SoccerWise - First Touch ’26 World Cup Daily Show: USA & Canada Kick Off

Episode Date: June 12, 2026

Susannah Fuller, Matt Doyle and David Gass get you ready for the USA's opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Paraguay with Doyle's latest USMNT tactical session, a Football Manager 2026 simulation, and a full match preview. Plus, the crew recaps the opening day of the World Cup, including Mexico's historic win over South Africa and South Korea's comeback victory against Czechia, before looking ahead to Canada vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina.0:00 Intro3:42 Three Big Things8:30 Mexico vs. South Africa Recap18:22 South Korea vs. Czechia Recap23:20 Doyle's USMNT Tactical Session27:50 Football Manager USA World Cup Simulation34:37 USA vs. Paraguay Preview51:06 Canada vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina Preview1:02:25 Lamine Yamal Is One of Us

Good morning soccer friends. Welcome to First Touch 26, our daily World Cup show that we are bringing to you every day from our beautiful kickback studios here in Midtown Manhattan. We'll be with you every single morning of this tournament. Yes, we will. And guess what, guys, we are officially in it. Match Day 1 in the books. We cannot wait to chat about it with you all. Today, I'm Susanna Fuller alongside my guys, David Goss and Matt Doyle.

How are we feeling after one match day in, Doyle? I feel amazing. Yeah. Yeah. Both games had really good MLS energy, which is what I was looking for. Of course you were. And then MLS after start. Staying on brand I see.

I loved it. Fantastic. Gus. How about you? It felt like the World Cup. Yeah. That was the part I was hoping for and the part that I was looking for. It felt like a thing that you used to.

I mean, Mexico opening day is pretty usual for us as well. But it had the vibes that I want. wanted. So yeah, I was there, I was here for it. I feel like it started and I came in yelling about how much I'm buzzing to. Yeah. Is there one particular moment where you were like, oh, it does have I have one. Oh, go. Honestly, and this is going to sound very cheesy, but I, being in a New York City pub with you guys. With the little flags hanging from the top. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. The Scottish fans. Yeah, yeah. The McTalmonit chance. Sitting behind us. I was like, Because I've experienced World Cups here in New York City before,

and it's a fantastic place to consume this tournament because you just get so many people from so many different countries, and we talked about it a little yesterday. But to be in it kind of sweating in a bar with you guys, I was like, oh, God, yes, this feels like a World Cup. Because, you know, the last World Cup, it was in the middle of winter, which is different. It was a completely different vibe.

And so this felt like coming home a bit, for me. And I just, I took a moment yesterday at the bar to just kind of take it all in. This is really special. The ladies at the next table from us, one was Mexican and one was Colombian. And so when Julian Quignogne's scored, I was like, oh, what is the reaction? Yeah. They were just, they were all. No, the best part was when they, every, they announced all 48 nations and they had them walk out with flags, which I did not like because it's not an Olympics. Do your thing. Don't do other people's things. There's my complaint. When England came out, all the Scotland fan booed.

But it was like, I don't know what the reaction. Maybe Columbia had come out closed. And she was like, no, Colombia. And everyone was like, no, no, no, trust me. The Scottish fans are not booing Colombia. They're booing England. That's what's happening. So that was a great one.

I would just say, I mean, the Mexico green and the Azteca. And there's a little bit of the haze in the air. And it just felt like a big game. It felt like whether it's World Cup qualifiers down there, which are always day games and big moments against the U.S. Or others, it just felt like, oh, this is like the big, this is the biggest soccer game. I think what I felt in the second game,

and we had different feelings about some parts of it. We'll talk about it. We're going to preview all the games, whatever, or talk about everything. The stakes of just no matter what the soccer game is, you realize those moments where it's like, this is the biggest game of every four years. This is the biggest game of this player's life

because this is the thing that could change the perception of them, their lives, all this stuff. And you feel that in moments where I think what we said was coming out of the first half in South Korea. maybe in a league game, it's okay, we'll take one one. Right. Like it's fine. It doesn't matter.

And this was like, this is the biggest game we're going to play. We have to go for it. Yeah, that second half was awesome. Awesome. So much fun to watch. All right, guys, we're going to get into our three things. Love it. Three things.

I guess these are some takeaways. That was my thing. That was your thing? Yeah, just like the Mexico vibes. Okay. It's just, it felt big. I think seeing the fans celebrate, seeing Mexicans in New York as well. Yeah.

So that's my thing. I don't need to go again. Okay. I love it. Congratulations. For being the most of the Stark Stadium. I mean, I'm kind of recycling my thing because that first South Korea goal, you pray for a goal that pretty just a couple of times a tournament.

And to get it on day one, it was 25 past buildup. You know, they were so methodical and so precise in the way they were dragging Chetia apart just a little further, a little step by step by step. You see Chetchia coming up and being a little bit in discipline. and then Wang Mbiongianm, he releases from central midfield, which he never got to do when he played for the white caps under Mark Dos Santos. He turned him into a cone. So he releases, adds that extra runner through the lines, 25th pass,

and then that beautiful little kroyfe and finish to the back post. Like, what a goal. Everything you want to see from a world-class goal. And I thought South Korea were awesome and completely deserved. Yeah, that was a stunning moment. Leave it to me to be the vibe killer. Oh. I have the under.

Someone has. Someone's got to do it. No, I mean, overall, I'm feeling all the good things. I enjoyed that goal so much. I enjoyed so much of the soccer yesterday. One thing I did not enjoy, however, was the hydration breaks slash commercial breaks. First, obviously, noticed it in the Mexico game. And I think Tom Bogart actually tweeted about it and was like, it literally took like,

the first game for them to miss so much of, not so much, but like they missed the game because there were five commercials. They missed 45 seconds of game time. I mean, you just don't, in a soccer match, and 45 seconds is a lot. And the commercial really kills, so like it's just the flow of what you're in, yeah. Yeah.

As much as the hydration break does already, which is what it is, the commercial makes it so much worse. I don't have a problem with a hydration break. It was 70, reason we're right that's also true mandated hydrate for the the later match but I just the the flow of the game gets so interrupted and even as I was I was sitting in my hotel room last night watching the South Korea match and it comes on and I'm just like I hate this I really really hate this and

there's nothing I can do about it I mean you can watch you can watch telemundo yeah hit that duo lingo yeah do you know what that might be the move 5006 day streak right now this guy Boom. I'm at 390 something. Is it actually working for you? So I can understand like a decent amount, but I cannot speak other than like, Donde est al-Bano. Don't a survey set, for a boy. That's it.

That's about it. Because my, so my mother, as a lot of people did during COVID, got on the duolingo kick. And I think she was, she was on like a 400-something day streak. We then went on a family vacation. to Mexico. And the woman was like, a deer in headlights. And I know you get intimidated.

It's a lot more intense when it's not a cartoon bear. And you can't click on it for the translation. She kept being like, oh, I'm going to be fine. I can speak. I can understand. And we were like, mm-hmm. Okay.

So I'm just always curious. Like how your brain consumes it. I think it just helps you once you get to the part where you're doing immersion. Because you're not going to learn how to speak Spanish unless you're around people. So you're telling you. I just need to go live in Mexico City.

You should go to Mexico City and you should get the vibes in person. You should go right now, go for the World Cup. I kind of like this plan. Yeah. A whole lot. I will say on top of the no commercial, shout out to tell him, you know, because it felt very big yesterday, the ceremony. They showed the butt.

Oh, yeah. This is what a World Cup should be. They showed the bus driving from the hotel to the stadium for like four hours before. They showed people in the crowd. They had people on the field, the hits. And I talked to people around the Mexican game. Yesterday was a really big day for people. around that. We're going to talk about the U.S. and Canada later. But, like, part of this World Cup is for

people who grind and build and do things. These are, like, seminal moments. And I think it felt that way on the work Telemundo did. So, tip of the cat. Yeah, Fox didn't show Shakira and Burnaboy. So, they're not really big names. So no one cares. Um, yeah, that was, that was a bummer. Completely missed it. Had to watch it online later. But good to know that Telemundo is, uh, doing the, yeah, the Lord's work here. Um, all right, guys. Very bueno. Very bueno. All right, let's get into some of these matches that we saw yesterday.

We're obviously going to start with Mexico against South Africa. This is, you know, El-Tree in the Azteca. It looked amazing, as Gus mentioned, just elite vibes everywhere. And I will say a good result for Mexico. You know, you win 2-0, you win that first game. We've talked about how important that is. However, the game itself left a little bit to be. desired. And while Mexico did get the win and looked good at certain points, I wasn't overly blown away

by their performance. But I think my biggest takeaway was, man, South Africa, looked really bad. This was, so they went to the semifinals of the AFCON in 2023, purely as a defensive side. I think you saw Ronan Williams in the game yesterday. Incredible. Like one of the best goalkeepers on the planet. Yeah. And he was the driving force for them. I thought Mbo Kaze was very good as well at centerback for this team. He should have been playing as they're attacking. For sure. He was the best player on the field.

The only one who could complete a pass. But they can't create chances. They don't have ideas to do it. And once they go behind, it's like almost over. And so that was an early goal to concede to Mexico. Then on the flip side, what I would say about Mexico is for the strengths they have, they are not cohesively dangerous consistently. They don't create a lot of chances through their play.

So to get the chance out of the press because South Africa decided We have to play through them, which they did multiple times in the first half. And it's like, well, you don't really create chances out of that. What's the advantage of playing out of the back consistently in this way if it doesn't lead to anything for you? And then it ended up giving the best the goal and the second best chance for Mexico in that first half. But it was like a miserable situation for South Africa because they just can't play those game states. And for Mexico, it worked out where you get the early lead. You don't have to start to stress because we talked about the whistles.

That didn't come because of this. No, it didn't come. It could have because they were, like, they had no ability to change up the tempo, right? And South Africa was kind of asking for it, not just when they were trying to build out of the back, which I don't blame them for doing because you don't advance as a soccer country unless you start taking risks. And the meta in world soccer is to, you know, try to keep the ball more off. And we even saw it from the checks a bit in the second game. And like, South Africa is under no illusions.

They are not a strong team, but they have to play. play like it, you have to take that hurdle before you can actually become, you know, a Senegal type of team, you know, to keep it in Africa or a Morocco. And it's going to be generations, but like this is the work you have to do. With Mexico, the hope was they have done so much work and that the vibes really are kind of better with this team, that they would show a little more connectivity and then a little more confidence in working together to really put South Africa up against it and it didn't feel like that. They didn't have those moments of sustained pressure, then back off, draw them up, getting behind, create chance after chance after chance.

In moments they were good, including both goals, one opportunistic, the other, you know, really well constructed and kind of ruthless. But they didn't, like, I thought they would look the way South Korea looked in the second game. That's just not the reality of this team. and not against an opponent like this. I think they're going to look better against better teams where they don't have to control the game, but there is individual quality to hang in there, and I think defensively they're fine.

Like, they started a centerback at right back. Like, this was a safe game. I think Eric Lera is fine. He's a safe player. And so I think I thought he was really good. But like he, but to your point, no one changed tempo or pace in passing.

There wasn't too quick giving goes where now we break out, right? There was one or two switches, but for the most part the game stayed contained and even when they got into triangles, it wasn't quickened, it wasn't slowed. It was just the same thing over and over, which has been Mexico the Azteca for the last 11 years. And that's why Costa Rica and Panama have gotten life in these moments because they don't pull you apart. They don't make you feel like you're suffering for all of the altitude and haze and all that stuff. You can sort of predict the game states and stay in it.

And I think that's where for Mexico, they may actually end up looking better in a knockout round against an England or an Argentina or whatever. where they don't have to control the game states, and it's more reactive. Because outside of Jesus Gallardo or Julian Quino's individual moment, how do they create chances? So I actually have an answer to that. I have a glass half full take.

Okay. I thought Brian Gutierrez was constantly in those spots and actually trying to push the tempo off the ball. His touch was terrible. He did not, like, you could see. There was two or three in Midville. We were like, wow. He was so nervy with his touches,

but his brain was working really well. And I thought his, like, if he was cleaner, maybe we're having a different conversation about how Mexico control this. What do you attribute that to then? Because we've seen what he can do. We know that he is a good player. He's also very young. And this is the biggest stage. There is, is it. Is that it? And he's a really good play. I was good. As the Chicago native here, Berwyn's finest. Downers. I was so stoked to see him in the starting 11. And then, yeah. to your point. I mean, he drew the red, sorry? I just, I kept kind of, he drew the red.

He drew the red. Yeah, it's a very good point. And that's what I mean. That was a moment where his movement and half the ball was so good. And I'm sure that's what Aguirre sees from him. There was another one where he, you know, kind of, you know, played a no look pass across his hips. It didn't quite connect. But like, that was Cignonas in on goal.

If that, and he was the one who had those ideas. He just didn't, he didn't have the final ball in him on the day. So in that regard. when you're looking ahead to these other group stage matches for Mexico, do you like what they did in this first match? Is that going to be enough to top the group? Are they on the right track? Is it just a matter of kind of dialing it up?

Yeah, they need to play better if they're going to, like that's the big adjustment, the play better adjustment, if they're going to top the group. Do more. Yeah, like South Korea looked so damn good in that second game. And if you, like, I would, I would fancy, I would prefer, I think that South Korea has a good chance if they keep playing like that. That said, first game.

I expect Mexico to play better. Yeah. Yeah, I think that's fair to expect. I think the result takes some pressure off too. They've got the three points. Right? Like, I think there's some people. And we talked about how the fans can turn.

For sure. The Mexico team. I don't understand this, by the way. So this felt very important. Ben Wright, who we love. Yeah. Data says they have 100% chance. of advancing? So based up, like, he built a model based upon ELO ratings and results.

Got it. Okay. And so I was like 100% feels pretty aggressive when you have not clenched. So when you, like, when you won one game in the group already by multiple goals and the other game has produced a loser by a goal, you have now two teams well behind you in the standings and in a, you know, 48 team world club. For sure. Where 32 teams advance out of the group, you're, you're, you're. in really excellent shape. I think that's the hope for Mexico is now they can play a little looser. Now they can play a little freer. It will be interesting to see where the lineup goes

from here. Mateo Chavez came off the bench, but Israel Reyes is a centerback and doesn't really get forward and isn't a threat. We talked about Edson Alvarez who didn't get the start coming back from a long injury spell. I don't know if that's a minutes thing or not. He could help add things. I would like to see Obed Vargas based off the way that game went, especially against Chequia, where he will drive. He will

big guys 1 v1. He plays forward. Even at athletic. He's the one who creates connectivity and tempo. And we've seen him do that against teams and then four teams like Athletico Madrid. And I'm really surprised that he's not first choice on this team. But to your point about Edson, he came in at D-Mid and he really struggled to turn. So I was like, all right, Cesar Monta's got a red card. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And then obviously that's the other piece, three red cards in this game.

So that's all players who will be suspended going forward. So now depth starts to get tested. Did you know there were only four red cards in the entire 2022 World Cup? I do now. Four. There were three in the first. I'm that Portugal Holland game have like four itself in 06. Yeah.

The battle of whatever. And this one now. Yeah. And this one I was like, and then this one now will be the whatever it is. Red day, red wedding of Mexico City. Also, hate to do this to you, but we have to congratulate Matt Doyle, who now.

currently leads. No, we don't. I want credit first. Boot race. I've done six weeks of content previewing Julian Quinoes as a game changer. And he scored the opening goal at the World Cup. I wish you guys could have seen this at the bar. I'm going to flip this table. You did. You almost flipped over the table. You were so. I talked about it on first touch with the stadio guys. I did preview videos about him. Listen, I'll say this. I appreciate that Matt Doyle consumes my.

content and listens to me and values my opinions. One of the foremost experts on world soccer and I'm not trolling about this. I was absolutely trolling with that draft. That was genuine and I felt it. Well, get ready because Mo Sal is about to score 18 goals for his team because of you. Well, how about Sonny who had about a billion chances last night and didn't net one of them? He's a chance. He's a chance great.

Listen, against South Africa, I feel like Sonny could help my cause. That's a good point. Let's just say that. In fact, on that note, let's move. to that Chechia South Korea match. As we mentioned, this one was fun, especially the second half. A two-one win for South Korea, they had to come from behind in this one, which made it very interesting in the second half,

because to Gase's point, the stakes are so high. And so you just saw, I think what we saw in South Korea was just this intensity turn up. And they really, they were so good at creating chances yesterday. And I loved the way Chechchia fought. I really did. And I actually, I walked away from this performance for them because they were in it the entire time. I thought they might be okay.

You know, like they, I could see them getting a result against a South Africa. And then suddenly, you know, points wise, you know, it's anyone's, it's anyone's games. So I really enjoyed this match. This one, this one for me was like, oh, yeah, we're in it. This feels like the World Cup. Doyle, how did you feel about this one? I mean, I was kind of just blown away from by South Korea aesthetically. Yeah.

They looked like what people always tell me Japan looks like. And I think Japan's so overrated. Doyle has 97 things happening right now. South Korea, the way they use the ball, the patience that they approach to that, that check low block with and the way they created chances, there was some disconnection when Sun would drop. Yeah. Yeah. They didn't have.

runners through. But they changed, you know, they had a good team talk at halftime. And I, I still, when the check scored that goal off a long throw, I was like, of course. Yeah. The team that plays better plays better soccer. They're going to lose one nil to a freaking long throw because it's 2026 and that's what happens. But no, I mean, they then answered with, like I said, that absolutely gorgeous goal that you get once or twice a tournament. They were creating these passing movements just constantly.

It was beautiful, beautiful soccer and I was so happy to see them get rewarded with a huge win. And coming back from a goal down in the World Cup, it's the hardest damn thing. It does not happen often. And to do it in the first game, kind of a must-win game,

and now they're in complete control of their own death. And I think you saw it in the emotion at the end. Like they cut to the sideline in Baum, who scored the goal, was like down, Borderline crying. Now, for him, I think he's been through a lot of injuries, some weird transfers over the last eight years.

He played in major league soccer, so he's a player we know pretty well. It's one we fought over a decent amount when he was here. He was crying because he was like seven years ago. I was playing for Mark Dos Santos. And the son came over. He's like, I know. Me too.

Okay. But I think it shows the value of a win like this and the emotion. And to the point on Chekiy, this is a team that qualified for the World Cup in a match. They got 27% possession. So, like, yeah, they didn't, they don't mind. the thing that happened to them. They didn't get killed because they can't get on the ball.

They got killed because that's who they are. And I think for them, maybe they come out of him and say, and we had a chance on a long throw. And we thought we scored a go-ahead goal again. I just ran out of gas a little bit at the end. They put it out of discipline. But they were naive and a little bit arrogant after they went up one year. But isn't part of that also how long can players sit in?

Right? Like they're supposed to sit in for the whole game. For sure. But that's European. But that doesn't mean that you're good at it. That doesn't mean that you can stay that connected to it. think that's, it's easier with a national team because you only ask these guys to do this 10 to 12 times a year. And if it's a big tournament, if you ask someone to do it three times, great, because

it'll, you know, you'll be a national hero, you'll never buy another Pilsner or a quell in your life, like all that type of stuff. It's easier than saying, can you do this for 34 times for a club time every week? It's still like, okay, can you come out here and just not do the thing that's fun? Yeah. Soccer, fun? Yeah, don't do that part. Just sit in and defend and defend and defend. And so I just think it gets hard at some point to stay that contained. And on top of that, South Korea was good enough to then start to ask questions. They were excellent. There are two things. One, my buddy John Mueller launched a new app called footy and they have descriptions of the team style in the app. Oh, and for Chequia, it was launch and squish. And then the other one is like,

I really kind of thought the Czech coach looked like a great uncle of David Goss. Do you guys have the same? I'm sure there. I'm sure there's something in there. Someone from my family must be from somewhere. This guy, he's 74 years old. He's the oldest head coach in this entire tournament. Every time the camera cut to him, I just, I chuckled. Like, it just had a gold chain around his neck. He just looked like he should be like, I don't know, in like a dark bar, like smoking a cigar.

I'm sure he was after that. He looked like a godfather. Like, it was just awesome. And I was like, yeah, that's. That's a good. That's a good World Cup vibe right there. It really fits. I loved it.

Yeah. It was good. It was vibes. All right, guys. Time now for our first touch tactics board presented by football manager 26. And good news, guys. We have basically the next best thing to the tactical immersion. It's Matt Doyle, who is our tactician, our master tactician.

He's going to give us a deeper dive into what we can expect from the U.S. tonight, specifically with Alex Freeman. Yeah. So we expect Paraguay to sit in a little bit. The U.S. are going to have to be protagonists in the same way that South Korea was, maybe not quite to that extent. And we know that the U.S. is going to try to get to that three, two, four one system. But sometimes you need to break the system. Sometimes you need an X factor. And what we saw, especially against Senegal on Christian Pulisic's goal, is that Alex Freeman can be that X factor and take risks with his movement and his ball carrying.

All right. Let's listen. The US men's national team has been running a dynamic shape-shifting system, and it's working. If they're defending in a mid- or low block, they're usually in a base 451, but one where the attacking midfielders have freedom to release into a 4-4-2. It's compact and hard to break down. Basic stuff. Where it gets interesting is in possession, as the shape completely reinvents itself into a 3-2-4-1. Anthony Robinson on the left, he's gone.

He's bombing up the touchline, provided. with the system needs, giving left center back Tim Reem a safety valve in possession while pulling defenders away from Christian Polisic. On the right, Alex Freeman doesn't mirror him. Instead, he slides inward, dropping to become a third centerback and giving the buildout a completely different texture on each side. See, while Ream is the primary ball progressive via passing, Freeman's the X-Fact. He's not just static in that back three. He's been given the green light to push forward, both on and off the ball. That means what looks like a routine possession phase can flip into transition in a single

pass, as we saw against Senegal on Polisick's goal. Opposing midfielders didn't know how to track him. The automations are incredibly clear. Robinson goes wide, Freeman goes inside, the shape solidifies, and the U.S. are a team that finally knows who they are. Great stuff, Doyle. Thanks, the U.S. finally knows who they are, huh? I think so.

Yeah. Yeah. So I... That was actually really helpful because I think I've been confused watching them, especially under Pocitino over the last year in change. And this kind of explained to me sort of the methodology and sort of the changing in shape that we have seen.

So there was this moment, obviously during the March window, when we got drilled by Belgium and Portugal, that he tinkered around with it a little more and changed the way we get to, that shape, that three, two, four, one. He was having Tanner Testman drop into the middle of the back line. And the U.S. completely lost shape in midfield because of it.

So this goes back to what he was doing last autumn. We started really against South Korea and then against Japan, Ecuador, Australia. It was kind of similar every single time. And the last two games, which were, I think, two really good games from the U.S., the Senegal win and the Germany loss. This was it. Alex Freeman, you know, right center, sorry they're going to write fullback because the U.S.

defends in a 451 or a 4-4-2, comes inside, Jedi goes, and we get into that shape, and they've done it in a way that lets us really weaponize the press, which I think is something the U.S. is going to have to have in there. Like, it's going to have to be Plan A for a. Yeah. Yeah. We're going to get much more into the U.S. in just a bit.

But before that, we're so proud to be partnered with the most immersive soccer game ever made football manager 26. We've already did the full tournament simulation, but we can't help ourselves, right? We always want more fun. So we had to see how things would play out if we focused on just the US men's national team. And yeah, we're not done. So David Goss is going to walk us through this simulation.

And I'm very excited about this. I would like it to be known that this was done. Like this, we didn't do it multiple times. We didn't make sure anything specific happens. We don't control it. This is what happened in the actual football manager game. So Derek's going to help me out for this one. And we're going to do it a little bit cleaner.

So the U.S. obviously is going to start the group stage against Paraguay. What we did is so we have a results page. And obviously, if you play the game, you know you can watch the highlights of every game. So the U.S. comes out the gates. 2 of 0. That's actually what you did predict earlier today on the phone with shout out coach Ian. And so it was 2.0 for the U.S. to open things up against Paraguay.

Balagan gets going pretty quickly, which I think would be key for the U.S. obviously they dominate possession, which we do expect. Now, as Derek takes us to the next team, this is where things start to get weird. 1-0 loss to Australia. That's possible. Now, to be clear, I believe Riley Regrees actually injured, who was part of the goal,

so maybe that'll help the U.S. Wouldn't be shocking to me again. I have said this. I think Paraguay is the worst team of the group. I think Australia is above them. So that wouldn't surprise me the change of results. So this puts the U.S. in a tough spot. They now would travel back to L.A.

as Derek takes us to the next one here. And they draw Turkey. Again, you probably take that, right? Blind, right now. Right now I would take that. I mean, if it's what we needed to get out of the group, I would take it. Right.

So this is a little bit of frustration because in this scenario, Australia wins the group. And the U.S. finishes in second place, which means that the U.S. ends up in a global conflict of U.S. versus Iran in the round of 32. As we take a look at the next game,

I think that game is in Texas, if I'm correct, correct. So in Dallas, Jerry World, USA versus Iran, the books that will be written about this game. The day before the fourth of July. There's too much happening here. But on the field from a soccer point of view, Florian Bolligan continues his hot streak. Sergenio Dess remains involved in the attacking play. And this kind of, as I watched the eyes, whether looked similar to 2022. The U.S. Bush's play, but they're not dominant.

Iran hangs in there. but now the U.S., they're in a round of 16. And now we're into the ballgame. This is what we're talking about. And the U.S. matches up in the next round against Leo Messi and Argentina. And football manager, as Derek takes us there, for this next one,

says that the United States and national team knocks off Argentina Tizio, Mariso Pochitino against the country of his birth. We outshot them 23 to 7? Wow. Welcome to the game, baby. Welcome to the game. USA.

So now we move to the next round. And now big favorites United States. One zero over Switzerland. Let's go USA. Listen, this is actually the most believable result for me of the whole thing. But also a reminder, because they didn't win the group, now they're off in these weird stadiums that weren't really anticipated. So like shout out Kansas City, Soccer City, USA.

Oh, my God. You get a U.S. home game. And Switzerland are obviously. I mean, I feel bad for Cameron and Wyatt Weeby because you're going to have to go to state school. Andrew maybe just dropped 5K on each ticket. But so the U.S., once again, controlling possession in almost every single game they play. Obviously what football manager does in their seams always tends to happen. So this sets up.

Rock chalk. Rock chalk, rock chock. This sets up a semi-final of the World Cup in the United States. I'd take it. Get the beer commercials out. Yeah. It's USA Brazil. Derek.

Let's go, USA! USA. USA. So in Atlanta, 2-1 win for the U.S. Notice that Bolligan involved in all the attack, but now Pulisic finally gets on the scoreboard. Venetius gets a goal. And I just, how do you guys feel right now? I mean, my heart's racing a little bit. I'm looking at the outshot. So we outshot Brazil and Argentina a combined, what, 43 to 25? Yeah, I think the over under was probably close to that. I think that's what I'd everyone add going into the I'm in a fever dream right now the United States men's national team heads to the World Cup final. And we did the sim once. Yep.

And in the final, the United States men's national team. B. Knacks off Ecuador. Oh my God. The USA is the best team in commonable and we've won. We are the best team in the world. Yeah, we rocked them too. Look at that XG.

My God. Listen, don't step into the lions then if you don't want to be amongst them. Oh my God. First of all, shout out to Ecuador, who I believe in both our simulations made it to like the semifinal or the final. So for anyone out there looking for their dark horses, which we talked about yesterday, Ecuador could be on that list. For anyone who loves to live in the reality that just happened, get football manager 26. If you don't have it, you can live that world as well.

And the United States special team are World Cup winners. I got to tell you, if this actually happens, then I will not be on the show that day, right? because I am liquidating all of my assets to get a ticket to the World Cup final. 100%. Let's take a look at the final standings, which I think you would enjoy because this is what happened. So as we said, the best part is that the U.S. outshoots Brazil and Argentina, that they win the World Cup final, but they lose to Australia and Seattle in the group stage. Listen, things happen.

And then if we take a look at our best 11, you actually will see, by the way, on that list, the U.S. basically doesn't concede. So Matt Freeze, Tim Ream, Jedi, and Dest. Is that Charlotte FC legend, Jordie Elsevore? It is. Well, they made it to the World Cup final as well. Listen, I like the Vinnie. I like the Vinny Jr.

performance because I've put a lot of stock in this World Cup on Brazil and Vinny Jr. Oh, my God. That was wild. And you can't beat it. There's nothing like playing football manager. You get your fingers on the keys. You get to control what's happening. You get to influence culture and decisions.

and as someone who's always been a USM&T fan, it's nice to have won the World Cup. We got people in the comment section saying, we all know that Tom did this at midnight on its last time. Big shout out to Theo. Theo's keeping it down for us. We don't let Tom anywhere near the actual tech of a show. But Tom is out there on the road playing his own football manager

as we go along the World Cup. So we will check in on him as we get through it. What a journey you've just taken us on. Thank you guys. I kind of glowing a little. Thank you, football manager. glorious. Guys, football manager 26th, international mode is available now.

You can download it and stream it on your favorite console. And the sale starts today through July 9th and is 50% off. So go get yours. All right, guys, time to get into our next segment presented by soccer.com. Carry the crest as you represent your team this summer. You'll find the widest selection of World Cup gear at soccer.com and get a free goal club membership with the purchase of any World Cup jersey with code. kickback. As a reminder, the goal club is the longest running and largest soccer loyalty program

in the country providing members with a lifetime of savings and rewards on their favorite soccer gear like these beautiful kits. Listen, of our kits up here were 1 and 0 so far, Mexico got their victory. Brazil will play Morocco tomorrow here in New Jersey, but today it'll be the U.S. men's national team. They're really, really sharp. But yeah, big shouts to soccer.com for outfitting us. Literally my entire suitcase was just kits from them. So thanks, guys. You made packing really easy for me. All right. Should we get into some match previews? Yes. What do we think? All right. U.S. men's national team taking on Paraguay tonight at 9 p.m. Eastern. Matt Doyle yesterday, you said, I'm not ready. I'm not ready for this. We didn't have the qualifying process.

We're just being plopped into this World Cup environment and you're not ready. You weren't ready yesterday. Are you ready? No. Now. So nothing has changed. No, I don't have the emotional calluses that you kind of need in order to properly consume World Cup soccer when you have a rooting interest.

So I'm pretty sure I'm going to be a wreck. Yeah. Everyone yesterday kind of asked me like, are you rooting for Mexico, which I traditionally don't? And I was like, I'm happy for Mexico to do well this World Cup if the U.S. and Canada do well. If they don't, I want Mexico to fall on their face. Mexico winning now puts the pressure on, I think, actually. At least as a fan externally, I don't know that anyone in the U.S. camp's actually watching or cares. But yeah, I'm nervous.

I think it's going to be tense. It's going to be tight. And it's the one-off chance. Are you ready? Yeah. Oh. Walk us. Got the debtor kit on.

I do. No, I think. I think I'm at this point where we've just had, we've had so many questions. I have been like this with this U.S. men's national team over the last couple of years. And so I think having having those two friendlies against Senegal and Germany leading into this was massive for me. Because it kind of, it calmed me down a little bit. Because before that, I was like, I think we are complete, I think we're much further out of our. depth against the top teams in the world than we think we are. And those two matches,

the way that we played, gave me a little bit of confidence heading into this one. And so now I'm like, okay, let's put our money where I'm just ready to kind of kick things off. I feel really good heading into this match against Paraguay for the U.S. I think there's probably, you know, there's always going to be that maybe an initial tentativeness that you can see. But I, I have faith in this team that they are going to, to get this win. I think we, they know how important it is to beat this Paraguay team. They've done it before within, you know, recent memory. So I, yeah, I feel, I'm ready. I'm just ready for it for us to, to basically show up. I said this to Doyle on our preview show, which we did a couple days ago and we're going to do the Australia preview show

coming up soon. So we'll have those on the SoccerRise Channel. We also will be live postgame. Myself McHellie and then Doyle will join us tonight. So we'll be back here as the game ends. So when you're ready to shoot takes and either celebrate or be angry, we'll be here for that. Can I ask the like, you know, how much will have been consumed? Probably not that much because I think I'm going to be so nervous about the game that that doesn't help me. You don't see. I mean, I'll consume the thing in my hand, but it will probably be water. Well, I will drink 95 glasses. You're very responsible.

service mover, but not as much that. Maybe then once the game ends, we'll see what happens on set. Bloody Mary's were promised and not delivered today, so I'm just throwing it out there. My mom brought it up yesterday. I know. I'm halfway, I was sitting on the subway on the way here, and I was like, damn it. But what I said to Doyle is this is the best I feel about the talent. And I think one of the issues for me has been there is a large part of the fan base that overrates the talent for the U.S.

and overrates its ability to just break down anything else that's happening. Oh, the coach isn't cohesive. There's no cohesive. Well, they're too good. It doesn't matter. And that's pretty much not the case with anyone, but there's four or five teams in the world that it is the case for. And the U.S. isn't one of them.

But I feel like I've seen a lot of the talent play to their best ability with the U.S. over these last six months. And especially those two games. And that's what feels really good is like being in Chicago on the side, like tight to the side, like watching Serginio Dest in person, you're like, oh, right. This guy can technically get out of any corner in the world. And even though, we haven't seen a lot of him over the last year. And so you forget that, oh, he, he is a very effective player. He's very important. Yeah. Alex Freeman then filling in the space for him, watching Malik Tillman and Weston McKinney find their space. Watching against Germany,

Christian Pulisic, getting from the channel and turn and get up field and play at his best, which is him moving forward. Watching the skill for Balagan when he's in the channel and he gets the ball. There's talent there. And it feels like the vibe around the group is pretty good. That's what we've gotten from Tom and everyone else that's been around the team. I think you saw it in the next video that we showed. But like they're all together. They're all watching. They're all hanging out and watching the documentary that they put out and watching a lot of this group together over the last four years and the fun they have and how interested they are. Pocitino was super relaxed in the press conference yesterday. I don't know if that's a, it could be the worst, you know, that could be

the start of the documentary for the next one. I'm like, look at these idiots. Or it could be the flip side, which was like, oh, yeah, this was the vibe. It was good. I think all of that bodes really, really well. The other side is it's soccer and stuff happens. Yeah. So, yeah. And the one thing I was going to ask you as you did the tactical piece, you talked about

the shape as Freeman comes in and they go into the three. Obviously, we know for Paraguay, there's not a ton of attacking danger. The one piece that they're going to try and get through is Miguel and Mirode. And the goal they conceded in October and November, he's counter, but he's so wide. Yeah. He sits on the sideline. How does Freeman then deal with that? How does that change the U.S. shape?

I mean, it's obvious you have to be better about getting pressure to the ball upfield. If you go back and watch the clip of that, Giorina, who was really good in that game, he's slow to press the back line. And he's always going to be slow to press the back line, which is why he's not a starter for club or country. He's going to be a super sub in this one. Weston McKenney's a lot better about that. And he's probably going to be playing as one of the two attacking midfielers for the U.S. in that one.

So that's one and two is like, look, it's a game of risks. It's a game of margins. And no matter how good you are, there is a chance that the other team can play the exact right pass into the exact right run and you're behind the play. It happens. It happens every game. And Paraguay is good enough to do that, whether El Miron is 100% fit. Paraguayan press is reporting that Julio and Ciso is actually fit to play who we thought was not going to play at all. This feels like everyone's on the same side.

I respect it, but I don't believe it. Yeah, that might be a bluff. But also Chris Richards being fit, like be a bluff. So it's like there's a lot of games going on. Like you, I feel pretty good about what I saw the final two friendlies. I think Potch figured some stuff out. But also I know that I'm not ready.

I'm going to be sitting here like this. Does it, does it concern you that it took Potch that long to figure things? It pisses me off a little bit. And partially at him, partially at the player pool. And the Federation. You sure had the job two years ago. I don't know if he was available.

I don't remember when he got fired. But like he should have had it before. This should have been a four-year cycle to build it. The Belgian whatever friendly should have been Copa America. And then you would have had two more years to be like, ah, that didn't work. This did work. And that's one of the frustrations. And now it's like you can cram for your test as much as you want.

But then there's always, as someone who crammer as a crammer. Are you a crammer? Do you not watch me before the show? There's the 90 seconds. I actually witnessed your cramming. There's the 90 seconds before it starts where you're like, you know, if I had done some of this two weeks ago, I'd probably feel better right now.

But then some people are better at that stuff. Yeah. And there is the chance really where because you can't do so much because you didn't have years to build all of these ideas and whatever, that the hope is that they do go out there and do the things they're good at. And that's where it's like if Polisicic doesn't overthink and overplay, because there's not much Pochitino's given him

because he hasn't been together I mean he missed Gold Cup last year like they won't just go play and that's the I think that's the big hope for the US that's the thing that's the thing that I think Pocetino figured out over these last two friendliness

is you can't play through Pulisian doesn't make the game for you you play to him as an attacker and the big thing that I'm I don't want to say happiest about but like one of the things that really you know jumped out at me was the play of Malik Tillman in making the game.

And you've been a big critic. I thought he was so overrated last year in the Gold Cup. But he, and look, Sue's part of it is he's not a number 10. No, that's fair. But when he's asked, well, you know, playing as a number eight, he's like, oh, I hate that position. It's like, bro, it's your best position. You have to play there. And now I think he's going to start there.

And it works with this team because he'll take a volume of touches. Yeah. So Polisic doesn't feel like he has to come get it. his volume of touches will advance the game. It may not be the line-breaking pass every time, but we'll advance them into the attacking part of the field, and it will keep the game around there, which I think is what we saw as the Germany game went along,

especially in that first half. And then if they can get high enough, they can press and counter-press. And that's where their chances can come from. And I think that's where we'll talk about Canada in a little bit. Yeah. I think for these teams, and one of the things Mexico didn't do as well,

is that feeling when you're on the front foot, that will give them confidence, like, yes, we are the favorites, and the crowd will get behind them. that's what you need. To be on the front foot, you've got to be in the attacking third. It's really hard to press from your own defensive third. So, and Paraguay will allow some of that because of their gameplay.

But I think that's where Tillman helps them get in that area. Tyler can then be launched. And then Pulisic and whoever else it is, Baligan, Peppy, whatever it is, they can get active and be around the game. So the midfield pairing is like massively important. Massively important. And Tyler Adams health is massively important because he's the, he's the jump. He's hurtling neck.

Oh, celebrating the next win, gave me confidence. It's looking good. I want to talk a little bit about Chris Richards, and we know that he is apparently available for this match against Paraguay, but if you're Pocitino, how cautious are you going to be? Do you go for it because this is the World Cup, and he is your best centerback, and he is so important to that backline?

Or do you try to preserve his minutes? You know, what's the right thing to do when you're dealing with a guy coming off an injury like that so soon. I think if you think he's fit, it's fine to start him. Right. Because you have five subs. You have multiple windows. Your hope is that he starts the game.

He has you settled. And then if you need to change later at halftime, 65th minute, whatever it is. Worst case in error of all of this as you start him, he pulls up seven minutes in. And now the vibe is broken. It's not a muscle strain, though. Right?

Remember, it's an ankle spright. So they know. they know how healthy he is. We don't. They could be lying to him, right? Maybe he needs another week. But based upon, you know, the initial prognosis of like a grade two ankle sprain, like we're right about at the point where guys tend to start coming back.

Dave made a really good point last week when we were talking about this. Like you have halftime. Maybe just start him and get him out there for the first half. If you think he has, you know, an hour in him, put him out there and then make the assessment at half time being like, you know what? He doesn't have quite an hour. He's behind the play a little bit. The fitness isn't there. We don't even have to burn a sub window.

We just make, now it is dangerous. A lot of coaches will say you never put on a centerback who you know you're going to have to sub because it changes too much. But Mark McKenzie is a big boy and Miles Robinson is a big boy. And like, this is their dream. Yeah. If your job is to come in at halftime and help see out a result in a World Cup game, they are going to be champing at the bit. And I think doing it at halftime is different than doing it in the flow of the game

where it's like 60th minute. Now I have to come on and get the pace of the game where it's 45 minutes where you're sitting on the sideline. You're feeling it. Then you kind of come back and restart with everyone. So there's that slow 60 seconds where you start the second half, which I think at center back, it's really hard to come in. that center forwards at full speed and you're not.

I think that changes a little bit at halftime, as well as while there will be that initial nerves for those guys, I think some of it goes through at kickoff where you experience it from the sideline, where it's like, holy crap, I wish our guy Walker was on the show because one of the best tactical moves that Greg Berhalter made four years ago

was bringing Walker on for like the final 15 minutes against Iran because Iran was throwing the kitchen sink forward and the U.S. flattened, went to a back five put Walker in center field and he was just winning everything in the air. And that was it for Iran. That was it. And like that, we're not talking about that type of change. We're talking about a like for like change instead of a formational shift.

But I think the mentality has to be the same for McKenzie or Robinson, you know, if and when they are subbed for Chris Richards. All right. Or in reverse, if Chris Richards only plays the final half hour. We shall see. That's why Pachitino gets paid the big bucks, right? goal in goal we've got matt frees we believe that that is probably going to be uh the starter knowing that he does not have world cup experience he's got you know enough caps i think with the us men's national team but you know are you are you confident how confident do you feel with

mat frieze best 11 foms yeah so yeah so how could you not be confident he's the best 11 world cup player uh yeah i i i think that i would have leaned turner i think i was leaning turner coming it partially was the World Cup experience. He's a Harvard man. You don't worry about a Harvard man. You carry yourself with dignity in class. I don't even know what their anthem stuff is. He's actually already investing in the future

as what could come from him playing. He's a good goalkeeper. He's a solid player. I don't have glowing things to say. I would be shocked if we're sitting here tonight or tomorrow at 9.30. I mean, we say the U.S. lost this game because Matt Freeze was off the field.

Yeah. It would be a big move to give him the hook and to put Turner in. That said, Freeze, I think, did leave the door cracked open with that performance against Germany. It wasn't great. That would be interesting. Tonight, guys, 9 p.m., the U.S. start their World Cup campaign. It's all happening.

Doyle's finally feeling ready. I've got a little pick for us. This is where I'm picking to win the game today. You brought us coffee and... A USA. The U.S.A. Wow. Look at that. It's rocket pop flavored.

So if the U.S. wins this game because of that donut, they had other donuts in there, and this one's orange and blue. I don't know what that represents. I think that's Netherlands. Yeah, maybe. So I think if orange and blue teams are playing this weekend in sports and this one works, I think this donut might work. So good luck to any team that wears orange and blue.

I don't know what sports teams do that. One Knox is kind of orange and blue. That must be it. P.K. Win. Thank you very much. He can win this week in the Pricks donut cup. Everyone's favorite. And now I've got a clean sprinkles off the new table.

The blue frosting is going to get everywhere. I am eating both of these. Good for you. Oh, look at you. Man. I saw it. I already already cough. I was like, you know what?

What a guy. What a guy. All right, guys. Let's switch gears over to our neighbors to the north. Canada will kick off their World Cup campaign against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto today at 3 p.m. Eastern. And my guy David Goss is very hyped for this. Tell us why. So for a lot of reasons. There's soccer reasons, the non-socker reasons, and I might get emotional here because I'm excited, is I have a lot of friends in Canada. I've been lucky enough to cover soccer in Canada for

over a decade, whether it's Montreal or Toronto, playoff games, MLS games, all that type of stuff. And I also hosted a podcast with two co-hosts out of Canada remotely, obviously. I wish I was there. That would be my dream. So I know a lot of people in the core of the game in Canada. And I think as and we can all, I think, connect to this and many people listening to this in the U.S. will as well. They're all builders. Everyone has been striving for something like this for 40, 50, 60 years. And 2015 was big to have the Women's World Cup there. But if you think about 1994 and then the boost to 99, in the U.S. It's happening now for Canada. And I think 2015 you saw energy and excitement and

notice, but it wasn't the huge event that we thought would take over. And now this is the chance to do that. So there's excitement because I think it's a big deal in a big moment. There's excitement because, you know, our friends at Footy Prime, Amy Walsh, who was captain of the women's national team. I listen to their podcast all the time. She talked about hearing the anthem, oh Canada for the first time when you're at those big moments. And, and, you know, other players who have played with Canada talked about standing in line as the anthem gets played. And so they're going to do that in Toronto. They put in a new sound system.

Alonis Morset's going to be singing. And one of the things I'm watching for is when TFC plays home games, and the first time I experienced this was an MLS Cup final. I didn't know. The singer sings the first opening stanza and then stops. And the crowd just picks up and sings O Canada. And it was like a title wave of sound. It's the best nationalism on the planet.

And I've never experienced it before. And it's not a country that shows national pride that way that often. Sports are the time they do it, right? Hockey, other things in the Olympics, the women's national team. And so there's just there's a lot of people who have spent their life building for this moment. And there are people who have grown leagues that collapsed over and over and over again. And there's small pockets of the ethnic game when you think of the Von Azuri in Toronto. and you think of all of the little groups that have created League One Ontario, which has grown to League One across, which all of these guys have played in to find a pathway because this was the goal, was to build a pathway to let players who wanted to play get there.

And now we have a professional women's league built by former professional players on the women's Canadian team. You've got a men's professional league in the CPL, which is going to grow the game. You've got big MLS teams, and we hope Vancouver remains one of them. They put out a statement today saying that there's productive talks between MLS and, uh, local tribes and local business leaders. So it felt helpful. Yeah. And there's a lot of up and down,

I think, for a lot of things in terms of just the whole country experience right now for Canada co-hosting a World Cup with the U.S. where the president's saying you'll be the 51st state and all this stuff. And then as well as the sport and where it stands. And Alfonso Davies is just the best example of why growing soccer matters. Because he is an icon in Canada. And the background he came from has something.

It's something that's been shamed many times in the past. And he's the reason that was World Cup's here. He stepped on the day as a teenager and said, soccer matters in Canada. Soccer can be special. And now the World Cup is coming. As did Brianna Pinto. Shout out to Brianna.

And he's a refugee born in a refugee camp who moved to Canada and found a community because of the sport. And now is able to bring it to another level. So I got chills thinking about it. One of my friends, I texted this morning. He's like, I woke up at 5.30 a.m. I've cried twice, but I'm also excited. It's a weird day.

And I think that's what's happening is like, this is just a huge deal. It's a big event. It's a big event for people who have given their life for this thing. I mean, he's a Voyager since the 90s and talked about going and watching Canada play Jamaica in stadiums that were legally partially condemned. That's what we're talking about for this team, which then all of a sudden, five, seven years ago on a men's side started to change and started to elevate. And the game has just gotten better and better.

I am so excited for all of those people and for that experience. and even for the Bosnia fans that are there, who many are Canadian. And that's like a beautiful part of Canada and they talk about the mosaic and all of that. So I'm over the moon about this game. I think, as I said, from 94 to 99, the chance to just take that bump

and 2015 was huge and now these guys can take it to the next stage. And I think they're good enough. There's questions on the field, there's injuries, there's all of this. But like, at its core, these guys are talented. And I think Jesse's going to have them ready to fly out of a cannon. in and I think it's going to be fun. So there's my vibes.

Thank you. Really, really special. No, God, man. When they get to the semi-final, maybe we'll make it out. There you go. There you go. Doyle, for you just purely play on the field. Is Canada good enough to emerge from this group?

Because they had a pretty favorable draw in with Bosnia-Herzegovina, Qatar, and Switzerland. Yeah. They can top this group. They should, I'm not going to say they should top it, but they should come out of that group. They're a better team than Bosnia and Herzegov, who haven't beaten a, you know, a World Cup. And this is their only second World Cup appearance? Yeah, I think their last one were they, 2014. 2014.

Yeah. Ebby Savage started up top alongside Jericho. A St. Louis soccer legend. Listen, if it's not American, Bosnia's not going to a World Cup. It's true. Take me to America. I will assimilate. Take me to Golden Gives.

Unreal song. Bangor of a song. This team showed against Italy that they know how to play against the ball. They know how to suffer. They know how to endure having a very low percentage of possession and then take their opportunities. And that, you know, when you have Ed and Zeko up top as well,

that can be a good plan. Yeah. I think Canada is going to put them up against it from the first kick. I think, as Dave said, they're going to be flying out of a cannon, just trying to set the terms of the engagement. And when they do that, they're really good. We saw it two years ago in a Cop of America.

We talk about Canada historically have not done anything at the World Cup. This is their third appearance. They've yet to win a game. We have to collect a point. How much does that ghost linger over them? So if they hadn't had that performance two years ago in Cup of America, then I think it would linger quite a bit. But they showed in that tournament that they can compete

some of the best teams in the world. And they have guys like Jonathan David, Tanya Luas Shei, they have Ismail Kone and Stephen Oostakio and Alistair Johnston. And, you know, they're missing most bombito and Alfonso Davies in this one, which is tough. Yeah. But they have other talent. Yeah.

They have other dudes. And I think they're going to be ready. On his day, Tejohn Buchanan can be the most dangerous player on a field. Yeah. And I think for Canada fans, if you said, oh, your best player is out, Alfonso Davies, and the fact that they have other options would feel ridiculous. They do. There's a lot of players coming back from injury. That's my huge concern is you've got the guys that are out. But a number of guys who are going to play, they haven't played competitive games. So you have probably Alfie Jones is going to start at centerback.

He's played once since October and it was the friendly against Uzbekistan. You have potentially Ali Ahmed, who I think needs to be in this team because of the balance he can give for Tejohn or his ability to play left back because Richie Lurea is on a minute's limit. and he might be the fill and left back for Alfonso Davies who's out. And it's just there's a cascade effect there for some of these guys. But my hope for this game for Canada is if they play on the front foot, they can create chances early. I think their strength can be central midfield. If Ismail Kone is healthy, he had a flu the other day, he left training early.

If he's healthy and Ustakio is healthy. Right. And I want Nathan Saliba in the game. If it's Saliba and Schwanier instead, I'm actually okay with that. Those are good players. But Kone breaks the game in a way that I think Ismail Elconi, I'm going to put it here. Hulianconi was my one yesterday.

Yeah. I think it's my O'Connor's breakout star for Canada for this World Cup globally. Okay. He is a game changer on a different level. The way he reads the game and reacts, half turn stuff, the long touch when you actually want it. Like the things he does are special, and he's bounced around. Marseille's a shit show, so it's not really his fault.

I think he's going to be, and Jesse loves him. So I think he's going to be one of those guys that gets it. And, you know, we all know Jesse Marsh, we're big things. of him. He says all the time, I play soccer the way I believe in life. You go and you attack. Like all this stuff is real. Yeah. It doesn't feel fake when you're around him, which, maybe with the last coach, some of the vibe stuff felt fake for Canada. Does he still have the sword? Maybe. The sword's probably floating around. I think all that stuff is real. So if you're a Canada fan, you should feel confident. Bosnia has their their strengths. One of them is their size and therefore

their set piece ability. So anything, any foul in the attacking half becomes a dangerous chance. and that's where Canada is going to have to be careful, especially with how many pieces along the back line haven't really played together and now set piece marking and all of that. And there are reports that there's going to be 25,000 Bosnia fans in the stadium. Wow. I think that's overrated.

I think that's Bosnia and reports. I think they'll have a contingent, but overall I think it'll feel red. Yeah. Okay, so where will this game be won? If Canada is going to get it done, X needs to happen. What does that look like? I think the center forward pairing,

whether it's David and Olowish, or David and Laren, those are the guys who have to kind of make the game for Canada, both with and against the ball. They are the keystone to that press, making sure that Bosnia can't build easily, making sure that they're kind of funneled down blind alleys so that Buchanan and, you know, whether it's Ali Ahmed or Liam Miller, whoever, can create those turnovers and then get downhill instantly.

It's funny because you start. mentioning the names of all these players you don't really i was like man canada has some depth yeah they've got multiple league of rosters you know it's wild it's wild and as you mentioned a lot of these guys coming back from injury but if they can yeah it would be nice to see jonathan osorio out there oh because he's erranto zone most active caps though shouts to brampton yeah brampton is going to be represented today for sure yeah can you imagine being at one of those um that little that restaurant that he took Kaylin Car to in that movement episode. Like that scene there would be...

You think Kalin's eating jerk chicken during this game? 100% chance. Also, if you're an Italy fan, don't wear the Italy kids of the game. I get it. You bought the jersey before. Don't do it. It's just sad. Yeah.

It's just sad. Okay. Is Instagram working? No, it is not. Instagram is down globally. It is not my fault. What? Oh, no.

It just came up. Never mind. But hang on one sec. Let me make sure I have it in the right window. Yeah. So he was going to close us on some things. And I don't know, Instagram globally decided to go down at the exact time. Yeah. So I always want to end the show on, you know, just some fun.

Yeah. Some lighthearted things to make you smile and send you off on your World Cup viewing day on a high note. And one of the things that made me smile yesterday was Laminia Mall is one of us. Guys, he was in a Tennessee, an Oglethorpe Walmart with a cart. That was absolutely... Derek, go to the computer for us. Full of God knows what. But like...

If you're listening on the podcast, it is a full shopping cart of just the plastic bags of it. This is real... Is he hosting a barbecue? This is European Mind Cannot comprehend type of stuff. I needed soap so I bought the whole box. It's cheaper that way. Boris Yeltsin at the Houston grocery store 35 years ago.

It's unbelievable. Yeah. I just... All of these images. Are you that type of shopper? Well, you're in the sticks now, so you kind of have to be, right? There's no more mom and a pop store. She only gets down to the stores once a week.

But now I have a house. And so I go to Costco and I'm like a kid in a candy store. What do I think Laminia Mall staying in? Like, where is he putting this stuff? I had in a hotel room. I had no idea. In Chattanooga. He's putting in his PJ for the flight home.

Lynn Pickens guys. Because he couldn't get any of this stuff if he wanted to. I don't know. I just love it. All of the, all of the footage that we've seen of like the, the Europeans experiencing this is so good. When I was in Spain last year, I was like that except for tinned fish.

I went to like one other big market and I just like my wife and I packed an extra suitcase. Just for specifically for tins fish. Before we get out of here, Derek, one more time. Come to me. You gave me this, but this is D.R. Congo's arrival fits. This is unbelievable. It is just.

And I live in a family print household. We're big family print of animal print fans. Animal print is a neutral. Meg would agree. No, she said that and I told you and you said, yeah. And I said, there's no way you're saying. A hundred percent. But this is so good.

I would, first of all, the luggage is crazy. What an entrance though. Look at that. If you're listening on podcast, we'll put it up on, we'll put it up on our socials as well. But basically, there's a cheetah print. I don't know, I guess sort of like vest type thing that goes over the suit that they're all wearing. It's like a crossbody. Yeah.

But there's no bag connected to it. And then they have a giant carry bag that is also this leopard print. And the D.R. Congo team showed up. Yeah. And it's paired on top of a suit, which is just so chic and sharp. And I, yeah, I saw this. So we're Dior Congo fans now.

100%. We already were. Already were. Yeah. That goes without saying. You did the preview show with Musa on that side, but now we're especially are. Very interesting.

Yeah. So that's it, guys. You ready? Nope. I am ready. Come on, Doyle. Live show tonight, which I'm hyped for. And I'm also hyped because tomorrow we start to get

the actual World Cup schedule. Two games is fun. It's a taste. Probably today I couldn't handle more. Yeah. In Canada and the U.S. But tomorrow we go three, four, five in a day. And now it's like just straight into the veins, baby.

Yep. Don't need the coffee. Get that out of here. Just give me World Cup mania. Oh my God. So good. Guys, thank you so much for joining us today. Again, a reminder, we will be with you every single morning, 9.30 a.m.

Eastern on our YouTube channel. But yeah, we'll post it later. So you can check it out then too. But enjoy. all the soccer guys go USA go Canada let's do this thing Doyle will be ready by the time the match starts I promise thanks again guys we'll see you tomorrow