Scuffed | USMNT, World Cup, Yanks Abroad, futbol in America - Episode 76: U20 World Cup — USA v Qatar review with Brian Sciaretta

Episode Date: May 30, 2019

This is going to be more encouraging than you think. Brian joined me from his car, in the middle of a New Jersey thunderstorm. He made a good point about McKenzie starting at right back and projected a starting XI that will have you psyched for Tuesday. And Scuffed does have a Patreon. We are always excited to add more pledges and are working toward a goal of 200 patrons, at which point we will do a run of rad Scuffed t-shirts: https://www.patreon.com/scuffed Find Brian Sciaretta on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrianSciaretta 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 scuffed podcast. I'm Adam Bells in Minneapolis. With me is Greg Velasquez in Des Moines. We talk about U.S. men's soccer. Okay, the U.S. won the game, one to zero over Qatar. They needed a lease to draw to guarantee they would advance, and they got the win, so they're going to be second in the group. We can talk about the implications of that more later. But joining me to break it down is Brian Sheretta, the dean of men's national team and men's youth national team coverage. He writes, mostly for American Soccer Now, where he regularly pumps out, must-read interviews with American players, roster projections, and breakdowns, and assessments of player performances in Europe, Mexico, MLS, and other places. Brian, talk me down from the ledge here. What do you make of that performance? I mean, it wasn't a good performance.

There's no fans' butts about it. You know, it's not one for the time capsule. It kind of reminds me of, like, 2015 when they beat Myanmar. in the first game of the of the of the world cup and they were they were outplayed pretty poor pretty badly for the first half of that game and then they end up winning and and overall had a very nice world cup um yeah this is you know i i i so it becomes kind of like a like a uh a ongoing theme with tab is that i think sometimes he gets things his most wrong uh when um when he plays games where the team should win,

and he tries to, I think, think about games for the future and not rest guys or have guys be prepared for certain games. And I think it kind of, this kind of fit that bill. And I'm thinking, well, you know, for example, that he's not going to do anything too crazy against France, if that's who the U.S. plays. He's going to go more to what he does best and what he knows best.

but yeah he got this one wrong especially in the first half I think if you were to go back and take out all your negative judgment that you had on the game in the first half and just watch the second half you'd probably be a little more okay with it like I don't think anyone maybe no one would be happy but no one would be angry either they had chances in the second half not just the penalty and the goal I mean the desmond hit the bar and there was and there was a couple other chances too the first half they didn't really have anything I mean they

They went from playing, I said I put this on Twitter. They went from playing like angry. I used a different word for that. They went from playing nervous and scared in the first half to playing angry. You know, and you don't want to play in the second half, and I don't think you want to play angry, but it's better than being scared. And you saw that. They got a little disjointed.

That's why Durkin got the yellow card. And that's why, you know, but they looked angry. They were spiking the ball when it went out of bounds. Yeah, I was glad to see that passion. I was glad to see that. Yeah, I never got the, like, a couple of were saying, no, this team, you know, tweeting I mean, like, this team lacks heart. They lack passion.

I never got that. I just think they got a little scared because they didn't know exactly what they were supposed to be doing in that first half. Well, let's talk about the lineup. Yeah. So what you were expecting? Because I was kind of expecting, you know, two days ago, three days ago, I was like, okay, he's going to rotate quite a bit for this game. And then I don't know.

Sometime last night, I thought, wait a second, Tav's not going to rotate. in this game. And he didn't, what did you expect? I was kind of thinking he was going to rotate quite a bit, not in the way he did. But, you know, looking back, I'll tell you what he meant to do was he meant to

McKenzie, you know, right back was turned around to be like a very bad decision. Yeah. But I think what he wanted to do was was get McKenzie reps. Because he really lacks that, not just with the U-20 team, but with

in his overall season too, with his concussion and then not the occurnia, the appendix surgery. So I think he wanted to get him reps, but maybe not put him in the middle where, like, something could go wrong like we saw it nearly due in Saudi Arabia. So, you know, you need games to be able to play against a team like France. And I think he was trying to put him in a more lower pressure situation, not thinking they were going to attack as much down his side. But at least he'd be out there getting the flow and getting the feeling into. you know, getting, getting some kind of repetition and preparation of just playing games

ahead of a big game like France. That makes sense, actually. I mean, at least it's a plausible. And that's what I was thinking he was doing. It didn't work out. But, you know, I, when I thought about it, I was like, you know, what's the best way to get McKenzie reps?

You play him, but do you really want to play him in the middle when, when, no. But then again, you know, you took him out of his, you know, where he plays best. So that's what I was thinking. The biggest one for me, I think, was having, you know, Durkin and Servania in the middle together. I mean, I like both players. But, you know, together it's just, you know, this team, I mean, the first interview I had with Tab at the beginning of the cycle was, is like he even said, like, this team isn't going to be able to defend as well as his last two U-20 teams.

It's all about attacking for this team and trying to attack more than the opponents do. And this time he kind of strayed from that. Like, you know, it was very a conservative midfield. And this team, I don't think, really knows how to play conservatively. You know, I think, you know, and even he said that in the media roundtable beforehand, it was like, we're just going to go balls to the wall and we're going to go out guns of blazing. If we go out, we're going to go out guns of blazing. This was very conservative, especially in that midfield.

And, you know, and Mendez, for as good of a player as I think he is. I mean, he's got a great shot and he's coming a long way. you know, sometimes his weakest weakness is like he doesn't move as well off the ball to get more touches. Yeah. And when you have those two guys, Servania and Durkin playing a little bit more further back, particularly when Kate is having an off game, you know, everyone's pinned back. Mendez is going to be, Mendez is going to not see the ball as much as he needs to do.

He needs guys. He needs another more creative barmeco. He needs pomacal. He needs pomacole. He needs Pomacole. He does need Pomacal. And, you know, and Ouli and, look, I, you know, my thing with Ouli, you know, Oli and Ledsma is, is like, they, look, I, I've heard, you know, through sources, like, based in Europe when he was released in Europe, not U.S. soccer. But I've heard that, like, they're questioning whether or not he was going to be fit enough to start this tournament, just because he hasn't played a lot, you know.

So I understand, you know, that's, that's Ledesma. And I can only met Uli's probably even more further along. he didn't have injuries. It's just the injury reps. Like they look like they're more bench material. And that's fine. You could still win games with great subs. But, you know, I didn't understand because if you won this game,

the U.S. team was probably going to be playing France in finishing second. But that game is on June 4th. It's not the June 2nd game. So how many days rest is that? Was it like five, six days rest? Yeah, five days rest. Like, I don't, I kind of didn't think the squad rotation was, was as big of a deal unless the guys were out of gas now. And Paxton looks like he's fit.

He's in mid-season form. He's, he's in better shape, I would think, than Mendez or Ledesmo, to be able to be that link with Mendez. Yeah. Should have said that. But, you know, you know, yeah, but you were right. Yes. Mendez did need someone who can get him the ball better. And that's why those two work well together.

Yeah, that was obviously our best performance, the game against Nigeria, and it was Apomacal Mendez midfield ahead of Durkin. Yeah, Palmacal didn't play, which is understandable to give him a little rest, I suppose. But like you said, he's the most, he's probably the fittest guy in that midfield. Let's talk about early observations in the game. I mean, we don't need to dwell on the first half too much because it was horrible. But Qatar came out attacking some, right? They didn't really bunker. and we were the ones who looked passive.

Why did you think that was? Well, like I was hitting at earlier, I think they were nerves. You know, this is a, you know, I think that this team, like a lot of young teams and youth teams, like, these results, and I know there's a lot of people listening wanting to know, like, you know, this is the nature of youth soccer. Like, there are bad performances from good teams. Like, it's never as consistently, it's never as consistent as first team soccer. It's like you get teams with yips and the nerves and. And surprising results. Just weird things can happen in youth football.

It's just the way it is. But that being said, yeah, I think it was just the – this team was like, okay, what are we going to do? And then, you know, like I said, like Mendezz became invisible because Syrvania and Durkin had to track back, and Keita was having a really bad game. Yeah. Easily Keita's worst game of the tournament.

Yeah. And there's another guy who's – you know, you're starting to see this, now in terms of that inconsistency, how many of these guys have played a lot of club games, you know, meaningful games in 2019. And then that's where the weakness of this team, I think,

you know, where at least the concerns I had with this team coming into this tournament was, you know, like it's not just Ladesma and Uli, it's Keta and, you know, McKenzie. And you could go kind of make a list of guys who,

who for whatever reason, you know, either club transfers, injuries or, or, you know, whatever. you know, just haven't been playing a lot. And, you know, and it kind of was the perfect storm out there, too,

in the way they try to make it work. So that's why I kind of think, and then it was just the nerves coming in. I think it's just, you kind of saw them settle down a little bit at halftime. The halftime came at right, just the right moment. Yeah. I would say, I would say another thing is we're so accustomed, this team is so accustomed, both in qualifying in the first two games of the group, to attacking up the right flank with Sergenio Dest that,

when you have McKenzie out there who isn't, you know, he got up, he got up the flank one time, I think, in the second half, but he's just not comfortable doing that. So when we have that, when that whole sort of avenue of attack is shut off, then maybe that just, like, disorienting our whole attacking shape. Yeah, I mean, they were looking for more, they were looking clearly to go up to De La Fuente. You know, he was, you know, De La Fuente could play both sides, but like they were, they were looking, you know, De La Fuente was more on the ball. Gloucester was trying to get up a little bit further.

It almost looked like a Burrhalter system a little bit, only inverse. Yeah, where the left back kind of goes up a little further. Only Gloucester doesn't cut into the middle of the field and the right back was trying to sit back. You know, yeah, they were trying to play a different way. And like I said, yeah, it didn't really work out. And they are used to work playing with Dest. But then again, you know, I think Tab's rationale behind that, was is like who's going to make who's more likely to make a mistake back there you know a guy who

sits back and but has you know is kind of still getting his legs back but it's still very competent defensively um in mackenzie or a guy like sergenio des to you know um as great as he is with the ball and he could do some wonderful things he's he's that's his weakness um yeah you know and so you know i understood what tab was doing with mackenzie i think he was looking towards getting them towards the future and future, I mean not long-term future, but getting them ready for the knockouts. And same thing by resting Palmacall, but, you know, none of those things, those decisions backfired, but, you know, I kind of understood where they were coming from. Yeah, it's good. It's comforting to get at least a plausible explanation for the McKenzie at right back thing. And that,

and I had not fought on that. Well, he needs reps. I mean, what you, I mean, you don't want to send them out there against, against, you know, look at, look at the way it is right now, knowing that the US team won, I wouldn't have changed anything because, you know, I mean, would you want to send, I mean, because now you have a McKenzie who's a little bit more rested and they know that, you know, they probably have to make a change from Kata, you know, so, you know, now you have McKenzie who's a little bit more in the game rhythm of things. And that's, that's very valuable. Yeah. That's what he was missing. It is, it is really important. And that, that centerback pairing of Richards and McKenzie is, I was great. Shocked if it's not the, if that's not the starting 11

on Tuesday. And by the way, McKenzie did, I thought McKenzie settled down a little bit in the second half. Yeah. I mean, there was one time when he got isolated

in a one-by-1, I think it was on the corner of the box. I want to say it was around the 75th minute, although it could be off. And he kindly just poked the bowl away from an attacker who tried to do like some kind of slick move behind him. I mean, he didn't even look bothered or phased or whatever.

I mean, poked it out the sidelines for a throw-in. but I mean, it was very cool and calm and you could sense his maturity was there too. And you're a little more comforted by the fact he was there and not not desk in that kind of a situation. So, yeah, there was, you know, in the second half, you know, they learned there was a little bit more comfort on the ball. There was a little bit more understanding of what they had to do. But yeah, it was. I would say though, in a vacuum, setting aside, you know, getting McKenzie fit for.

the next stage, I would rather see Julian Araujo there than either of them as a pure right back defender. Yeah. I mean, absolutely. You know, it's, there's a guy who only started playing right back you know, a couple, you know, has

even been six, seven months. I don't think. But yeah, he's clearly going to be a right back for the future, but he's still very good defensively and you know, across the back line. And, you know, he's in a very exciting prospect In fact, still very young.

You know, I think him and De La Fuente and Ocho are the youngest guys there. But, yeah, I mean, I like Arahu, and it wouldn't surprise me if he starts against France. But, you know, we shall see. Yeah, I'm not, I'm, I think so. I think, you know, the fact that he joined camp late and missed, you know, the start of the, you know, this whole World Cup process, you know, heard him till now. But at the same point, you know, the fact that he was there in qualifying, I think, is a little bit reassuring to Tab. Especially if he's going to go with, you know, McKenzie and Gloucester and Richards. I mean, that's a whole back line he's very familiar with.

So, you know, it's not like he's completely new to the team. I mean, Dela Fuente only had one camp and, you know, Seria had no camps. But, like, this is, you know, this is a guy who's not too distant from the team. So I wouldn't completely put it past Tab because now he has McKen—he doesn't have to do that thing with McKenzie again. Right. And I do think—I mean, even though Arajo doesn't offer as much going forward as desk, I mean, how could he? He's against a team where we're going to be probably under some significant duress, a right back who is a very solid defender. I mean, he's proven it.

It's only been three games, but he's proven it in Major League Soccer against good attacking winger that he can defend. It makes sense to me to start a defense. He's 23s, too, by the way. That's right. That's right. He was, I thought he was, I thought he, you know, so he's a guy, you know, that, that has been, that they're clearly gearing towards something with, with Arahu. And particularly when you look ahead towards the U23s, you know, you know, dust might not be released. And it might be Arahu or Reggie Cannon, you know.

But Arahu could very well play in those. You know, he's, he's that good. And, and, but he's, he's clearly in the mix of things. And it wouldn't surprise me, though, if Tad, you know, when you're thinking about having to defend if he has more comfort with Arahu there. Yeah, it makes sense. It makes sense to me too. So before we move on to the second half, which is much more cheerful,

let's talk about that one big chance that Qatar had. It was Abu Bakar Keta, who, to be fair to him, was played into some tough situations by some of his teammates. I can't remember exactly what led up to this, but he got into a little bit of a bind, gave the ball away, and all of a sudden it's basically a 2V1 on David. Achoa. Balls slipped across. I forget the name of the attacker, right in front of the goal.

And Achoa comes out. Big save, yeah. Huge save, don't you think? I mean. Yeah, I thought it was huge. Yeah. He's a very good goalkeeper. I mean, and I'll say this is someone who's been, you know, covering this team since, like,

oh, seven now. Like, I've never seen like a, like, a U-20 goalkeeper, like, play. up like that and and have that good of a performance i mean it's it's a very there's one big example but like he wasn't as good but like an oh seven when oh sorry and yeah in oh seven when perk came in and replaced um uh sites and and got the got the win against uruguay which had uh you know uh cavani and sweris and he was playing up a cycle but uh a cho is at you know this you know being to play up a cycle as a goalkeeper is still very, very rare. And for him to make that kind of save, that is a big save for someone of his age.

And, you know, of all the experimenting, I mean, I think Tab got that one right. I think he was looking for his moment to put in Ochoa. And now all of a sudden, the teams should feel very confident with him. And my prediction is that that first half as bad as it did it, won Ochoa the job, I would guess, for the knockout stages. Yeah. Boy, I hope that's the case. I do, I mean, I'm not like a goalkeeping expert, but I do, I did, even though Ochoa was a little nervy in the beginning of the game, he looked a little nervous. By the middle of the first half, I felt more comfortable with him between the pipes than I did with Scott.

And I'm not like bagging on Scott, but. Well, Scott's another guy like all these guys that we, like I tell you about with this team, you know, my concern with it is, is so many players don't have reps in 2019 for a variety of reasons. and Scott's one I should have mentioned in that case. You know, that could very well be the case. I mean, you know, when I was covering the team two years ago, and he was like the backup or the third string, you know, we don't know. There's people saying in camp he was he was awesome. Like, you know, and they were hoping that he would start over Clemsman, you know,

who are people who are following a team from camp. Yeah. You know, so he can be very good. I don't want to be down on Scott, but, you know, goalkeeping is a position where you really need to have those reps. Yeah. Cho has been getting him lately, too, I mean, at least at the U.S. Yeah, he's been getting a lot more of them, certainly. And, yeah, I would think that he gives this team the best chance to win.

Okay, so no changes at halftime from TAB. Were you surprised by that? Yeah, I was. What changes would you have made? You know, I was thinking a pommel call was going to come in. And that's another reason why I like pommel call a lot is, like, he really alleviates the need for needing two defensive midfielders, because even when he's an eight,

or sometimes even when he pushes up in a more advanced eight, I wouldn't call it a 10. Like, he still can come back and make big defensive plays. Yeah. One of the better, I really like defense from, from attacking wingers and attacking midfielders.

Like, it's an underrated quality, you know, it's, I could go on and on about it. Like, it doesn't, they usually don't,

unless you're a defensive midfielder, and that's your position, like the attackers who make big defensive plays, like they don't get the, you know, the accolades that they should. And Pomocal does that. And I don't understand why you would need to keep two,

two, to, Sarvania and Durkin in the game if you have Paxton in there. Yeah. Makes those kind of place. So I was thinking Paxton because of, because of everything, but,

I was thinking that too. Yeah, I mean, and then, yeah, you were thinking about maybe Keta coming in, but I think Tabb thought that the back line was going to settle down. Yeah.

And I guess he thought Servania was going to settle down. Sounds like, The rain is coming down where you are. We are having an unbelievable storm where it comes down in sheets right now in New Jersey. So we're just going to have to power through it. Okay. Hopefully the last 10. I can hear you okay, though.

Okay, good. I can hear you fine too. Just let us know if you're in danger. Okay, so I thought, so getting into the second half, I'll give you my theory here. I thought we did settle down. I thought we were a little better through the first 15 minutes of the first of the second half. not way better, but maybe slightly better. And when TAB brought on Ulyanez for Conrad Delafonte,

and by the way, I thought Delafonte and Wea looked gassed. Yeah. Maybe even right at the beginning of the game. They just didn't look sharp. When Uli came on, to me that changed the game. Like he, four involvements right off the bat, or three right off the bat, beats his guy, whips a ball across that drew a desperate lunging Perry from the keeper. nobody was at the top of the box to pick it up, but that could have been a goal.

Yeah, I mean, I thought that was, that was very big. And, you know, it was just, it just gave the team a different look and fresh, you know, and another calming influence because they actually had that link. Yeah. To get, you know, they were really missing, like, links between the lines, you know, who was, you know, linking between the defense and midfield and, and midfield into the advanced midfield and attack and wings. Like that was all off in the game.

And then what that does is that just forces everyone to play drift further and further back. And they were and they had to chase the game more too. So they should have been gassed. I mean, if you saw the amount of, I would love to see the heat maps in this in this game because I think you're going to find out that like that a lot of guys ran an awful lot and way more than they should. Because we barely possessed the ball in the first half. I mean, yeah, you know.

And, and yeah. And then when they did possess it, they were trying to. They had to start a lot of their possessions way far back. You know, I noticed that right away. And it became almost like a track meet. And, you know, that's a tough third game in the group play. But unfortunately, they can rest there. But, yeah, you know, and they desperately needed some fresh legs.

And Uli was a real good link there. That one ball he played was tremendous. Yeah. I mean, there were two balls. There was one that he, like, that he whipped across a little later that maybe that's the one you're referring to that kind of missed everybody but i feel like if soda if if so had been maybe more used to service like that from the wing he could have gotten there he's just wasn't getting a ton of that from yeah yeah that could very well be that that could

very well be it i mean it was um uh you know i have to check my notes in terms of what the balls were played but yeah uly the point is is uli had some great balls there and and and it was really good to see and you know it opens up the debate and tab would know this better than people who aren't there with the team, but like, you know, you know, he's only played scrimmages in 2019, really since qualifying. The only real games, you know, I can track his progress with the U-20 friendlies in March. But like since then, since he's moved to Germany, really has only been a couple scrimmages and you don't know what kind of quality was playing against. And I'm not knocking him as a player. I think he's very, very good. It's just, you know, it's reps.

and yeah, maybe you can find a guy who can go like a full 90 here and there, but like to be able to do that, you know, throughout an entire group stage of a tournament, you know, three times in a week is tough for someone with his amount of soccer. Well, TAB had to be encouraged, though. I mean, I mean, despite all those misgivings. Absolutely. You know, and if the U.S. can get by France or however,

they're going to have to do so with the bench, you know, it's going to have to be key subs that I think are going to have to win a game like that, whether offensively or defensively. And it's nice for him to know that, you know, what he's got, you know, at his disposal. Well, will he start against France or possibly Molly? I don't think so. But, you know, they will have a lot of rest here.

So that's, you know, more so than they've had at any other point in the stortemant. Yeah. I kind of hope he starts, but I get the argument for why not. Yeah, I mean, look, at De La Foyah, I mean, it comes down to, you know, Wea, you have to start, and then, and De La Fuente, you know, Tab looks really comfortable. Tab's convinced that there will be a time when De La Fuente is just going to make magic out of nothing. It can win games by himself. You know, and so far in this tournament, he's been a little all-sizzle-no state. You know, he's done some things that make you think, like, wow, he's really good, and he is.

The final part of hasn't been there, but, like, I will bet you something. something, he will come up big. Like, and, and he's still so young. And if he sticks around for the next U-20 cycle, which I hope becomes the more norm, um, because I think the full team will be flush with them. Yeah, I think, yeah, exactly. I think they're going to have enough of these young guys moving through. We're like, we're not, it's going to be rare to think we need to promote guys, you know,

to the full team when they're still U-20 eligible. And that's going to be a good thing, by the way. Um, you know, when you don't have to make judgment calls on guys who've only played a handful of professional games. But, you know, I think you'll see that De La Fuentes, you know, will be really, really good at this level moving forward. But so far, that comes down to, you know, it's going to be interesting. I think De La Fuente is still the starter for this team,

although I can understand where there could be some kind of concerns for that. Yeah. Well, it's easy to forget that De La Fuente is only 17 because he looks like he's 25 with that facial and all that. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, he's, yeah, you know, he's, um, He does look older, but yeah, I mean, he's one of the couple guys who are playing up a cycle. Him and Yuli, you know, so that's pretty interesting.

Yeah. Let me describe the goal. 75th minute. David Ochoa makes a pretty easy save. It kind of falls on it, gets up, outlets it to Mendez. Mendez makes a nice little pass to Servania in space. Zavania takes a touch or two and then hits it to Yanez on the wing. and then Yannes dribbles at goal, he kind of loses it,

but Qatar tries to tap their way out of their own defensive third, and Mendez pounces on a loose ball, or loose pass, I should say, wins the tackle, pokes it to Wea, Wea in a lovely first touch. One touch, Meg's guy with the outside of his boot to the inside, and then he's got the whole goal in front of him, and he thrashes it near post pass to help us keeper. I love it when,

when, like I said, when I said earlier, that when, like, attacking midfielders make big defensive plays. I mean, because when you do that, like, all of a sudden, you're in a position to pounce on the other team. Yeah.

You know, and, you know, and that's why, you know, I think, like, a guy like Jonathan Amon, you know, where he needs to work most on his game is defense and being able to strip guys of the ball. And then all of a sudden, you know,

you know, he has a lot more open field to work with. You know, But like, yeah, the fact that Mendez can do that, you know, and I was, I was wondering if he could, like, what his defensive side of the game. Not his strong suit. Was not his strong suit, but, you know, you can always improve on that. That's, that's something, you know, it's sheer determination, sheer willpower and then some good coaching on top of it. And he's really, and the fact that that won in this game, essentially, you know, because way is going to make those kind of place.

You can't keep them quiet for too long. But, yeah, I mean, I absolutely. love the fact that that one in the game and that should serve as like a you know they should pin that one up to future cycles you know of attacking midfielders saying like you know you got a lot of skill on the ball but what can you do defensively because that's you know you can win games because of that and then just show them picture of this that was that was that was that was really really cool to see it is interesting too that me know menez menace had one really gorgeous ball over the top to waya where way it took that really that perfect first touch and then couldn't

get it past the keeper other than that he was pretty much quiet on the ball, if I remember correctly. And he didn't, and he even got some chances to hit free kicks from, like, his golden zone, 20 yards away from goal and couldn't get him on frame. So he had a pretty, by his standards, not great game. Well, he got the one on frame, I think, at the end of the first half. That's right. That was like from, that was like, yeah, that was like 35 yards.

That's true. But, yeah, I understand what you mean. He wasn't missing him by too much. But yeah, I mean, that's. And yeah, the big. The biggest play of the game was him making a tackle. Right, you know, and that's great. You know, it's going to be, you know, if you're looking for signs of encouragement

with, like, you know, this game that people are going to try to really quickly forget, like you're going to see people, you know, doing things that, you know, and gradually maybe even improving throughout games and doing things that maybe people didn't really think they could, you know. Like you were pointing out with McKenzie, got better at right back. you know, defensive on the defensive side and Mendez won a game defensively and even Servania.

Like he was part of the buildup to that goal and drew a penalty with a nice little run there. So, you know, his off the ball movement, you know, everyone pegs him as a defensive midfielder. Still could be very good.

You know, it's his club situation is dicey, but, you know, I've seen enough to think that like there's somewhere where he can play and do well. So yeah, there's, you know, it's, it was an interesting game. It's one I'm going to actually, well, more of the people are going to try to forget, I'm actually going to try to rewatch because, particularly the second half,

because you're starting to see people respond well and step out of, like, you know, doing whatever they had to do to win the game and sometimes shattering stereotypes that people had about them. And that's a good thing. Yeah, I'm excited to read your analysis after you rewatch it. But before I let you go, let's do, let's do talk about, do some player assessments and talk briefly about France. I know we've already mentioned it. Let's start with Chris Gloucester, the left back.

Give me your take on him today and throughout the tournament. I mean, I don't think he was really beaten today. I mean, did he do and make any really super dangerous runs? You know, I think there was one. Yeah, there was one. He wasn't like the consistent presence going forward, but he picks and chooses his moments. Like, he's further along than Dest in that regard in terms of being a more complete player. And with that said, like, I'm, I think he, you know, he's been one of the real standouts of this tournament.

And, you know, that whole back line is really going to be under pressure and under stress against, assuming it is France. You know, we'll have to redo this if it's, if it's Molly. But, yeah, I think, you know, it's very. You can't say enough good things about him. I agree. I agree. Also didn't get a yellow card. He's been so steady.

He's smart. And he knows how to defend. I think American fans, when they're watching this, particularly the youth guys, people are fans of youth teams like ourselves. Like, there's an unbelievable sense of comfort you have when the opposing team is one-on-one. They have the ball and they're in a one-we-one situation. The U.S. defenders, Chris Gloucester.

You kind of get sense that, like, he's not going to screw this one up. Right. And that's, like, that's probably the best thing you could say about a fullback, really. Yeah. Also got the assist for the second goal against Nigeria, as we all know. Oh, sure. Yeah. That was, that was unbelievable.

I mean, that's a run. My biggest concern about that run was like, is like, is that the kind of run that's going to happen in a Greg Burhalter system? It's a left back situation. And I like to find, think that. Somehow it will. But hopefully Burrhalter can tweak things over the years. Yeah, yeah, you hope so too. But, like, I mean, I think Gloucester's put himself as the clear left back for,

for, you know, the Olympic team moving forward. And maybe, you know, as soon as he starts getting first, I think maybe Hanover's relegation was the best thing for him. I mean, in terms of getting some minutes. He's got to be in a great situation. Yeah. I would say, I said this on Twitter, but I just think he and Richards, he and Chris Richards, the two Chris's on the back line have been heroes.

in this tournament. Yeah, absolutely, too. And you hope that with McKenzie getting the reps now and perhaps being a little bit more match fit, you know, I mean, he has, I mean, that was like, Saudi Arabia was his first game he's played since surgery. I mean, think about that. Like, I mean, who gets an operation?

And all of a sudden, the first game he's playing is like a major youth tournament like that. Like, you know, and now all of a sudden, so you got that one out of the way, now you got a full 90 on them. You know, you can start. It's quick. So, yeah, you're right. Now, hopefully that that could alleviate some of the pressure with that.

I just love Richards. We don't have to keep talking about Lits. And I don't think we need to talk about Kada because we already sort of talked about his struggles. I do want to get your thoughts on Durkin. Has your assessment of him as a long-term prospect changed at all in this tournament? No, I think he's a kind of a guy that's a system guy. I think there's some systems where he could do really well in.

You know, I thought he was, you know, yeah, I didn't think he was great against you, Ukraine. And hats off to Ukraine, by the way. I thought that they put on a phenomenally well-thought-out game plan. Absolutely. Like beyond intelligent, like, they just didn't make any mistakes. It was going to take, they're so ruthlessly disciplined. And they're very old for a U-20 level. I know it sounds kind of silly to say. But, you know, all those players, you know, right up against that age deadline, they're used to playing with each other. And so it wasn't, it was a tough situation for him. but yeah I think he's I think he's a good player I thought his night you know going against a big physical team like Nigeria

that's very athletic and and skillful and and he did very well he played well in that game yeah yeah and and and there's a guy who I think you know if he's in a situation at his club where he's playing regularly he can come in to do well um is he going to dominate you know no I don't I don't think so but I still I still have you know anything's really pretty inconclusive for him I still think he's going to be a good player. Okay. I'll say, I'll just go ahead and say it.

I think, I feel like his stock has fallen a little bit for me because I always thought he had some physical limitations, you know, like he wasn't going to be, he wasn't going to be the destroyer on the level of Tyler Adams. But I always thought he was more of a passer, like an almost elegant distributor. And I don't feel like we've seen elegance from him in distribution. really at all in this tournament. Maybe a couple of flashes of it. And I think, like you said, like, with system-wise,

he has to have the right guys around him, but he will ping the pass as well. You know, and, you know, this is kind of the problem with Tab's opening lineup today. It's like, I don't think it was there. But, you know, we'll see. I still think he can be, you know, a good player. And I still think he has a very good chance of being a guy for the U-23.

So he's going to get a lot of chances moving forward. and, you know, he wouldn't be the first, you know, really good player to struggle at the U-20 for a variety of reasons, then still move on and be very effective. Okay. Okay, one last player I want to bring up, Richie Ledesma. Got to shout him out. I'm a huge fan. He, I thought he played really well when he came on, came on for the last 10 minutes or so.

Is there any chance? First of all, what did you think of how he played? I thought he played very well. I've never doubted his talent at all. Yeah. You know, like you, I think he's good. I just, again, like, you know, it's tough to be injured for so long and only get a couple of minutes, a couple of games over the last month.

Then a tournament is just different because the games are so condensed. It's not like a regular season games every week, you know. So it's come at a tough time for him. But yeah, the fact that he got him into a game is good because, you know, he might be the guy now with Mendez suspended for this game. That was going to be my question. You think he'll get the nod to start against first? France? I do. It would not surprise me at all. I mean, you know, Tab, you know, I think, you know, it's going to, it's not a hundred percent done deal. No. I'm just trying to think of in my head of various

midfield combinations that nobody's going to be there if you're wrong. Nobody's going to find you. Nobody's going to find you if you're wrong. Yeah. I mean, but, you know, it would be good. I mean, look, I think if everyone's healthy, he doesn't start right now based on where he's at. But, you know, you brought along for this kind of a reason and, you know, and if they have to patch their way through a game like France, you know, maybe he's a guy who can give you 70 good minutes.

So, you know, I think it depends on how we trains with guys like Seria who could start or, you know, fits in with guys like Servania. Him and Servania were played a lot together, I think, early on in the cycle. So you never know. There's a lot of different combinations

that Tab could use. But yeah, I'm leaning towards thinking he's going to start. Okay. All right. So the next opponent is going to be probably France, but if Molly pulls off the upset tomorrow, it's going to be Molly. Molly has to win that game.

A draw. Right. A draw means it's still France. So who do you think, well, maybe give me your preferred starting lineup and who you think Tab will start. Maybe they're the same thing. Well, I think

Arahu is going to start it right. I think McKenzie Richards, Gloucester, Machuilla, this is where it gets a little interesting. I think to start Serrio's first ever international game against France in the knockout stages, you might have to. I mean, you brought him along for this reason. And France is very big and physical. And Tab, when he was talking about players at the media thing, he talked about Sirio's, you know, physical nature. So yeah, I think Surria is going to start with Desmond and Pamacal in front of them.

In front of them, I think it's Waya, De La Fuente and Soto in the middle. The only possible change there could be, you know, perhaps as if Wea moves to the middle. And then Uli cuts out wide, but I still think Uli's only going to be a sub. so I'm still thinking it's De La Fuente. Soto and Wea cross the front. You don't think Servania gets the nod ahead of Ledesma in the middle or Sireo? No, I think when Tab looks at the tape tonight, I think... And look at the fact that we're complaining about a guy who scored a goal against Ukraine

and drew a penalty against Qatar, like, you know, there's only two games. like, you know, he doesn't deserve, like, as much criticism. He played, he was okay. But, yeah, I still think Tab is going to realize that it's going to take some bit of magic, you know, to pull off an upset if it is France. And, you know, who's going to give that to you? At this stage, without Mendez, you know, you're going to have to start looking at, you know, more options there.

Richie, Richie, Richie, Richie. So, yeah, I think it's going to be him. You know, Tab loves Richie, you know, it's, you know, it's, It's a question of, and Tab's raved about Richie to me and to various members of the media. You know, it's just, it's just what's Richie's shape in right now. But the fact is he's not worn out right now, and he'll have plenty of days to train for this game. So that's why I'm leaning that, leaning towards that lineup. Oh, man, I'm so encouraged by your projection, because I feel like you're the Tab whisperer.

You know Tab better, like as well as anybody. Yeah, I don't talk to Tab that much. I mean, only during formal real interview. but like um yeah but who is covered in as consistently as you are so long you know and and and and you kind of pick up tap you kind of pick up um you know you know sense patterns here and too and that's the only up to thing about today was is like you know if you go back and listen like yeah i like how some of the players responded in the second half and and have tab's biggest challenges that you 20 world cups and even during qualifying sometimes have come against the games where everyone thinks he should win and then

I think maybe he gets caught looking towards the future in the advanced games. But, you know, I think he knows what has to be done against France and is going to really not look towards anything beyond France. Yeah. I mean, winning against France and then losing in the next round is going to be like the greatest U-20 tournament of all time, right? I mean, not technically, but from a moral standpoint. Yeah, I mean, 15 was pretty darn good. I mean, when you look at the Columbia team that they beat in the six round of 16, they had some big players.

Okay. Okay. And that was a fun game where they won that quarter. I mean, Rubio Rubin had a heck of a goal. I mean, Stefan saved the penalty. Miazga was the best defense, you know, U-20 centerback I've ever seen. at this tournament. So yeah, you know, and and also, you know, 07, while it didn't produce as much, I was a big fan of that team. I mean, I mean, they beat a Brazil team that had Davy Louise and Joe

and Pato and. Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah. I mean, that was unbelievable. And then they go out and then in the knockouts, they beat the Uruguay team that had, you know, um, uh, Suarez and Kavanaughan and a couple other guys that went on to do great things for their team. I mean, in extra time. I mean, That's true. That was unbelievably morally up with it. It would be up there, though. Don't get you wrong. I got carried away.

The funny thing about it is that you expect the U.S. team to go out there and play with these guys in these big games. So, and that's really what's, but. And also what they're doing now, particularly this and then 17, is they're fighting with, without their best players. They had all their best players in those previous tournaments. It wasn't until 2017 when they, when they, when they, when they. they went without McKinney and Pulisic. And this year they're going without Sergeant and Adams. So, you know, being able to do what they're doing now with one hand tied behind their back is, you know,

makes it even more intriguing because it shows depth. Okay. Yeah. Well, everything to play for on Tuesday against France or maybe Molly. So we'll see, we'll see everybody then. Thanks. Thanks so much, Brian, for your time. I really appreciate it.

Stay dry. Thanks everybody for listening. We'll see you.