SoccerWise - First Touch ’26 World Cup Daily Show: USMNT's Statement Win, Brazil-Morocco Showdown

Episode Date: June 13, 2026

Susannah Fuller, David Gass and Michele Giannone break down the USA's 4-1 win over Paraguay in the FIFA World Cup, discuss Canada's first-ever World Cup point in their game against Bosnia & Herzegovina and preview today's matches headlined by Morocco vs. Brazil. 0:00 USMNT's Statement Win Over Paraguay22:26 Folarin Balogun's Golden Boot Race & USA Standouts37:40 Canada's Tournament-Opening Draw47:58 Qatar vs. Switzerland Preview50:52 Brazil vs. Morocco Showdown1:05:50 Haiti vs. Scotland Matchup1:13:15 Australia vs. Turkiye Breakdown1:19:20 Final Thoughts

Good morning soccer friends. Welcome to First Touch 26 coming to you live from our beautiful studios in Midtown Manhattan on the morning after what was arguably, arguably the best night for U.S. men's national team soccer that we have ever seen. Was it a dream? I don't think so. But you know what is a dream? Working alongside these two legends right here.

I'm Susanna Fuller, by the way. That's David Goss. that's Miquela, Gianone, and we are we're ready to play. We're wrapping the stars and stripes this morning as we should, guys. I'm not kidding when I say I woke up this morning, I was like, did it

did it happen? Was it as good as I remember? And then I watched highlights again this morning, and I was like, yep, yes, it was. A 4-1 win over Paraguay in their opening match of this World Cup. That was my phone, by the way. I'm so excited that I'm just not going to

things over. But there's so much to dive into. So much to dive into. So I just kind of want to get a sense of how you're feeling this morning. You guys did the show immediately after. And McKellie and I were talking and he was like, you're still processing what you just watched. And so it's always kind of interesting to do those shows immediately after. So how, now that you've had a few hours of sleep and to let this sink in, Mikele, how are you feeling this morning? Great. First of all, morning. This is my first morning show here. Welcome! With, if you can call that sleep, I think I barely slept two and a half hours, three hours. And you can take the arguably out of what you said. Yeah. It was the best night in USMNT history, at least in my lifetime. And I'm so happy.

I'm happy for you. I'm happy for you. I'm happy for all the American fans, all the soccer fans that have been waiting for this moment for so long. I'm, I'm happy. I'm happy for you. I'm happy for you. I'm happy for I'm getting goosebumps talking about it. I literally are. And I said this last night. And we're talking with some people last night before the game that watched the game with us here in the studio. And they were saying, I'm not feeling the World Cup.

It hasn't started yet. Like, I don't feel the atmosphere. I don't see the people. I don't see the fans. The World Cup started last night. And for me, personally, yesterday was a reminder of what being a fan means. Not having my team, my nation, Italy. here. Yesterday was like a gut in the punch watching Canada, Bosnia, because it should have been

Canada, Italy. But as a USMNT supporter last night, it like that, it gave me so much happiness, especially for my friends, for you guys. You that have dreamed as a soccer fan in the US of moments like this, because I've had it. I watch Italy winning a World Cup in 2006. You guys haven't even seen the USMNT having a night like this, let alone get. into a semifinal. So I'm really, really happy for you guys. And as a person that covered this core of players when they were really young, starting with Greg Berhalter and a couple years back, I felt like we're proud that moment. It was like, Tyler, Christian, Weston, those are my boys. I saw you grow up last night. It was super fun.

I love that, gosh. You're doing a lot of nodding. Where are you at in your head right now? I think for me, the only way to like describe how I feel is that last night we were like, it got euphoria and it was exciting. And normally then you sober up. And I feel exactly the same, what, 10 hours later, 12 hours later, four hours later, whatever it is. I think that's all you need to know. Like as the, okay, here's the reality sets in. It's actually made me more excited because it, to be Kelly's point about fandom and everything

with the World Cup and the World Cup starting, it also reminds, I've been thinking about the power of the World Cup. and just people score a goal in one moment on one day every four years and it changes everything. That's what last night was. So we'll talk about it a lot more, but like I still have that feeling 10 hours later, which I don't think is going to go away because I think it's going to increase. I think as we spend the next week with every sports commentator talking about this team, and now all of a sudden Stephen A. and Colin Coward are experts on the U.S. Men's National team, and that's why you all come here for it.

But as they go on the Kelly Clarkson show and as every influencer who does a cool little piece wants to be a part of this group and all of that, I don't think it's going to decrease. I think it's only going to increase going up to the Australia game next week. So I think that's my feeling is 10 hours later realizing the magnitude of what occurred. You said something last night on the show that really resonated with me. I know. I'm really glazing. A fan.

Glazing right now. But you talked about how the fans that are, this is their entry point. Last night was their entry point. How incredible it was. What a moment to get on board, you know, and to be a part of this sort of soccer community that we have been a part of. All of us have been a part of. But that was such an iconic performance.

And for that to be, as McKayley said to me earlier, a core memory for you. How unbelievable is that? My mother, my mother. So we're not a soccer family by any stretch. And obviously I am now married to a soccer coach. I have been fully entrenched in the soccer scene for a while. So they dabble.

My mom texted me last night. There's no way that they would ever have just put on like a world, like the World Cup match. She was like my, your dad and I are sitting here watching the World Cup. And this is your influence on us. And we are loving every second of it. And even so it just made me happy. but it kind of goes back to your point of like people are now paying attention. That was what they saw on their, you know, sort of entry point here.

And it's just a, I don't know, it feels like a very seismic moment for soccer. Talking about core memories, that's how you make new fans. Yeah. Kids that are watching the game last night, I'm sure a lot of them won that, soccer. Dot com, get me a balladoon jersey. Like, who's this guy? Go get it. Go to soccer.com.

Get your gear. Get your ballad. Now is your chance because they're going to sell out. I have friends texting me from Mexico, from Venezuela, from everywhere. Because they want to know. The USMNT and the U.S. soccer has always been something that people are intrigued of when you're not here in the U.S. Because a lot of people don't understand that, oh, the U.S. is the best at baseball,

the best at all the sports except soccer. So what's happening? So it's very complex to explain. Yeah, yeah. So last night you get at hockey, you're welcome Canada. So it's very difficult to explain why the U.S. is not what the best teams in the world, the best programs in the world on the men's side. Yeah.

And before the game last night, it's like, hey, what are we thinking? Like, who's the best player? Who are we, like, trying to look for? And then during the game, it's like, oh, my God, who's this guy Balogun? Like, what's happening? And then it's like, why is Gior reina come on off the bench? And you know, you're trying to like explain all this hurdles that this group has been going through all this roller coaster. And there have been many.

Eight years because it certainly hasn't been a linear growth. And we can talk about that obviously later. But this nation needs through soccer fans that care about the jersey, the shield. And in particular when, when I had the experience. experience of living and working in Mexico and knowing how a lot of kids that are our first generation, second generation Americans, but they grew up in a Mexican household and they become Mexican national team fans because they don't have yet that connection. They don't have that that thing that they can grab on. Now kids that maybe were in that position last night seeing

that game say, oh, this looks pretty cool, right? And you grab or I became a fan of, I became a fan of again, I'm recycling some of my thoughts. There's so many. There's so much talk about. But for example, I'm a Lazio fan. That's my club in Italy. How I became a Latzio fan. I was watching the 1994 World Cup.

I was 90 years old watching Italy. And my favorite player on that team, Giuseppe Senori, I asked my grandfather. It's like, where does that guy play? I like him. Oh, he plays a Lazio. Oh, I'm going to root for that team. There you go.

And it's the same thing with club, with country. So I think last night it's again, it's a core memory and we need more of that here in the U.S. and it's, I think, is the biggest boost. Do you know what else was? Soccer boost this country has ever had. About last night, on top of everything

that we have all just said, I think anybody, anybody certainly who is watching or listening right now knows that the social media scene amongst U.S. soccer when it's can be a dark place.

Can be rough. Can be rough. Yeah. A little toxic. Last night, there was zero discord. Everybody was on the same page for what felt like the first time ever. And that in itself felt really, really good, especially when you think about the feelings that we've had coming into this World Cup

and politically and all of those things. It was like, wow, look at this. Everybody is together and this. We are all excited. We're all hopeful. can we harness this and keep it in this beautiful shiny package and, you know, just keep it precious for as long as we possibly can. And it just felt, it just felt really nice.

It felt really nice, didn't it? My message, and you asked me this last night, just enjoy it. Don't overthink it. Like, treasure it. Because as a fan, you don't get many of these moments, except if you're a fan of Argentina, Brazil, the best teams in the world, right? So, and again, I don't want to be, like, I don't want to go in circles here and say, like, but for me, for me last night was like bittersweet. Because, again, I'm really happy, but as I finally remind me of, like, grabbing into these moments.

As an Italian or as a Venezuelan, I will kill to be the U.S. right now. I will kill to be with, like, what you guys are feeling, right? Yeah. because these are the moments that that truly, truly make your life whole as a fan. So that's what I'm saying, that I'm pretty happy for you guys because it's, it's, and it's, it's, it's truly special. And maybe the U.S. is not, I don't want to be like a party poop or anything, but we don't know what's going to happen. No, we don't.

Maybe the U.S. goes and win the whole thing. We don't know. Well, football manager told us yesterday. We're going to lose to Australia. And they were, well, yeah, but we'll take that. But football manager is right so far. But this moment. as of now, just enjoy it.

Enjoy it. Enjoy it. Yeah, there's two other things that I've been thinking about. So one is everyone immediately goes as this the greatest moment in U.S. soccer history, which is a great conversation to have. And one that I think we're going to have for the next five days. Definitely.

I think the obvious points are in 1994, Men's World Cup, here in the U.S., and the defeating Colombia, which pushes them into the knockout rounds, it puts that Brazil game on July 4th, a sold-out Rose Bowl, that's probably the first moment that American soccer arrives to anyone. For what 1990 was, shot her around the world, all of that's important. But I think for the moment, and like one moment I think I'm saying in front of the most people with the most impact.

Certainly. 1994. Then it's 1999. The Women's World Cup here, which we talked about with Canada yesterday of they're doing the reverse, Women's World Cup into a men's. Can you build and then elevate? 1999 elevated on 94. and then of course they win. So that changes things.

I would argue after that for U.S. soccer moments, as great as O2 was, it's happening at 7.30 a.m. in South Korea. And for as great as O'9 was, I would say it's the Landon Donovan goal. Yeah. But then it's 2015, the women winning in Canada, on the same time zone,

the Carly Lloyd goal, all of that. To me, 94, 99, and 15 are the top three. And then now last night comes in. think last night's bigger than the landing goal and I think it's bigger than the confed cup because it's going to be seen by more people it's going to affect more people and whatever said it they may not win the world cup you look at all the data they just clinched the next round so we just got another week at minimum of them being the front of every conversation and then being important and people being invested in people being connected so I don't know that I wouldn't say yet that

it's bigger. I think if they do that again against Australia or Turkey, because you've now sucked more people in, like the numbers are going to go up. Then it would be, I think 94 and 99 still sit ahead because of what it meant for like getting the, like I drive stick, getting into first gear is harder than getting into third gear. So what 94 and 99 did is more difficult than what's happening now, but that's where it stands. I just think this moment is bigger because of the weight of the expectations. and I was watching Maurizio Pochettino interview on the field with Jenny Taff after the game and he said the most thing the thing that I'm most proud of it's how the players responded to the expectations we're not being hyperbolic here when we're saying the whole world was watching

you're the host country alongside Canada Mexico but you are or you you were the you were the host country last night. It was the biggest game in your program history because of the expectations and the weight of those expectations. And the way that the team reacted and performed when you combine all of those things. That's why I'm saying. And again, also the cultural part. Because you gain so many fans last night. And people were talking about it. You scroll on social media and you have musicians, actors. golfers, people in the media of other sports.

You said golf and NASCAR and I made fun of it. That don't know anything about soccer. There were literally tweets or blue sky that said, I don't know anything about this, but this is awesome. Or Darren Fox memes. Right? Like it's entering mainstream culture

into other conversations that are being had online. That's when soccer it's now entering those cultural levels. I think that's why, in my opinion, it's the biggest moment. The expectations think you're spot on. And I think that because of what we've seen over the past, you know, year and a half, especially under Pachitino,

it's been so inconsistent the performances. And so I wasn't convinced necessarily. I was hopeful that they would live up to expectations. But there's always that little bit of doubt that creeps in with this group. And to see it completely squashed, to see them come out so on the front foot and they were a wrecking crew, a wrecking crew, relentless against Baraguay.

I was like, okay, okay, this is what we knew you were capable of and to watch you actually execute it right now on the biggest stage and the biggest moment was, I mean, it was perfection. And we don't have to go far. We're talking about this pregame. I remember being there. covering this team January 2019, Burr-Haltors' first camp,

the lowest point in program history. Lowest point, right? Coming of not being in Russia. Oh dear. With a lost generation, there's a big gap because you have the team that was the players that were leaving, Michael Bradley, Josie Altitor, those that didn't qualify

for 2018, and then you guys, the new core, the new young players, Weston, Tyler, Pulisic, But they're kids, they're 19, 20, 21. You don't know how they're going to develop, right? Because in this country, specifically, we get enamored about the prospect of kids. Now, everybody's talking about Kevin Sullivan and Ari Medi.

We don't know. We don't know. This is a next step. And I remember being there in Chula Vista, actually. That was in the border of San Diego and in Tijuana. And I was there for a week going every day. I was the only media person there. Every day. Nobody gave a bleep about this program, about these players.

People were mad that Berhalter was named the coach to start with after the 2018 debacle. And that was just seven years ago. Yeah. So when you said seven years, it seems like a long time, but it's nothing. in soccer terms. Yeah, in some ways it feels like yesterday. Yeah, it has been quick. And to your point of cycles, it is quick.

It's a cycle and a half from that moment to now. Yeah. And it went like that. For them to jump up. And those young guys that he talked about, they're the leaders now and they stepped up last night. They did. You said it in that first half being everywhere.

Malik Tillman, his best game ever with the US men's national team. And Doyle was on the show yesterday with us. And he did his football manager tactical piece. And he talked about what, the changes have been, which is with Alex Freeman coming into the team. He pinches in as that right centerback starting really has a right back. And Desk can get high and then Jedi can get high. And what we saw against Paraguay that worked so well is when those two players got high,

it pulled Paraguay apart. And the middle four attackers can all play everywhere. Weston can come deeper. Tillman can go higher. Tyler can cover so much ground. He can move around. We don't want Pulisic dropping in too much, but he can. and that's where Paraguay got completely lost.

And Weston and Pulis's ability to check back and then go into the depth, so to stretch the line or to give an option there, Weston's ability really to be anywhere on the field and be comfortable because he has played 19 positions for top-level teams in Champions League. You saw that come off, him and Tillman switching when they need to,

and Tyler understanding where to connect and go, a Paraguay midfield, which I made fun of you for yesterday, but is a... It's a really good mid-field. It was the strength of their team. Yeah. Diego Gomez is entering already into best player in Paraguayan history territory.

And Kubas is one of the best players in this group and has been in South America. Messi hates him for a reason. They got pulled all over the place. And Pulisic's recognition that the guy across from me gets a yellow car in the eighth minute, I can go after him. That's barbecue chicken for me now. And he went and went and went and went. And I'd say the last piece on that is the connection.

and the understanding where there was a lot of layoffs and no look passes and extra passes with, which are, I believe that the next guy is making the run. And that was the final piece to get them to these finishing opportunities. I got so many messages from friends, especially in Venezuela, playing in Comewold. Paraguay is not this bad. It's not, it's, the U.S. made Paraguay look this bad. To give you some quick numbers, Alfaero, their current coach. when he took over this team was for the last 12 games of qualifiers.

They were next to last below Venezuela. They lost just one game of the last 12th in Brazil, one zero. They allowed under him on the last 12 matches. Five goals. Eight goals. The US score four on that. Three on the first half. And so the Paraguay we saw last night is not the Paraguay.

that we saw on qualifiers, at least on that last stretch, but all the credit to the U.S. that they made Paraguay look that bad. And what you were saying, the work that Tyler did at midfield with Tillman, who I believe was best on the field, the work he did covering ground and winning duels at midfield, with Freeman covering for desk, we've seen this, like when it's in possession, Freeman stays and it's back three. Pulisik and Desk,

I don't think they were never, ever, on their own half. They stayed up and that forced Paraguay for the fullbacks to stay in. And they capitalized on every mistake. Paraguay was slow. Cubas never got... I don't think I ever saw Cuba's...

No, no. The central midfield for Paraguay never touched the ball. They were never in the game. It was basically tried to get the ball to Almiro and CISO, and immediately they were surrounded by two, three American players.

Again, I don't want to be hyperbolic, but as a performance, I think this is the best World Cup game that the USMMT has ever played. Yeah. I couldn't agree more. I couldn't agree more. We've got a lot more to dive into on the US,

and this segment is presented by our wonderful partner, wonderful partner, Soccer.com, who hooked us up with some absolutely incredible kits. Don't wait. Visit soccer.com for the widest selection of World Cup product. Free shipping, guys. on orders over $49.

I got to say, this kid in person, it's great. It's so good. I love it so much better in person. Yeah, me too. You wear it well, Nikale. I wear everything. Okay, so let's talk a little bit more about who's shown last night on the big stage. And you mentioned Malik Tillman, who I agree.

I think that was his absolutely best performance. He's quickly becoming a very important player for this U.S. Men's National Team. I also want to talk about the guy who is now leading the golden boot race in the World Cup in Phelaren Baligan. He, I think over the past, I guess maybe year you could say, has evolved into the striker that we had hoped he would be when he committed to the U.S. We were all so excited when he declared that he was going to play for this country. and I think there was, and I will be completely honest, I was a little bit critical of him early on

and some of the performances. But my goodness, his finishes last night. When you see what he is able to do in the final third, in the box, like it is, that is the striker that we have needed. I am elated by the performance. No, it's huge. It's so, you know, if you're watching on YouTube, If you're listening on podcast, we love you.

Thank you. But you can also watch us. We put up the graphic. I mean, yeah, we're two days in. Only four games been played. But like an American is the Golden Boot leader right now at a World Cup. Don't know that that's ever been the case, ever. So that's like exciting on it.

Maybe Eric Winaldo was for a day in 1994. I'm probably wrong about that. Although they weren't their opening games. So that's huge. That's awesome. That's massive. I think to the point on Bolligan, he knows his skill. He knows his, his,

his craft. And I think you see it on the third goal where he gets nudged. He loses it a little. Some players would go down. There's a chance you get a PK. There's a chance you get a red card. He knows that if he can get on the ball and in his spot, he will finish, right? That's the great ones in the world, which are I don't need it perfect and I don't need everything. If I can get my feet set, if I can get my shoulders over the ball, I'm going to finish against anyone in the world. And he does that in a way that very few Americans have ever done. I do think, Peppie's in that category as well, but Boligin can find goals in more ways. Pepe was the only one to me last night who looked a little bit shell-shocked.

He looked bad. By the occasion. He looked like he played for Canada in the game. And it's a big game. It's a big moment. We'll talk about the pressure coming up in a moment. So that's the thing with Bolligan is you feel that the amount of goals he can score. It is right foot, left foot.

It's from distance. It's the creative finish, which is I went quicker than the goal. are expected, but it's also the class finish, which is I put it in that spot that he can't save. And you add on top of that, he finds goals. He has a goal, if that's not known goal in the opening, right? So he reads Pulisic's movement and he leaves to vacate the space, so there's enough space for Pulisic to work. And then Westing comes and fills some of it to help push it along. That is understanding that movement. That's a tapping goal, right? So in theory, he could have had a hat trick, and it would have been a tapping goal, and then the creative goals. And that's

the full package for a center forward. And the U.S. has had some great players up top. Brian McBride, Clint Mathis, Clint Dempsey when he played there, Josie Altadour. Josie's probably the one who had the full bag, was never really fit in the big moments, unfortunately. But what Bolligan has in every single aspect is something that the U.S. has never had before. Balagan started really well his USMENT career. He's on the Nations League under B.J. Callahan.

When this team for the first time. dad. What's the saying that the step up? Yeah, yeah, not the step dad that stepped up. BJ. We love BJ Callahan. So when this team changed the, so this is when after the 2022 World Cup, this Nation's League 2023, when BJ Callahan gets this team out of nowhere, like with two weeks to go before

Nation's League, Balagon is coming in. And for the first time, the USMNT on paper, the 433, but that's the first time that they implemented, truly just kept Christian on the wing, Christian Polisic, and having a 10 with Gio Reina. And Balogon, and we had this conversation on, I think the last time we were with Doyle, when I think it was after the Senegal game.

Yeah, Senegal game, where we're talking about who should be playing Pepey or Balogun, right? And we saw the best version of Balogon, And this is where the team under Burrhalter, Balogun was struggling. Because Pepe, it's the number nine that the Berhalter system needed. The number nine that bounces back. In Spanish, it's a direct translation. I don't know exactly how to say it.

But like, play with your back to the goal. Combine, right? Like when we saw against Senegal, and he combined. grade with Pulisick on the first half. Balagon is a different player. Balogon is going to run through lines. You've got to feed him the ball, right? You got to give him the ball.

You got to try to get him on space to do what he did last night. And under Berhalter, where the team was trying to play through Christian, that connection was never there. And that's why Christian Pulisick, before this game, looked better with Pepe or with number nine's that he can't

connect and playoff, right? And last night we saw with Christian on the wing and Weston and Malik creating that game through the mid-channel where you can feed Ballo in a different way and keeping Descent and Christian out wide and being those threats. If the U.S. is going to keep playing that way, then Balogon is your nine and he can be a war class night. I don't think we're saying nothing. He can be.

Yeah. I mean, he's one of the leading scores in Ligon. He plays for one of the biggest. in the world. So obviously it's not like tier one hurricane, Robert Lewandosk, et cetera. But I don't think he's that far off. But you need the team to play a certain way, like the USMNT play last night, for him to be effective. Yeah.

Right. So I think he can be very effective. And it's two goals. And you say, well, he's leading the Golden Boot as of now. The last, I think, four or five World Cup, the Golden Boot is five or six. Yeah. But this is different. an extra game.

Right, but... And in theory, some of these groups could be pretty bad. Right. One team of these groups could be pretty bad. Yeah, but still, I mean... Yeah, it's probably going to be between eight. My guess is between eight and ten this year. Yeah.

So Hamas won it with five in 14, but again, different format. So, yeah, you're not wrong. If he can sneak two more goals in the group stage, he's going to be a legitimate contender for the Golden Boot at this World Cup. It's the first American to score multiple goals in a single World Cup match since 1930. That's like... I... Hurt?

Pat Nod. Yeah, I think it's underrated. I thought Pat and Ad was really good that year. Yeah. So I thought that I expected that one. Watched him with your own eyes. If you watch our 1930 pregame show that we did. We go back.

You basically said. I feel like I was gassing him up right in between cranking my car. Hey, we made the mid-simifinals that year, 1930. There you go. There you go. And the boat ride back was glorious. Man, there's so much, how much time do we? There's so much more to dive into.

Luckily, we have a daily show. We do have a daily show. Okay. So we can, because I want to. talk about Gio Raina. I want to talk about Chris Richards. There's, yeah, but we have other things to talk about. Giorina is at Burlter. We've got a photo of them being happy after the game. No bad blood there, guys.

Everyone loves women. Yeah, everyone loves winning. But just a few quick little nuggets before we move on. That is the most goals the U.S. Men's National team has ever scored in a World Cup match for, which is so, like, this is just. No, everything we're talking about is unprecedented for them. And kind of in the group say, it's,

someone on TV yesterday. I said it's the best group stage performance ever, which is wild. And I had said on the show last night, so we're going to be doing a live post game show for every USM and T game. So if you're just hearing this, we will be there on soccer wise every time. I love it.

Couldn't remember last time they'd be a Commonwealth team. It was 1994 against Columbia. Okay. It was the Andresescuar own goal, which got them qualified into the next round. I think one of the things is the US because they're cockat c and the pot one seat. They normally don't get a Commonwealth team.

So it's like pretty rare to play a team like that, which I think also goes to, what they were able to like get through. There's not a ton of experience. Obviously the U.S. and Paraguay played in a friendly last year. Yeah. And that's a credit to U.S. soccer.

I think you could have gamed out the draw a little bit and said, who could we play? The fact that they played all three of the teams in their group over the last 12 months, that's like a positive. So that's a credit to someone in a group that I don't think we give a ton of credit too often, which fairly we don't. But that's an odd of the cap to them. And yeah, there's a, I mean, 71% possession in the first half, wild.

65 over the course of the game. So just fully dominant. And Chris Richards. 83 for 83. Perfecto. Perfecto. In his passes. And which was because he was, there was questions about whether or not how, you know,

they said he was going to be available, but coming off of that ankle injury, you just don't know. And you don't know if Pachitino was going to save him for later, but he got the start and was so effective, did not look like he was hampered at all by this injury. And there was just, when Chris Richards is back there, there's such a sense of calmness and ease that I think he gives him alongside Tim Rame have been such an extraordinary centerback pairing. And it bleeds into the midfield and then our attack. And it's just when you have that sense of calm and those beautiful passes that are so confident and direct, it just sets the tone. And I think Chris Rich, like, it was so wonderful to see him perform at the highest level.

I was afraid the injury was going to play a part. Yeah, no, he looked fully himself. And we sort of talked about it last night because it was like, oh, well, when do you get him off? Like, when do you protect him? I wonder if because the group stage is so far apart that it actually became a fitness thing, which was let's, he missed the end of the season with Crystal Palace. Let's get him match minutes to get him sharp. because when you get to the group stage, it goes if they were to continue in like five days and then four days of rest.

Where right now it's literally seven days between games, which is unheard of. And then that's like a normal regular season. So I think that's where they probably landed on that was the game's going well. It's in a good game state. Let's actually play him the full. So these starts to work his way back in live minutes, which is impossible to do. The other note in all of that is Christian Pulis. It comes off at halftime.

He said he got kicked in the calf going into the halftime, didn't feel great. the reports, you know, at the game where that he came out said to his family, I feel okay. In postgame, Pocetino said the same thing. Pulisic said the same thing. He said, let's hope it's fine. You know, it was the best half of soccer. I mean, we're talking about it's the best game he's ever played. He only played 45 minutes.

That's how dangerous he was. That's how good he was. He had an assist. He should have had two if it's not the own goal. So there's a lot to be excited about. I will leave it with this because we'll talk about Australia later. I think it's not the worst case in the world after this game. If he does miss a game, that it's that game.

Yeah. I just think there's ways for the U.S. to go about it. And this is where you feel good about the death on this team. And we were talking about this. The 2022 team didn't have depth, especially at those positions. There was nobody behind Pulisic. It was, again, an abyss behind him on the bench, the options. Midfield behind Tyler, Weston, and Musa, an abyss.

Yeah. This team, you have options. You can rest if you need Pulisic and you... you feel good about it. Because you can play Malik Tillman there, then you can slort in Berhalter or Gio from the beginning if you want to be more offensive. You have

Alexendejas. If you want to play a true winger, you have Brenner-Rond's and another true winger. So you have options. This team is so much deeper than the 2022 that if you, and if you say against Australia, having this result on your back, hey, you know what? We're just

going to give Christian Poulis a little rest. We're just going to play Tyler 45 minutes. I don't know. I'm just giving you scenarios, right? And this is why, and it's going to sound as a cliche, because before this game, and the same goes for Mexico, the most important thing you can do in your opener is winning.

It doesn't matter if you play ugly, if you play bad, if you win one zero with just one shot on goal, getting the three points on a World Cup with the expectations, with the nerve, with the pressure. and because Mexico got booed for a little bit. Yeah. Stadio's second during the second half. Insane.

Insane. So those are the pressure that, for example, a Mexico team and under that culture is outright. You're winning at home, your World Cup opener, and you're getting booed because you're winning one zero against playing 11B10 at that moment. But after the game, Alvaro Fidelgo, one of the starters, said, yeah, we need to be better. and we need to make adjustments,

but it's better to make adjustments with three points on the back that having to make adjustments with the pressure of one or zero points in the back. With the USMMMD, you got both. A great game, and now you can play a little bit if you need to with rest

or giving players opportunities, right? Why not? The data says that the US has a 99.9% chance of advancing right now. I love that. Yeah, that's a pretty good number. I love that for all of us. I think that's a good number. All right, before we moving along to a Canada conversation,

I just also want to say, really love Pachitino's fit last night in his whole. As someone who dresses a professional soccer coach. As somebody who does dress, it is part of my job to be Ian Fuller's stylist. So I pick out all his touchline fits. Really enjoyed what Pach was rocking last night. It was very cash.

Yeah. You know, it looked like a fisherman kind of buttoned-down shirt and he's letting his hair grow. So it's got a little flow. I got a text. He says he looks more like Russell Crow every day. He really does, actually. Yeah.

In the World Cup, it'll be a good movie. But I feel like his whole vibe kind of set the tone. Yeah. And I'm very excited to see what he brings back. I went into it. Like it's more polished? No, it won't.

You got to keep the vibe to see him. Also, it's the hottest World Cup ever, so he's got to stay cool. He looked great. Did you catch the replay when he went to celebrate with the players after the Gios school? Yes. Yeah.

That was pretty cool. That was awesome. I know. And it's funny because we don't, we haven't really see that side of him. That was a very Jose Marino sort of moment for Maritio Pachitino. And I loved it. I loved to see what it meant to him. It was very, very cool.

All right, guys. Again, we have a daily show every day, 9.30 a.m. There is going to be so much more to talk about when it comes to this U.S. men's national team. But let's move it along to Group B and another host nation, Canada, taking on Bosnia-Ugovina in their first match of this World Cup. They end up sharing the points. It was a 1-1-draw. Kyle Laren coming off the bench,

getting the equalizer late in the second half. It's the first point in FIFA World Cup team history for Canada. So that's something. We're going to focus on the positives at first. But I will say on watching this match, and I think you basically said the same thing, There were just so many chances that they had. And it was, I felt a little disappointed for them, for the fans that were in,

because the scenes were awesome in Toronto, that they didn't get all three. I felt like they should have walked away with three points. I think the thing we should walk away from this is how hard this is. And I think that's one of the things that got skewed late last night with the U.S. is the pressure and stress of being a home team opening a World Cup. Canada had a 1.23xG just taking a number. Mexico at 1.4. Like, I don't think Mexico was great.

South Africa played into a mistake. And credit to Mexico, they started pressing high early. And Quinoes gets the finish. Like the U.S. They score early. Right. The pressure is off. And Canada obviously is the reverse.

But my point would be in the soccer that was played. I thought Mexico looked very similar to Canada. Canada played, and you said this, Canada played the best opponent of the three hosts. By far. I think by far. Bosnia by far. Right. So you look at two hosts get a way.

win and then you look at a Bosnia-Herzegovina team and maybe it's an Italy fan talking but they are the best team of those three they're the most dangerous they are they have the best structure they have the best talent and so I think you just saw how hard this is and I don't think we should lose sight of that and so for Canada a one-one draw is not ideal but I think it's acceptable and it doesn't change the fact that I have every belief that Canada could beat Switzerland so this game it wasn't played out in a way in which you're like oh this team's not at the level and we actually overcompensated for them or anything. I just think this is the nature of what you get on the field of these big moments and you play it up. Some of the injuries still hurt

this team. I think having Alfonso Davies yesterday would have been a game changer. I thought Ali Ahmed was very good off the bench. He was a starter when he got hurt. I wouldn't be shocked if he becomes a starter again to bring a little bit more balance to this team. I think he does more things than a Liam Miller and Tejohn, you got to figure out when and where you want to use him. but for Canada, outside of the set piece goal, they concede, the backline looked pretty good. That's a huge question mark for them. Maxime Crapo, not great on the goal.

Otherwise, fine in this game. And outside of the opening five, six minutes, and then the goal on a set piece, Canada controlled the game. And that's where it's going to be a little bit hard for them, is are you a high-pressing team? If you are, it's hard against a low-block group. And as a home team, what are opponents going to give you?

How are opponents going to play you? they're going to have to figure that out. But I think you got to remember to the history you said of like how unknown this is for everyone in Canadian soccer what happened yesterday. And so getting that first ever result, which you hope then becomes the first ever win. Last World Cup, they scored the first ever goal in three losses. Like it's not all going to jump, but it could get there. I don't want to be simplistic and take anything away from what you said.

but sometimes it's as simple as their best players didn't perform. Their Balligan, who is Jonathan David, had a terrible game. Yeah. And he missed a couple of chances. He has more responsibility than Balligan. It's harder for him. But his job is to score goals. Unfortunately, not exactly the way the team set up, but yes, his best skill set was the thing

that fell to him on the top of the penalty box. But what's his number one job? To score goals. I think this is part of what Jesse has gotten wrong. I think this is part of, I wouldn't start Tanny alongside him because now he becomes the 10 and he drops in, he's trying to create the game, he's trying to connect where his best skill set is to be the finisher.

He plays at Jube, and that means something. Ismael Coney. I think he was terrible yesterday. He was not on the ball as much as he needs to. I thought he looked scared and rattle in the first half, the pressure. I don't know, but he was never on the ball. And Canada's goal came when he came on the ball and created a chance. Canada needs Kone and Jonathan did to be better. Like the U.S. needs Balogun and Pulisik and McKenny to play like they did last night. Again, they played

a really good team that they were not going to sit back like South Africa against Mexico or Paraguay against the U.S. You saw that Bosnia, when Bosnia has the ball, They want to be aggressive. They want to go forward. They have two great wingers. They have really strikers. And I just think Canada didn't, there are some individuals on the Canada side. Again, David and Conn, need to be better.

They need to be better for Canada to transcend in this World Cup. Because they should have won last yesterday. Yeah, I think they didn't take risk. I think Connay struggled to this touch. I think Ustakia wasn't as dangerous as he could have been, where that's where his passing can open up the game a little bit. And then as you start to be more dangerous, it gives more space for Johnston and Luray to get into the attack,

which I didn't think they were able to do as much as they'd like to. But it's building blocks, and I think it's a first building block that you'll take because the job is to get out of the group for the first time ever and to play in a knockout game and to win a knockout game. And so they didn't do, they didn't hurt themselves. Like Bosnia is one of the three better teams in this group. that, you know, right now kind of has a 65% chance of getting out of the group.

That's a pretty high number. You'll take that risk. The assumption is they'll beat Qatar. And it comes down to the Switzerland game. If you get a draw, do you set yourself up? It does it become a goal differential game? If you get a win, now you're in the driver's seat of the group. And all of that is still a possibility for this team.

It's fingers crossed that Alfonso Davies comes back. And it's not just from a talent point of view. I think part of what Jonathan David struggles with when he's not out there is like, It's just a lot of pressure on the guys. And I think Alfonso Davies is sort of this like everyone feels lifted a little bit when he's a part of things. For the scene, I think the crowd will as well, especially in Vancouver. Like this is the game in Toronto. Now they go out to Vancouver.

That's his home city. You know, well, he's from Edmonton. That's his home club. Like that could just be this huge boost. So I think there's a lot to be excited about still. I know for the people in the building that I know, the text I was getting was one day. It was one day. It was just the emotion.

of the experience, the crowd around it, the red in the stadium, the energy of the game. I think you could feel it through the TV that after they conceded, the crowd sort of lifted the team and came for them. And incredible goal from Kyle Iron. This is a guy who led all of the world in World Cup qualifying goals in 2022, the last time Canada had to qualify. So this is not like a flash in the pan off the bench, bounced around a little bit now, PSVidenhoven in Spain, and then obviously with Salomon.

Hampton this year, so it hasn't been perfect. But this is, he's really good at the thing he did. And so he finds a space. The turn is amazing. And it's those special moments that open up the game. And then the two cleared off the line. I mean, the one of them that's cleared up off the crossbar and out. That thing's a goal. The other one, a bit of a soft header and a scramble moment cleared away. But that ball cleared off the line. That's a goal 85, 95% of the time. And then Canada's up to one. So I think overall you come out of this and I think watching Mexico and Canada and the U.S., you have to say, it makes me more impressed by what the U.S. did just because of how hard it is to deal with all of this stuff. But I think in general, all three teams will take where they sit right now, South Korea as well.

And then moving into today, we're going to start to get a feel of what the World Cup feels like outside of this unique fact that three different hosts at ceremonies and moments and national anthems and all that stuff. Yep. As you mentioned, all three hosts now have played. Should we take a look at the group standings? We can take a look at the group standings. Yeah. And Mexico sitting on top with South Korea, Bosnia and Canada tied on one and the U.S. sitting on top of their group. It does look pretty. Yeah. Also, our graphics rule. Yeah. If you guys, if you're watching this, yeah, you've got a bit of eye candy right now. And we're really happy about this. It's so good. If we go over, by the way, Derek, him with the computer, as he loves to do. I do have this video, which this is sort of the like the redux of the Landon-Dondon video that we put together.

We put it out on our first touch account. And there are clips from all over the country. People watching fan parties. We're so excited to be linked up with A.O. For this World Cup, if you have never been to an A.O. watch party, I guarantee you there is a bar within driving distance or public transportation distance of your place. So go check them out. And I think it's going to be like a huge buoy. and then this was, of course, as well, all over the country.

Fans in Knoxville, Tennessee, baby. Kern's Food Hall. If you're in Knoxville. Oh, you know it is. Oh, my gosh. It is an unbelievable place. Check it out. This is the type of thing which this is just going to grow.

First of all, the Australia game, Friday, 3 p.m. Eastern time, everyone's getting off work. If school's not already done, everyone's getting out of school. Like, this is what we talked about last night, which is this now only grows. and everyone needed a reason to opt in, and this team gave them a reason to opt in. Thank you, Derek. And now it's just going to get bigger and bigger as it goes along. So make sure to follow us on social, Instagram, and Blue Scott, and YouTube.

And then, yeah, make sure to go out to a watch party. Do the thing. All right, guys. Should we get into some match previews? Let's do it. We've got a date. Four games today. Well, yeah, four.

And then we've got the one at midnight, which has thrown me off. What counts us today? Is that today? It's technically tomorrow. If I didn't go to sleep. Fott mom says it's tomorrow. And that's what's messing me up. What is sleep.

Yeah, exactly. It's the World Cup, baby. You do this once. Got to grind for the next month. I know. Sleep on your dad. Okay, so the first match we have today. The 3 p.m. match is Qatar.

Yeah. First Switzerland. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. In the Canada group, in the Bosnia group, to me, it's very clear. Qatar is one of the three or four worst teams at this World Cup. Okay.

If they weren't going to, They've won Asian Cups both sides of hosting a World Cup where they got smoked. So winning the Asian Cup doesn't convince me that they've gotten better. They've had a little World Cup experience, but playing on the road versus playing at home can't be a bigger boost. And this is a Switzerland team undefeated over their last eight games. They are not, to me, elite, even though they've contended at times in Nations League and Euros. But they are. I mean, this is the easiest game to call of the day.

Yeah, I'll be shocked if Qatar gets a point in this, in this World Cup. I'd be shocked because they got a goal in this game. And it's obviously a good test to see where Switzerland is because all due respect with Bosnia, Canada's biggest rival on this group is Switzerland, right? Yeah. And it's going to be the last game of the group stage. So it's going to probably decide who's going to go on top. And we already know how important with this format is winning your group.

Yeah. And I firmly believe that this. should be nothing is easy in the World Cup but Switzerland should have no issues with Goddard today. And I think for the Swiss what you're trying to get going here

is Dan Endoy, Ruben Vargas, the two attacking pieces that will sit outside the striker in front of what is a really strong central midfield. That's the creativity, that's the flare. That's where Switzerland has struggled

at the top moments. They can hang with teams, they can stay compact. I think Akanji's as good as anyone in the world. And consistently over the last 20 years, they've had one of the best goalkeepers on the planet. And Zaka has been, you know, a mainstay. But it's that creativity in big games.

And so this is the type of game where you want to get confidence. You want to get flowing. And I think that's where you look to Endo. You look to Vargas. If Noah Okofor gets on the field as well, those are guys who can make magic and make the game happen, especially if Switzerland is the, you know, better team where they will be in large parts of this group. I think you have to find ways to get on the half turn. to get 1V1 in the channels and beat players

and so that you can open up the game a little bit more. And that's the guys that I'm looking at. And this is the perfect way to start a World Cup of like just pour it on. And if you can get that flowing, that's the way you go into the next game. Love it. All right.

Let's move it along to Brazil taking on Morocco. That is at 6 p.m. This one is all about vibes. But before we get into the game, let's get into this next segment presented by soccer.com. Make sure you visit soccer.com for the widest selection of World Cup product, free shipping on orders over $49. Okay, let's look at some kits.

We've got a lot of kits to talk about at this World Cup. Yes. We are all wearing U.S. kits. Derek, if you throw me on here, on Soccer.com, which is a great source to just like enjoy the World Cup and be there. This is already built as this kit matchup. That's elite. You've got the Brazil classic yellows.

Iconic, right? Iconic. It's the most iconic. It's the most iconic soccer. And I will add, even if you want the Brazil away, which is this blue. And if you're listening to via podcast, go to soccer.com and look it up. But it's this blue with this sort of like black and dark, iconic as well. And then you go into this Morocco kit and listen, I'm a sucker for a collar at all times.

So the red has this like tiny little collar, which I will go. The white though is also super impressive. Is that a camo print? It's like a. I think it's supposed to be some tile design pattern from Moron. in culture. Yeah. Which is sick as well.

And the goalkeeper is the camo. Oh, that is. Yeah, the tile. Oh my goodness. So this is, this is in our elite.

I think on Monday we're going to do a full, like here's the top five matchups coming up. This week. Yeah, but this one we would have missed. And I think we didn't want to miss this one. It's right. Because this is it.

So saga. com had it on the front page because they know what's good. And you should go out there and check out some of the kids. But yeah, this one is. I saw it last night,

by the way, on the train home. Oh, Yeah. So I passed a huge group of Brazilians who got on the train. Everyone's wearing the yellow kit. Like, that's one of those things where in Brazil, it's like you wear them like four days a week all year.

And then I passed a huge group of Morocco fans all in the red kit. Oh, cool. So it's going to be a party. I know. Brazil plays. When Brazil plays, it's a party. It's the most iconic, the most important national team ever in this sport. It's the most recognizable kit.

It has the best player in World Cup. history in Pelle. And it's weird not knowing what to expect from Brazil. The first time in my lifetime that when you ask me who the favorite is or who the favorites

are, Brazil doesn't come like right away. You say France, Germany, Spain first before Brazil. Brazil can get eliminated on the round of 32 or win the whole thing, and I wouldn't be surprised of any outcome. Brazil has always

always been the best team on the planet. Since my first core memory is Brazil 94, winning, the final against Italy. Then 98, when the world discovered Ronaldo, the best Ronaldo, losing that final against France. Then 2002, in my opinion, the best World Cup team I've ever seen. And alongside Brazil 1970, the best team of all time, Prime Kaffoo, Prime Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo, Ronaldino, Prime Ronaldo. A young Kaka was coming from the bench. Denielsen, you remember the Nielsen coming from the bench?

Anyways, I could go on and on. Beating Germany. That fantastic Germany with Oliver Kahn on goal with Michael Ballack, with Miloslav Kloz. And then you start seeing a little bit of like the struggles that the team had. and then the now the first memory of Brazil is going to 2014

eating 7 7 1 in semi-final against Germany but that still was playing at home you will say like they were the favorites then 2018 again you start seeing like it's Neymar at his peak but it's like Neymar plus 10 there's like a lost generation you know compared with Ronaldo Rivaldo

Ronaldo Ronaldo, Leonardo etc and now honestly it's just a flip of the coin. Like, I don't even know who should start as number nine. Everything indicates that it's going to be Cunia, Manchester United player. I should, I will start Andrick. I think he's the best number nine that he,

the best that, the best striker on the last two friendlies that they play. We don't know what Benetius we're going to get. Are we getting the good Benetius? Are we getting the bad Benetrikes? I have confidence. I have confidence. Because of Carlo.

Yeah. Before, And that was my next point. Like you have the individual pieces. You have a really good midfield with Casimir and Bruno Gimaraes, Raffina. You can trust him. And my next point was, but you have a proven coach. It's his first experience as a national team coach.

But we know that Carl Ancelot is one of the top three, five coaches of all time in soccer, European soccer, at this, in my opinion. But my point is, I don't know what the ceiling is. Yeah. And to play Morocco in your first game, that's one of the biggest tests you're going to get on the whole world. Yeah, so my finalist at the last World Cup. I think it was Kaffu who said like Brazil actually overperforms when there's less expectations. It's very hard to say that because there's always expectations.

But like there is less right now. And I think there's a hope that maybe they're in a little bit of different mental space and experience around them because they didn't come in saying like all you can do is lose this World Cup. that's how 06, right? They went into the World Cup and 14 probably as well of like all you, it's expected you win, so all you could do is lose. We're here, it's like, we don't really know what to think. So now you get to be a little bit more maybe of the aggressor and maybe you can go out and sort of like feel like you can attack things. And I think Venetius is obviously in that mental space if he's in the right spot where he's trying to prove himself, he's trying to elevate himself. I do think all of that is why Namar got called in to try and like take some of

that pressure as an individual to him and away from the team. He's officially. unavailable for this game, which is not a shock. I would have Zhao Pedro on this team. I would actually probably be starting him in this game. So I understand the issues that people have with that. But I think that's where the hope for Brazil. And then on the flip side for Morocco, I was lucky enough to go to a Morocco game at a World Cup eight years ago.

So I know the crowd's going to be nuts for this one. And we saw the friendly in New Jersey last week packed with Morocco fans. I think this thing's going to be yellow and red split down the middle. And I think it's going to be packed to the gills. it's going to be loud, it's going to be electric. And this is a Morocco team that has huge expectations, but also huge question marks. They had their coach in Wili Dragari, who took them to a semi-final step down after an AFCON.

They technically won after all the issues. But watch that AFCON. They didn't play free. And they didn't elevate their game. I think the hope coming out of 2022 was, let's become a more possession team. Let's find ways to dominate games. Let's find ways to be the better team. And they've not progressed there.

And so you still sit in a spot now where can they stay clean defensively? Can they get Hakemi into the attack? Can they get numbers forward and get on the end of things? Not can they play through you? Can they ball progress consistently? Can they find triangles in the attacking third? I think that's fine because there's so much talent here. And they are so good at that that if they lean into that, they can be dangerous.

And I think this is an interesting game to start with where you're playing against in a big test. But also Brazil is going to focus on shutting Hakeem. me down. So who else can step up? Who else can be a part of this? Barheim Diaz, I think there's huge expectations on. In theory, if you go back and think about it, he didn't miss the penalty. Like Morocco actually had a chance at the Afcon final to just win the game after all the things happened. He missed the penalty that Senegal then went on and won the game. Then Morocco complained or CAF complained and then it got overturned. That's huge pressure that he now has to deal with. They drew Norway 1-1 in the friendly last week,

and it was a game where they had less possession, they were hard to play against, they create chances against the ball. So that's still who they are at this World Cup. And they just need to accept that, because if they do it well, they can go all the way to a semi-final or a final. What do we categorize Morocco as?

I think they're a dark-horse convo. They were certainly a dark horse in 2022 and had an exceptional run. And I feel like the conversations around them heading into this World Cup was like, well, no, they have now maybe established themselves as they've shed the dark horse label. But the way we're talking about it now, it feels like, okay, there's still, to your point, Goss, there's more questions than at as opposed to 2022 when it was just sort of this like, but going to, almost a surprise.

Yeah, I mean, yeah, which I think is also part of the problem was like they weren't. elevated but at that time like they probably should have been the amount of money they've put in over the last six years is astronomical to change the player pool a little to be less reliant on dual nationals that are raised abroad to bring in more of the domestic game obviously they're hosting the 2030 men's world cup they have hosted back-to-back women's afcons they've hosted a u17 world they have built the most fields of any country in the world like they are investing heavily in this sport that's where it's upsetting that where they're not where they are Except have a good tournament here so that you set yourself up to then spend the next four years building and being in the spot on the style-wise that you want to be at a home world cup in 2030.

I think for me this one is about results. And this is a team with a group talented enough to get the results. And so I wouldn't if I was them stressed about any of the other stuff. But when you're talking about results, are you talking semifinal? Yeah. Again. Yeah. Quarter final.

Semifinal. Go up against big teams. I mean, just say that they're coming from a semifinal. And all you mentioned, all the investment, anything less a semifinal, on paper will be at this point. I'm asking, I'm asking. It's single elimination international tournaments. I don't think if you, the one goal that switches between one and another game, right,

the goal you beat Spain on that maybe you lose to Spain in this World Cup in a quarterfinal, to me that doesn't change the amount of work you're doing. The other thing I would say is the work they're doing, the players that got them to the 2022 World Cup semifinal were not built in their system. So the work they're doing is building a pipeline that then has to get all the way to affecting the senior national team, which is not a four-year process.

That's a 12-year process, an 18-year process. And while they do that, they can continue to fill in and they continue to do a great job recruiting Spanish-born players, French-born players, Belgian-born players. So I think that's okay. And I would say, yeah, if they get to a quarterfinal, it's not, to me. I agree. I agree.

Not getting to a quarter final would be a disappointment, in my opinion. But like, then being disappointed if they don't make them a final or a final, winning the whole thing. I think that's too much to us from Morocco. I don't know. I'm with you. I don't think they should be called dark horses. Yeah. I will put the U.S.

Do you consider Croatia or Norway as dark horses? Because we already have a big expectation. Do you consider Croatia a favorite? No. Did you consider them a favorite last time? No. They went to a World Cup final in 2018. They went to a Euro final or whatever, a Nations League final.

And they were still considered dark horses. So Morocco, I think, should be in the same territory. No one wins a World Cup for a first time. France did it, what, 28 years ago at this point? And they're the only ones that were the first new world. Oh, sorry, Spain. Sorry, Spain, 2010. I'm wrong, 16.

It takes a long time. Very few countries have ever done this. So I think to elevate into favorite category because of one tournament run is not unfair, but I think it's actually unfair to them because then it puts expectations that I don't think should be there. Turkey went to the O2 World Cup semifinal and didn't get back to a World Cup till now. Yeah. South Korea hasn't won a knockout game since O2. Like this doesn't happen.

I don't talk about O2. Okay, fine. That was a crime. That was criminal. Oh, yeah. Of all the things of criminal that have happened on a field in soccer, Italy's the victim. I was going to say Spain too. Yes.

Spain was even worse. Yes, it was. Spain, South Korea was even worse than Italy, and that was egregious. I'm very excited because I know we're writing the USMNT hype, and last night was unbelievable. But today we get one of the big ones playing. Yeah. And when you see Brazil, okay, now, like, here we go. Yes.

Here we go. Brazil is playing on a World Cup. two friends that they just flew to Brazil to a wedding they got there yesterday I told them you have no idea where you're gonna live no when Brazil or when you're in Argentina or in Brazil or in I play like this during a World Cup game it's it's it's it's I can't put it into words I was in Argentina for a World Cup game and it's being the most during the game is the most surreal thing you can go through.

When I'm telling you, nobody is in the street. It's not like, no, there's people like walking their dogs, eating out. Yeah. No one is in the street. Everybody's plucked into a TV. Argentina and Brazil, I always get, I remember this when I was a kid. I had a soccer coach that was telling me, it's like, what's the number one sport in Brazil and Argentina?

And it's like, soccer. No, you're wrong. It's volleyball. Why? Because soccer is not a sport. It's religion. Wow. So now we get Brazil in the World Cup. Now I'm like, chills. And Brazil, Morocco on paper is probably the one of two or three best group stage.

Alongside Uruguay, Colombia and Portugal. No, no, Colombia, Portugal. In Miami and Uruguay, Spain. Which are the end of the group stage was a little tough. Germany, Ecuador. Yeah. Those are the three, four, five best. games in group stage and getting it right now, I'm very excited.

Yeah, no, I feel this. I'm very excited. It has felt real, but this is like, oh, we're here, baby. We're here. Really hype for this one. 6 p.m. kickoff, Easter time for Brazil versus Morocco. What time did the Knicks play tonight? 8.30.

Okay, so. Yeah, right there. This is perfect. I've got a one-knox game sandwich in between here, so this is going to be. That's an easy W. We say that. Done. Check it all.

All right, guys. The 9 p.m. match we'll see Haiti taking on Scotland. And I know we talk about vibes a lot on the show, but this is just a vibes heavy match because I adore both of these fan bases so much. The Haitian fans are just wonderful and so buoyant and so passionate. The Tartan Army are insane. We've gotten a little taste of them here in New York City. I know this match is going to be in Foxborough, but they have apparently just completely taken over Boston. But this is a big moment for both of these countries.

And so I think, you know, as excited as we are to see these two teams in a World Cup, what's it going to look like on the pitch, especially if Scott McTameney is still suffering from his little tummy. Tummy issue for Scotland. They're all freaking out about this, by the way. Of the Scottish team wasn't even born the last time they were on a World Cup, 1998. And it's for a country like Scotland, and when we talk about, you know, that they've always been like the little brother to England.

Of course, yeah. And it's always been like, why is England so good? And Scotland, Ireland, Wells are not at that level, right? So having Scotland, a team that doesn't have. have history in a World Cup, but has a lot of history in soccer, and it's a recognizable thing. And soccer history is always good when these nations make it to a World Cup, and you see it as on the fan base. Like, here in New York City, there's so many. And they just come into New York and join the city, now taking the train or a flight or driving to Boston, which is very

manageable to do. They play their next two games in Boston, so it's pretty convenient. We were watching the Mexico game at a pop here and it was filled with Scottish and when the England flag came out. There's like booing. It was so much fun. So good. Against a team that is all vibes. We're just happy to be here.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let's go. One of the weakest, we'll say weakest team on the country, but, but nothing to lose with really interesting players, really good individual players that are obviously, we're obviously one of the big questions, question marks of this tournament. Like Haiti can go 0 and 3, no goals, score or qualifying for the next round. Yeah. And nothing is going to surprise.

Yeah, I think they're one of the hardest ones for me to judge, which is I've watched this Haiti team a lot. I've been lucky enough to be in person for a bunch of gold cups that they've played, including when they qualified for the next round of the gold cup for what felt like the first time in 2013 at Red Bull Arena. or sorry, 2015 at Red Bull Arena, and it was a party, and I'm out on the corner of the stadium with people playing trumpets and Cardi B's retweeting and all that type of stuff. And one of the things that's really hard with this Haiti team

is I don't know where they sit. There is talent here, right? You've got Belgarade who plays for wolves, who plays consistently. You've got Frannie Perra, who scored a lot of goals for this team. We've got Duckins in the Zone, who's done it as well. And yet, I think back to a lot of these goal cups where they play against one of the teams

that's a little bit bigger than them, Costa Rica, Canada, US, or Mexico. And there are times where it feels like they can't get in the game, that no one individually can create danger and the team can't get high enough to really be dangerous. And I don't know how to scale that against Scotland. Like this is sort of, this is one of two matchups today that we've never seen before across any competition. There's a lot of that in this World Cup because of the 48 teams. I think there's going to be 28 games at this World Cup.

Matchups already decided that have just never occurred before. because you've got Uzbekistan's coming into this and, you know, Curisals and Cape Verds and all of that. And so this is one of the ones I can't put together because Scotland consistently in my mind underperform, not just in qualifying, but then the euros that they've been at over the last few years. And they, for the most part, struggled to create chances in these big tournaments. And it's opportunistic. Even when they're playing against teams, they're better than, you know, you look at the last euros when they host it against Chequia and the struggles they have. Billy Gilmore out of the team is big,

but they don't even really play to him that much because they don't really play through midfield that often. And the reason Scott McDonnelly is such a huge deal, he's the best Scottish player on the planet right now. He's in great form with Napoli, but they don't really have... He creates everything. He creates everything and he finishes everything for them.

His late runs are their number one threat in terms of the chances up top. Che Adams can finish and is a dangerous player, but they don't find a lot of chances. And so if you're a team that's going to whip in a lot of crosses, whether it's Robertson or Tierney or whoever it is, and then on the other side, maybe one of the best young players at this World Cup, for centerbacks, you're staying with your center forward. And so it's that late runner coming out of midfield and McTominy who's both elite in the air,

elite at finding those chances, but also could be the one who gets away from a defender. And so that's where he's huge for this team. And if he's out, I think the entire World Cup changes because this is the game. to go for for them. Brazil, Morocco, or not where you're assuming you're getting points. We believe that if you get three points and can manage goal differential, you'll probably get out of the group stage. For these two teams, this is the World Cup final. This is the game. And so it's the hardest one for me to scale of the day to figure out where these two teams line up. I've said it over and over again. I wouldn't be shocked of a lot of these, you know,

some of these Haitian players can pop off the bench and give you a moment of brilliance if they can stay in the game long enough. I just don't know that you can do that with a team built on Ricardo Ade at centerback, who's 36 years old at this point, and has been doing it at the international level for 12 years. I think we can safely say that if a team loses, the team that loses this game, if there's a loser, you can automatically... Well, sir, one of my Scotland friends said,

we'll probably lose to Haiti and be Brazil, or Thai Brazil, because that's how we are. I think they're kind of in their fields on some of that. But yeah, yeah, it's going to be fun. I think either way, we can all agree on one thing. win or lose, the Scottish fans will be... Bring the vibes. Bring the vibes and plenty of...

Absolutely. Stay hydrated. Stay hydrated, guys. It's going to be... Also, sunscreen. It's going to be hot. Well, it's a night game at least for this one. Oh, that's right.

But it will take them 14 hours to get in this one. Well, there's going to be a lot of day drinking involved in this one. And I just, you know, I worry... Patriot plates. I worry about that, that fragile skin. Yeah. Yeah. For the Scots.

If you are in Boston and you are a Scottish fan, go to Bratry. Ringham Circle, go to the Penguin Bar. They have over 300 beers, and they have some of the best pizza in Boston. I worked there for two and a half years. Good you. I always forget that you spent time in Boston. Shout out to Dermit Doin, who was both my landlord.

Shout out, Boston. You're so New York to me, guys. I love Boston. I don't. I love Boston. I love the history of Boston. It's a great walking city. It is.

It's a great spot to be. I love walking city. Unfortunately, Gillette Stadium is nowhere near Boston. That's absolutely true. Foxborough is kind of our. Yeah. The European mind. Exactly.

All right, guys, let's move it along to our last game of the day slash first game of tomorrow. Midnight kickoff, this one. Australia taking on Turkey, this one's important, obviously, because this is Group D, and we're going to be playing close attention to this because the results will matter for the U.S.

Turkey, I think in my projections, I think I had them topping. this group. I agree. Me too. Yeah. How big of a surprise would it be if Australia were able to get a result? Because Australia is also, they're not, I don't think they're as much of an underdog as many

people think, perhaps. Yeah. I feel like they can give teams trouble. I've said over and over again, I think, I think they're underrated. I think they have a clear idea of how they play. I've said they'll sit in a tight block, but not a low, block and they'll go and press our guy Tommy Scoops putting out the report yesterday that Lucas Harrington, the 19 year old centerback for this scene who plays currently in the U.S. is being

looked at by Barcelona. That's like the talent in this group. And I think a shift coming with some of the injuries Australia's had, I think they've lost a lot of bite out of midfield. But Motore went to Norwich on loan in January, scored like 14 goals over the course of the second half of the season. and Nelson Irukundi, who is maybe the brightest young talent in an attacking sense for Australia since Tim Cahill. That's how good he can be.

And, you know, we talk to some of the Australia players on our shows, and they were like, he's every bit what you think he is. I just think this team is a really clear way to play. And it's a turkey team that comes and flows with games. And so if Australia shows up and they are locked in, which they were not in both the friendlies to lead into this game, They played two good 45 minutes, but not a full 90. And part of that's friendly and stuff. If they're locked in for it, I think there's spots where Turkey will beat themselves. Obviously, the individual talent, Artagulia, Yildaz, Shangalulu,

who we don't know for the three of them how many minutes are in them because they've all been dealing with separate injuries and sicknesses. But I think there's a roadmap to Australia getting a win here. And I don't think it's ridiculous to think of. I said it yesterday going into the... group start. I think this is the tightest group from top to bottom, all four. There are other groups where you could tell me the three you don't know, but there's an obvious one that's out of that. I think this is the tightest. So while I think it's fair to say Turkey's the favorite and Australia

is not in there, that gap is not as big as it is between Scotland and Haiti and Morocco and Brazil or whatever it is. Yeah. Turkey has the better players, they're individual players, high-end talent. You say Shalanoly, Yildiz. But Australia, I think it's a better organized team. They're going to be very good defensively. They're going to be compact. So they're going to be a team that's going to be very difficult to break. And I think that Turkey is going to try to be the aggressor.

And that's where they can have those pockets. of spaces where Australia can use that, that speed, that youth, that talent to make them pay. I do believe that Turkey, it's been overlooked because on the mainstream, when we saw it against Bosnia or even with Italy, like, teams that go to the playoffs, they do like, oh, they went to a playoff. They must be not, it's simplistic to say, but fans that don't know, like, don't follow the teams, they're like, oh, they went to a playoff. They're not as good, right?

as the teams that maybe qualify directly in Europe. I think Turkey is a very, very talented team. But again, we go back to the first game on a World Cup. What matters is three points, especially if you're Turkey and you think that you are unequal or even better than the U.S. after watching last night, now the pressure is, if you want to win the group, now the pressure is even higher to get the three points today

because when on paper, I'm pretty sure that Turkey, Turkey and the US before the World Cup, they saw Australia as maybe the weakest. Both these teams have to look at this game. Both these teams have to look at this game and say, look what the US day. If you want to win the group. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. No, the US game puts pressure on both these teams for Australia to say.

So the US are sent back being like, we'd take a draw. Yeah, yeah. That'd be great. A draw tonight is the best outcome for the US. And I think for these two teams, a draw, I think for Turkey it becomes interesting because it's Paraguay second and then the US third. and obviously you're chasing the U.S. for Australia, you get the U.S. next where I do think the mentality for Australia is, can we hang in games and then get late winners? I don't think it's the worst for either of these teams because winning the group is first, but then you start to get in a combo of like, can we get out of the group?

And if you if you're on one point with the gold differential Paraguay has picked up, you're probably in a pretty good spot. Now it's the eight best third place team, so you've got to start watching the other groups. But that's where a tie means you don't get negative goal differential. You get some points. You put yourself in a okay spot. And you don't lose the, the. direct matchup. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Because now to advance in your group, it's the first tiebreaker is head-to-head, not goal differential. Goal differential comes into play when you're deciding the third place. So for people that don't know that, I found out about that, like literally, like a week ago. Yeah, I think we both agree.

It was Chris Whittingham tweeting it out. Yeah. It's like, hey, guys, just remember that this changes like, and I was like, oh, God. Which is the way it should be, by the way you play against the team and like the actual results on the field should matter more than how much you pounded a team by in the 92nd minute stoppage time, although nice Travella from Giorana.

Yeah, absolutely. Man, what a day. Man, what a day. Australia, Turkey, A midnight tonight. Man, gents, we really, there's a lot to cover today. I love it. It's only going to get. Games are coming. I know.

Hot and fast, guys. I'm ready for it. Yeah, we've been talking for what, an hour and 20 minutes now? Didn't even notice. It's great. Look at us. Final thoughts. Anything you want to leave?

the people with before we sign off. I think this is the first day that feels like this is the World Cup schedule now. Yeah. All the groups are playing. The four games. You said it. Brazil stepping on the field. I've always thought to me that's the World Cup. That's international soccer. I'm a little bit in the bag for Brazil sometimes. So yeah, I think just today's really exciting for the first day was exciting because it was the opener. Yep. And Mexico at the Azteca. The second day was excited because there was two hosts and what was going to happen and the history that was made. And now it's like now we're into what we've become. known for. And I've seen the complaints from a lot of people in the U.S. of like, I can't roll out of bed

and watch like South Korea togo and just like lay there during a zero zero game. That's not the way this World Cup fits for everyone, especially in North America. But this is sort of the days that you wait for of like everyone just doing the same thing at the same time everywhere around the world. Awesome. Do you know what I just realized? I brought stuff to make Bloody Mary's and I forgot to make a day Sunday brunch. A damn bloody Mary today. What am I doing? Man, the U.S. win last night just really threw me. Listen, if things go around. I'll be rolling into that. Also, go next.

How are you feeling about the Knicks? Shout out to Tommy Scoops. You know. Do you want them to win tonight or Tuesday here in MSG? I don't care, for starters. It's been 53 years. I don't care. I've never seen it.

I would love for them to win tonight. That would be the happiest thing that could happen to me. I want them to win tonight because. I love this. I've had friends who are not an ex-fiance to tell me like, oh, I want them to win here for the celebration or for a parade. I'm like, I really hope that goes well for you. I'm praying for you.

No, I just don't want to, I just don't want to. peace and peace. Tuesday, going to be a mess. Oh, God, I know. There's a game at MetLife. Yeah. Brazil.

No, it's not Brazil. It's, uh, France, Senegal. Uh-huh. And then the next. I know, no,

it's true. Like, I'm going to be hiding in my hotel room, like, with the covers over my head. No, experience it. The purge is coming.

I'm scared. Just living. I'm weak. Yeah, it's, it's fun now as a USM&T sympathizer and you guys as a fan as your nation, that the U.

already won, they're already played, and you're just relaxed now. And now we get to watch us through fans. We get to watch beginning to it, Brazil, Spain, Germany, France, and enjoy it. Yeah. That's beautiful. We don't have to worry about Australia still. That's like, that's like a week. That's future. That's future McKelley's problem. Yeah, yeah. Love it. And on that note, what a lovely send-off, McKelley. Thanks for joining us today. It's been great to have you at the desk. Thank you. Thank you. I'm very excited to be here. I know. 24 straight hours. God, what a shift.

You guys are the best. Guys, thank you for tuning in. Thank you for joining us. Again, we're going to be here every single morning throughout the tournament, 9.30 a.m. on our YouTube channel. Make sure you tell your friends, too. Yeah, share. Yeah, share.

Please. This is. Subscribe, review it. All the things. Follow us on the socials. Yeah. Go to soccer.com. Order some kits.

Play football manager, 26. Go win the world. All the things. USA. Go win the World Cup. How about that? Guys, enjoy this amazing day of soccer. let's do it again tomorrow we'll see you then