, like where he was initially by the quote-unquote regulars to guys like,

you know, the one who just asked that question. Like the mix zone was so dense that it was kind of like leaning over the barrier closer to him. And he kind of jokingly like stepped back for a second. You know what I mean? He looked at us and like his eyes got vague. Yeah, that's what the World Cup is going to be like. So it's cool. he's an ambassador now

you know I mean he's so he can he can be I mean that doesn't mean he has to be nice all the time in fact I would argue it's better if he's not nice

all the time but he's definitely an ambassador and he's got to he's got to speak to the people he's also I would say striking as you heard in that clip of somewhat reverent

extremely serious tone about what's ahead of the team and he's also watched a classic American sports movie here we go. To think that never is enough. We need to always try to be better.

But being humble, but being no egoist, being good teammate, play for the team, made the right effort in the right moment. That is why. I was watching Miracle, no, recommendation from the Naderdale, I told him in the summit in New York. and I listen from the coach when he said we don't need the best players

we need the right players to make a team a strong team and that is what we want to provide to this national team the right player to build a powerful team with the possibility to fight

with any team in the world You know, that's also an Andre Blake quote. I don't know if you're familiar with the video. There's some type of a documentary where they fall around the Jamaican national team. And after him being fed up with, I think the main person who was fed up was Morrison. Ravel. Okay.

And he's just in like a meeting. Him and one person, he's just like, we don't need the best players. We need the right players. Like he said it like four or five times, bro. It was adamant. And like, you know, the next, the next clip you see, you see rival at training, you know, kicking a ball around, whatever. But, you know, some, there was some friction, I guess, between, per usual, I guess, between, you know, English imports. Right.

And true Jamaican, I don't want to say true Jamaican nationals, but people from, you know, from the island, born and raised, etc. You know, but anyway. Yeah, I guess. I guess the quote speaks for itself. And I want to say, play one more clip from Posh before we move on to some players. He reiterated that there is no thinking past the first game for us. Well. Well, go ahead.

Yeah. Before we get into that, I just want to, you know, should we go ahead and send Posh down like the whole rabbit hole? You know what's next? Is he need to watch? who's just because because I he's talked he's talked about about this a lot now not just at the draw but like it was it seemed to me that it really was illuminating for him to see miracle I think it gave him some more context I think he said something about like you know it informed him on like the American sports sports culture et cetera et cetera and I started thinking about I was like

I mean that does seem like a good tool if you if you truly wanted to get familiar with kind of because it's not just the soccer culture here, but it's like how to connect with people. And, you know, Potts is big on that, right? How to touch the people. Like, so how, what moves the American people? What, what do we respond to as a, as a, just a culture of sports watchers in general? You know, so I, I guess, I just wonder. Redene team, too, on Netflix.

Shout out, Jesse. See, see, I think what moves the American people and maybe it's what moves all people everywhere in all times is the underdog story. So that's why Miracle is so poignant for people. That's why Hoosiers is a classic sports movie. Redeemed team, they're not, come on, they're not the underdogs. No, no, I know what. They're just going from bogey back to par, basically, you know.

Well, it resonates culturally. I mean, no, but I think the redeemed team, thing in terms of the culture he's trying to build where everyone's uh like miracle is where they're to squeeze the most out of very limited talent right like that's that's the that's what miracle is about i think redeemed team is kind of like i think that fits with what he he saw and was trying to change post march that infamous window it's like you know everyone pulling in the same direction and and all that so yeah Yeah, fair enough.

Yeah, you need the whole spectrum. That's what I'm saying. So, yeah. Miracle, redeemed team, Hoosers. What's the, you know, we need them to. Glory wrote it. Glory wrote it. That is the greatest.

That is the greatest sports movie. You know, he needs to learn a little bit about that, too. You know what I'm saying? That part of it. I don't know if there was a color barrier with soccer. America. But if you want to get the full gamut, you know what I'm saying?

Go and throw that in there too. Michael Cameron. I know you're listening. Yeah, I don't know what other, what are the other sports movies? I'm not like a really an expert on the sports movie genre. Remember the Titans? Remember the time?

Exactly. It does not shock you both. But yeah, remember the Titans? Yes. Of course. I think we got a nice, a nice group right there. That's a good, yeah, foundation.

I actually haven't seen Hoosers. Me neither. To be completely honest with Joe. I actually haven't seen Miracle. Oh, it's a good movie. We might have to stop this podcast. So who was at the picture with everybody in the U.S. hockey jerseys? That was, Potch.

Was that his wife? Did you just see the picture? I think so. I just kind of assumed it was his wife. I said to him before the presser. because he said a while ago his wife didn't appreciate him using foul language and I said to him

your wife is here. Don't say bad words bro. So I think that was his wife and yet, Jesus and Tony, the keeper coach. Yeah, yeah. That's sick, man. I mean, you know, becoming one of us. Slowly but surely and I appreciate the effort. That's the big thing. That's a big thing for me and I think we kind of hit on that last

week bells, but just like, yeah, at first, when it was just like, oh, you're just going to be this aloof dude in Barcelona, mercenary kind of thing that just flies back and forth, whatever, which, you know, I wouldn't have much of a problem with, to be completely honest, as long as you get the job done. Right. As long as you get the job done. But it is, it is endearing. He's definitely not, he's definitely not giving off mercenary vibes anymore, if he ever was,

you know. Right, right. To be clear. That was a good clarification there, Bill, because I'm not saying. Yeah, no, it was just like, it was an open question. Like, what is he? Is that what he's doing? No, he's not doing that.

He's watching Miracle. He's going to Ohio State football games. That's right. He's getting mad at reporters saying it's his team. Taping the badge. Taping the badge. Not the janitor. Yeah, not the janitor.

Yeah, he's checking all the boxes. So he reiterated that there is no sinking past. the first game for us at the World Cup, even if other nations may be able to afford that luxury. Here's the quote. It's true that if you are Argentina and you are maybe today the best team and you are the last winner of the World Cup.

Maybe you can sing a little bit to say, okay, that is a group stage after, what is going to happen after? And maybe you maybe allowed yourself to think. But with USA, we need to... Our first game is the final of the World Cup. And the second need to be the final of the World Cup. And the third, too. We need to only to sing that after the first game is not another opportunity.

That is why that mentality that we want to build, that mindset that we were talking before, that we need to settle and being strong in this. I mean, not even Argentina, though. famously last World Cup You know losing the Saudi Saudi Arabia Everything worked out of course Right

But yeah Not even not even Argentina Which is why You know When you see I guess I don't know The people trying to be realists About our group draw

Whatever It's like oh we got We got three good teams I mean whatever That's fine Every group got a team That's capable of beating you On a day

on a day and that day might be one out of 365 if you were to play you know every other day of the year but it's a possibility in it yeah yeah it's all about

Paraguay June 12th that's what we gotta be that's what Pott's thinking about I mean I'm thinking about I'm thinking about what's beyond the group stage I can't help it but um

and I'm sure I'm sure you know Pach is a little bit not acknowledging the fact that None of them can help thinking about that a little bit, but whatever. It's the right attitude. All right, here's Tyler making a good point about the dreams of children. When you're playing soccer in your backyard as a kid, you don't imagine yourself scoring, I don't know, the goal that takes Liverpool to the top of the table or the one that wins into Miami MLS Cup. What do you think about?

Here's Tyler. Every young kid when you're growing up, you think of, you know, World Cups. And when you're out in the backyard or front yard, you know, kicking the ball around saying this is the penalty for the World Cup. I mean, at least growing up for me, I never grew up saying like this was, you know, for a Premier League free kick or whatever it was that you were practicing. Everything was the World Cup. Everything was centered about representing your country. Good point from Officer Adams, you know. Yeah, we don't really think about it, but kids in England, Germany, Spain, wherever.

where they grew up probably referencing their club, right? Or some other team that's not the national team, definitely not in Spain as much. Even in England, I think the tribalism with clubs is much more prevalent and overriding. Do you think that's true, that in Spain and England, they've grew up thinking about their club more than their country?

I'm talking about when you're like six, seven, eight. Yeah, it depends. It depends on where you live, but for the most part, I'd say for sure. I think so. With that example in particular, I'm going to need to see the science on that. In Spain,

there's a notable lack of nationalism in a lot of places in England. I guess we're in Germany too. The club game is, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Plus, they're like accustomed to winning, right, even in a place like France or wherever. Like, the national thing. has been there and done it.

So, yeah, there's that side to it. Yeah, I suppose. I mean, one place where it's not true is Argentina.

I don't think it's true in Argentina. Nobody's, kids aren't up there dreaming of scoring the goal for Boka juniors, I bet.

Right. But you even got to think of like Tyler and the age of which he was growing up in in the state of soccer in this country as far as viewing it

and the club situation. You know, it's, the only time that soccer was treated with respect in this country for a long time on television to what was the World Cup you know and so that that's the only time where you saw it presented on TV and you could have like some delusions of grandeur type of thing you know what was the World Cup for it for and I think that would be the case for like yeah a lot of American kids of this of this specific vintage.

Now, once the once we get to about, let's see, let's see, kids born in 2005 or six going forward, I would say. Maybe they would have a different answer. But I think up until then, I think that would be the case for a lot of Americans. Yeah.

Here's my promise Ron Blum question, delivered with squeaky a plume, as usual. Christian punt. to Tyler, who reluctantly makes a fair catch. But it's a long, it's a long, it's a long, it's a long, it's a long, it's a long, it's a long, um, it's a long clip, but I think it's probably worth hearing it in its entirety. What would you consider success for this team in this World Cup?

And is your measure of success this time any different than it was in 2022? Oh, Tyler. I mean, we're obviously going to get this question so often. And I think it's, it's fair to. say that the last World Cup, we couldn't set a bar or standard for anything. We didn't know what to expect. We didn't haven't been through the process. We didn't know what it was going to be like. Now, looking back on it, I think we have more experienced. We're a lot more mature. We've grown a lot as individuals and as a team. Everyone's going to want us to say winning it is obviously the goal.

Like our idea is to win. Like that's the goal. But I think setting the benchmark of the furthest the US team has gone is is also realistic. So we want to go and make a run. But again, it's a game by game mentality. There's more games to progress over the next window and right before the World Cup. So, yeah, you know, assuming the group is completely healthy and we have a lot of players, that's the most important thing. And Christian, in your mind? Yeah. No, I think he said it right. I think it's important to kind of split it into different parts as well. I mean, obviously the first, The first goal is to make it out of the group. We know our opponents, well, two of them at least,

and we know we're going to play against, and we have to finish, obviously, you know, the top half of that group, and that's our first goal. And then once we get there, it's a knockout tournament. And from there, no matter what round we lose in, we won't be happy. So you want to push as hard as we can, and yeah, we're going to try to make a good run.

So I would say, I'm curious to your guys' thoughts. but I would say finishing top half of the group is not good enough. Like, we need to win the group. And this is me thinking, this is me thinking ahead past the group stage, which I know the players aren't supposed to do and ostensibly aren't doing. But if we win the group and we get to the round of 16, our likely opponent is Belgium. If we are runner up and advance into the round of 16

are likely almost certain to be the opponent is going to be Argentina. I know who I'd prefer to play if we want to make a run that goes farther than any other U.S. men's national team in history, which is to the semifinals.

That's what Tyler is saying without saying it out loud that for him's success is to get to the semifinals. So actually, it's more of an answer than you might think at first blush. This was the theme of the day, right? is like how can we say we think we have a great chance here without being like potch said disrespectful earlier i think i don't know if we're gonna run that audio of ream and and richard's talking about it

but um ream did say it basically sets up nicely right like it sets up sets up well and chris who chris is not only uh a great player and person but he actually says he answers questions like he'll he'll say real stuff and he said straight up like it's a really good draw, but, you know, and you're out to the final is going to be tough, basically. So I think, yeah, Tyler, like collectively they kind of let on respectfully that they think they're in a good situation. I don't know if they're actually looking at permutations for the knockout rounds and stuff. Like, not that they'll never notice it and never talk about it.

But I take them for the word when it's like we're not thinking that much past the group and looking at scenarios like that. Yeah, me too. I'm not trying to be dramatic about like, they're not telling the truth. No, I'm just like, I'm thinking about it. Yeah, but I'm with, I think they're,

and they're thinking about it enough where they realize what you just said. Like, they will 100% go in with an urgency to take, to take nine points, at least six from the first two games, and then we'll see, right? Yeah.

You really just can't think that far ahead. when you're in like when you're in it you just you just cannot but because you know like i mean they've been professionals long enough like any slip and focus towards um the next thing at hand it's just like you can get got just so easily margins are very thin et cetera et cetera and and and they know all this number one they know it first hand right they know it they know it they know it first hand brother and uh number two um once again this is just why you need a at in your back pocket. I mean, you know, Christian passing that question off the Tyler

Officer Adams so well, you know, and Tyler handled it, handled it extremely well. You know, I mean, nowhere in that in that statement, can you poke holes. You know, he can't be aggregated with that

with that answer. Like, every, like, perfect. You know what I'm saying? 10 out of 10. And then, you know, Blum wasn't letting Christian off the hook. He's like, well, you Christian? Christian just and then at that point all he has to say yeah what he just said you know what I'm saying like that's why I laughed a little bit but yeah man I mean look officer Adam that's that's a true asset man that's yeah that's a true asset you know people talk about he got coaching in his future he got

punditry in his future I don't know man he might have to be the ambassador to uh yeah in uh some some state maybe one that we're at odds with You know what I'm saying? They're in the next. Maybe the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York and go after Wall Street, you know? Yeah. Yeah, I think everyone was also talking about the fact that we already played at least two of these teams, you know, recently. And obviously, people look at the result and get confidence from that.

But I think the value in it was what Reams. said on Friday as well, which is like they were friendlies, but they also weren't friendly. I think the fact that they saw that intensity, I mean, there were literally fights, right, against Paraguayan Australia. So that also helped, I think, reinforced that. And Pach, you know, made it a point to say those games, like the people on the pitch, a lot of circumstances could be totally different. But just the fact that they taste that that is good, not just that they're, you know,

how the teams play and personnel, whatever, like, the fact that Australia was out for blood and then the Paraguay thing, we all saw what happened, right? So they won't overlook them. I think the Paraguay one in particular because, I mean, they brought all of their dark arts to the friendly for the most part.

I mean, you know, the cheap shot on Balo, you know, the fight, all of different types of stuff. I mean, I mean, and not just a cheap shot on Balo, but, you know, they were just roughing that man up the entire match. And it worked until it didn't, you know, type of thing. Right. But prior iterations of this team, you could easily see, you know, us getting to the World Cup.

Maybe we hadn't faced a common ball team before that. Like, you know, if we were just like in thrott and qualifying or whatever. And instead of hosting. You could see us get to the point in the World Cup match. That first match, tensions are high, nerves are high, everything, you know. it's ratcheted up. Everything's ratcheted up. You can see us losing our cool.

You know, once Paraguay started doing what they do. But, yeah, that exposure to it, I mean, it might prove invaluable. And also, I just, I've said this before, but I feel like we, we are going to play Paraguay with, they haven't seen our full hand, you know. They, they know who else is on the, who else is in the pool, but they haven't seen it on the field. So even though we beat them and we got to see, we got to taste sort of some of their intensity. And as Tim Ream said, the intensity is going to be even higher, obviously at the World Cup. Everything's going to be amped up.

It's going to be more and more and more. They haven't seen our full strength squad. And I'm not afraid to say that because it's true. Yeah. And I mean, we got exposure to what Australia is going to inevitably try to do it a pulley again. you know, kick that man out the match. All the stuff. Like, yeah.

I mean, script writers and the schedule makers. You know, they've done a, they've done a great deed with this one. Yeah. And it is really, you know, if it is the underdog story that the American people love, and I think to some large extent that is what it is, this isn't, this, if we get to the round of 16, we're in underdog territory, you know? Like, we're there, and people will get behind that, I believe. Reem said his offseason, he's already taking it on with alacrity.

I thought this was kind of interesting. Took 10 days off after, you know, November camp, and I'm right back to it. You know, I saw that Diego said that this is the biggest offseason of his career. and I would echo that sentiment. This is, you know, I've been playing for 16 years. I'm going into my 17th, and my 17th offseason is the biggest of my career,

without a doubt. And you have to have to still be able to push yourself to, you know, to go out and work out and do the things and make sure that you're flying and ready to go and ready to play, you know, 90 minutes as soon as preseason starts. And I think that's the, That's the ultimate goal for myself. Even being, you know, being an old guy who everyone says,

oh, you need to take rest, you need to take rest. Listen, I played 45 games this year between club and country. I can rest when I retire. And right now is not the time. It's him going. I never sleep because sleep is the cousin of death is something you love to hear. That was hard at the end, yeah. For more context on that, he, I'd asked him about this in the last camp.

of the year and he said the older he gets it's important to take less time in the off season like he basically said like you can't shut it down for too long like I've figured that out as I've gotten older and um this touches on something that I think isn't getting talked about enough Pach actually referenced it in answer in Spanish I think the other day um when it comes to like he always talks about the best uh condition the players arriving the best possible condition in May

but for that to happen, like it means different things, depending on whether you're based in MLS or Europe. I think, and I wrote about this recently, like I think for MLS guys, it's actually good that they have this break. And for European guys, and this is what Potch had mentioned,

like he wants him to be playing every week and helping their team compete for important things towards the end of the season. That said, he has to make sure they're, basically they're not burnt out, right? like they're ready to go when they come to a hot humid summer in the U.S. So, yeah, Reams an interesting case, but overall, I think this is something that's going to have a pretty big impact. It's the same for every contender, right?

All these guys based in Europe coming here in the summer, and in theory our guys are more ready for it. But it's still a challenge that that was not the case in Qatar, right? In Qatar, it was inverted, and the European guys were totally fresh. and we still ran out a guess Yeah You know One thing I've noticed that I don't know that has been talked about a bunch

Is that the hot humid summer Not for us Not for us We're going to be in L.A. And Seattle And then Santa Clara You know Is the next step after that

And then Seattle again If we You know If all goes to plan So So yeah let the I don't know I hope the Spanish are playing

and what's going to be the hottest place, Kansas City, probably. The hottest humidest place. Or Energy Stadium in Houston. Yeah, Miami is pretty bad, right? Yeah, Miami as well. But Arlington, the one in Dallas isn't going to be, it's indoors. True. Atlanta's in doors.

Yeah, for those of you not familiar with the West Coast or SoCal, we say June gloom. Like, the weather's not nearly as hot as you think it'll be. In fact, the fall gets is when it gets bad. But yeah, weather-wise, it's a good point. We're in good shape. Yeah. It feels great out there.

But maybe some places in Mexico has something to say about the hottest. Yeah. Although the altitude really helps, right? In both Mexico City and Monterey. Okay, let's do the Richards quote, which is about how things have changed since the crisis in March, basically.

I thought this was pretty interesting. Also, you know, these games are going to help us improve, you know, especially the March games are going to help us improve. But it's kind of the standards that we set for each other in training. That's where you really make the improvements. And again, I think that's something that's really changed over the, probably the last six months of being honest with you. I think that, of course, there's belief on the field on game day,

but I think it starts in training. And it starts with, you know, sometimes you have to get into, into your teammate but it's because you know you want the best for for not just him but for the guys around you and i think when you're playing for i guess a greater calling you know when you're playing for more than just the name on the back when you're playing for your whole country i think it's i think it's easy to take down the chin and and to try to improve from it so um no i think in every aspect of the game we can improve but um i wouldn't say i'm worried at all i think that we definitely have enough time and we have enough quality to to definitely do it they're

challenging each other more in training now than they were six months ago, which I think is great. Been reading a little John Wooden on the side. And it just strikes me how much that dude loved practice. He loved practice more than games, you know? He took it real seriously. I know you're probably not a John Wooden fan. I don't even know if I'm a John Wooden fan. I'm afraid to say one way or the other.

but he did win a lot of national championships. Is he controversial? No, no, no, no, he's a legend, right? He's a legend, although Bobby Knight says he benefited from a booster who did all his dirty work for him. Oh, I don't know. Turn a blind eye to that. I think it's actually true. He coached our rival, but I actually, my friend's dad knew him, and we had the pyramid.

We all got like an autographed pyramid of success. You know, I'm talking about that John Wooden. Yeah. I remember that from like when I was a kid. You have that, one of those at your house? Yeah. Yeah, my friend's dad. My friend's dad coached this basketball and he knew him somehow.

Yeah, I think part of it is because of this, you know, manufactured competition that's actually turned out pretty well. I think that's part of the intensity and getting closer to the World Cup. I also think Pott's training sessions are probably designed to be. more intense reading between the lines. Like I think I said this on here a while ago, but I remember a January camp being in the elevator with Ream before interviewing him.

It was Ream and another player. I'm not going to name. It's off the record, I guess. But he said to Ream, like, that was the most intense match day minus one session I've ever done in my life. So that's like, that's, I think, indicative of the approach from Pach and his staff. And it's clearly working. it's all roses boys

we'll take it it's crazy how it's crazy how a few results can change your life man you're like here we are you know feeling good about everything that's going on the direction of the program etc man

this draw was three months earlier the Belgium friendly that's really going to tell us a lot and again obviously the World Cup is its own thing who knows how guys arrive who's available who's not but if we look convincing

against them and get the result then it's like then we really start to float into the clouds here yeah almost prefer the Belgium game to be like a frustrating draw you know where we're we show that we

can we can create chances against them and can't and can limit their chances but then some some variance brings us down in March just so we can you know

not shoot our, you know, not empty the clip before the actual. I wasn't going to, I was going to say it. I'm not going to say it. I was going to tickets for the Belgium match and the Portugal match. I guess it shouldn't be a surprise,

but it surprised me. Like Portugal, you know, everybody's coming. You know, like Belgium, I can still, you can still grab you a ticket in the upper deck, you know, for like $70 or whatever, which once again, need help on how to buy tickets.

I was going through old YouTube videos. There's about an eight, eight minute video if you go through the scuffed YouTube called how to buy tickets. And I walk you through, I walk you through step by step, how to buy tickets. So you don't hop on Twitter,

getting mad at everybody, talking about how expensive they are. You can get tickets to Belgium match for $70 right now, out the gate, 70. Not for Portugal, though? Not for Portugal. Not for Portugal. Christian, y'all, Cristiano Ronaldo

has done everything that he needed to do to ensure that when he steps foot on U.S. soil, he is not arrested immediately, you know, but he'd up to Trump, et cetera, et cetera. So I think where full systems go on that and the tickets are selling accordingly, you know what I'm saying?

Yeah. Yeah, I think both those games are going to pop, right? Because Belgium's first, so I think it's good that they did Portugal on the Tuesday because that's going to be loaded no matter what with people Any ideas on the Charlotte match? I think that's the Continental Classico for this year

opponent hasn't been announced None of the draws through You got anything? I didn't really ask around about that I should have. I forgot about that. Okay. Well, I think we can I think we can basically close it off here.

I mean, West got an assist in a 2-1 lost monopoly. Seems like every time I turn around, Rontopolis beating one of those northern Italian teams. And then Glabok got another win, which is good for our two boys there. Leverkusen got beat, 2-0. I forget by who. Augsburg.

Augsburg. Oh, yeah, and No-Kai had a great who scored score. That's all I know. Does anybody know if he was good or bad? I mean, I feel like we should approach the matter with trepidation. But no, we don't know. We don't know. You'll have to wait.

Yeah, this weekend was a blur. I didn't catch any of that. Did you say G.L. Look pretty good, Vellis, on Friday? I'm not ready to say that. I'm going to go, no comment. I don't know yet. Okay.

He was not involved in the goal. And he came off after like 65 minutes. who knows he might have been awesome and then I mean one thing I do know for sure Pepey scored again neat left footed finish from a tight angle after getting played in I think by Sabari

he's just pissing gasoline all over the haters man he doesn't care he doesn't care if you don't think he's as good as as Balo he's just going to keep scoring and I do wonder if he has that red Camaro in the Netherlands with him probably not probably left it in El Paso.

Who are the haters? Rico got haters? I don't know. Everybody has haters. Yeah, yeah, true. True. I don't know it. I think, I guess I'm talking about myself.

I think Peppy is a step down from Ballo. Oh, so you're saying everybody that, fair enough, fair enough. Because there are some of the people. No shame in that. No shame in that. Ballo is that good. Truly is. Yeah, I don't feel any shame.

I'm just saying. Rico's coming out here. He scores every time he goes out on the field. And he keeps, he's making the case that he can make. Right. And that's all we need him to do. You know what I'm saying? He's back healthy, fully healthy.

You know, Daniel has been tracking, Daniel Smith has been tracking top speed stats. Over the past, over the past two, three weeks or so, he's back, he's back up to his baseline. And so he's fully healthy. he's been getting it's beginning to run out he's looking like he's about to get a spot back from goose till so you know what i'm saying everything everything is back on track and yeah if he can finish this season go and finish this thing out with a solid i don't know 20 25 totally doable totally doable 20 is doable go and get that done and then and then after that we look towards a move maybe possibly um it depends it depends on how how he looks I don't know. I am a big proponent for Get Your Reps in. You know, so we'll have to kind of play it by ear as it goes on.

And also, regarding Gio, I didn't see the, I didn't see the Glad Back match. But I did see the one little carry Gio had. I don't know if y'all saw that. Yeah, I think I think, I know the clip you're talking about, yeah. Yeah, kind of, he's kind of by the left touchline, receives the ball, pushes it kind of receives it it's under contention

a little bit it's a little duel somebody comes to push pressure on him pushes it past him and he's kind of off to the races he gets hawked before he gets to the box kind of

but you know it was nice to see some little a little bit of glide a little bit of glide a little bit of explosion from him I guess there's a flash of the vintage

the vintage Gio. Yeah, it's a flash. And I'll just keep it at a flash because he did like promptly get, he did promptly kind of get, like he created an advantage, but the advantage was kind of taken away as he went from kind of by the,

you know, the center circle and to the attack and third, you know, but baby steps in it. Yeah. It's good to be good. He's on his way, man. Yeah, with him and him and Jack McGlynn, anything is possible.

I think I'm trying to be funny or not. I'm completely serious. I can see it in your eyes. I genuinely believe that Jack McElthin could play against Argentina and he'd score banger. This is a conversation for a later pop, but when you have a player who scores almost scores every time he plays for you, no matter who you're playing, like somebody who said for that. but I'm sorry Vince what you're gonna say Fair enough

Well I was gonna say We talked about this when we were in New York You know but when I saw You know when Jack was available for that mix zone or whatever And I stood next to him side by side And me and him were looking at each other in the eyes I was like hold on all You know

It just I talked about before on here But it kind of changed my whole opinion of the man Not that I was down on him or anything But it's like you know When you talk about The lack of physical tools and all that adding in the fact that he is a solid six two makes a difference

it makes a difference you know that like not everything is a negative and maybe he'll be able to like because you got that type of height you got that type of ball control that'll lead to him maybe being able to control the space around him offensively and defensively in ways that

maybe his running gate would not suggest you know right but I tell you what he needs he needs the offseason of his life life is what he needs. Yeah. If he's going to have a chance. I'm sympathetic to the to the banger thing.

You're getting kind of angry over there, Sanjay. So I'm just trying to calm you down. But I'm sympathetic. But he got hurt at the end of the season. He hasn't played for a while. He needs to get right with his body and with the world if he's going to have a chance. Yeah. We should, uh, Vince God.

Well, I was going to say in my LSA Cup? Yeah, yeah, yeah, right my mind. We got a shout out. Leo Messi. Bummer for Sebastian and Brian White, too. Black. And Black. Remember for that right wingback for the white caps who held Aende on side and then scored an own goal for the opener.

I forget what his name was. A rough one. my uh my thought post game like just zooming out like we had i don't want to end on this downer note but like we had the best player ever uh win a title in miami and the main story emanating from miami sporting story that day weekend overall and the consciousness of the national media was whether the you would make the college football playoff right and that whole course and debate. And that was just like a sobering reminder of where the league is, not necessarily a sport, but the league. And I know everyone's going to be like, oh, yeah, well, that's why they're searching

the calendar to avoid that. But, like, that's not the point. The point is, like, you know, it was the actual game, the title game with the best player ever. And that was definitely overshadowed in the national sporting discourse by, like, not even a game for a team that's like, you know, know, kind of mid, and probably won't win a championship or come close. That's where, that's where, so when people talk about the league getting to, you know, the position for, for a big time idiot deal, like, it's sobering, you know? Yeah. And, but I agree with you, what you're saying, but that that is like the preeminent sports story right now is

college football playoff who was making it who would not you know you got some big brands on that bubble right there you know kind of had Alabama on there Notre Dame the U you know I mean that that just it just says what I mean shoot you know it could have been the NBA championship and LeBron winning it and I think it still might have been out shown by that but uh but I do think you know maybe they are on to something because if it's if this happens in May you know you might no it's good they're doing it it's

it's definitely good yeah I'm not disputing that I'm just you get my point right it's like yeah for sure that that's still the the gulf oh yeah no doubt about it I'm just trying to decide how acidic I want to be about MLS at this late stage of the podcast episode go ahead bro I just don't think it's like

it's not It's not, I don't know. I don't have a scientific reason for it. It's just not compelling. I don't think it's because I'm like a Euro snob. I'm a little bit of a hater. But I'm a hater because of how I feel in my gut about it. And how I feel in my gut is like I don't care.

It's not interesting. Well, we'll see if you're invited back to any USSF course coaching courses. Well, nobody was talking about MLS yesterday, you know. see goes back to the to the Tyler Adams thing I was talking about but I mean man we always end up back on this topic don't we I know I'm sorry I was I was sitting there saying don't do it don't do it don't do it but I mean Messi's messy's a joy to watch but like the whole lead up to it formats changed what like as recently as two years ago we got like a three game series and then a one game it's all like the average sports fan i can barely keep track of it the average sports fan like what okay intermanymy in this final that makes sense they have the best player in the world like what what it let it what got us to this point who knows you know yeah it's definitely a conversation for another day but like they had to take the apple deal uh i think they're making the right changes they're heading the right direction

it's taking too long and and is it going to actually make a decisive difference in terms of the popularity of the league in the broader sports context here. I'm skeptical for sure. I mean, but for me... The real estate investments have been wise. Look, where national team sick goes, I'm really in it for the player development part. And even there, yeah, definitely not satisfied.

Let's get out of here. We are in group D with... Paraguay, Australia, and probably Turkey-A, but maybe Romania, Slovakia, or Kosovo. And we got these two games in March. We're going to do, hopefully do a year-end annual review where we do the annual awards, the scuffies, hopefully next week. And then, you know, we'll take a little time off for the holidays. And we'll be back at it at the beginning of the beginning of the,

the year. Hold on. But right before we leave, did just, I mean, did you all see that they announced the times that we play? I don't want to put that out there. Yeah, I saw that. Yeah, isn't it 4 p.m. Eastern Time? Um, the first one.

9 p.m. Eastern time. Um, the debut. And then, and then three for the second one? Three. What the hell is that? I don't know. Why wouldn't you just? And it's kind of crazy.

Back-to-back Fridays in prime time, unless I guess the country is going to make that like a half-day, the second one. Because it's noon local time, right? Yes. So three Eastern Time, yeah, the Australia match, which is our second match, people that don't know. And then our third one, who will be the playoff winner, we're kicking off at 10 p.m. Eastern Time.

Okay. That doesn't make sense for people in Australia either, right? like it would have been better for it to be nighttime here. Whatever. A lot of considerations in this global equation. Yeah. I mean, it's not like we hosted or anything. Yeah, come on.

Come on, Trump. Figure that out for us. All right. Hey, thanks everybody for listening. Thank you, Sanjay, for joining us. Thank you, Vince. We'll see you.