USMNT Dominates Paraguay + Biggest World Cup Surprises So Far

[00:00:05]Oh, look across his head.

[00:00:20]Good morning everybody and welcome to another episode of Lobbing Scorchers Kickoff presented by QED coffee. I'm Ari and there's no Nico quite yet. But folks, he has a good reason. It's because it is World Cup match day in Seattle. That's right. Belgium Egypt are kicking off at noon here in Seattle. The first World Cup match to be hosted here in Seattle. And Nico is already down there in the trenches. He's trying to park. He's trying to get situated. Uh he's trying to give us the report from on the ground. So, we're going to have him tapping in hopefully in just a few minutes here. We're going to see if we can get the tech figured out for that.

[00:01:01]And uh lay the land, set the scene for you guys for Belgium, Egypt, kicking off in about 4 hours. So, it's exciting times. And I'm going to be headed down there immediately after this show. Uh I got credentialed. So, we're going to go check out KDB Moala, see what's going on. And I'm planning on trying to get a lot of as much content for you guys as I can while I'm down there for these games. Uh, I'm credentialed for three of them so far, and hopefully I'm going to get into the fourth. We'll see what happens with the group stage. Uh, but I am going to this one. So, I'm going to try to use the access that I have to get you guys as much content as I can and uh hopefully throw a little vlog together.

[00:01:40]But for today, it's laying down this show and then uh I'll be headed down to uh sorry uh Seattle Stadium or as I like to call it, Field. They've been calling it Seattle Stadium, but I think because they covered, you know, the sponsor and it just says Field. I'm going with Field. I'm going to Field right after this for Belgium Egypt. And uh we're going to see how it goes. It's going to be interesting. It's I'm excited, guys.

[00:02:05]It's my first World Cup match that I'll ever have covered as credentialed media.

[00:02:11]So, that's kind of a sick milestone for myself, including uh in addition to the city as well. Uh but until then, I'm going to be hanging out for about an hour. Uh we're going to be talking some World Cup. We'll talk some US MNT. I want to talk biggest surprises from the World Cup, maybe a couple biggest appointment disappointments from the World Cup. Uh maybe a couple teams and players that have impressed during the World Cup so far. Uh, and then I do want to talk some uh, USMT because uh, it is exciting times for the US MNT given how well that Paraguay match went, but also they're coming to Seattle on Friday.

[00:02:46]It's kind of that hasn't really set in yet. Their next their next task which is Australia is going to be played here right here in Seattle at the at field. So really we have a situation folks where all eyes of the of all footballing eyes in this entire nation and a lot globally are going to be on the US Mnt but in Seattle and uh most of our little Seattle media contingent seems to be able to go. So it's cool stuff. It's exciting.

[00:03:22]Hopefully you guys are enjoying the cup so far. I was saying on the USMNT watch along that we did that uh it feels like the buzz is kind of finally here. Uh although I think it won't really we're not going to really see it take off until the games that are hosted here actually start which is uh today. So yeah, absolutely. Happy World Cup morning to everyone. Uh hope you're getting excited. It looks like a beautiful day out there. I have not been outside yet, but I'm I'm looking forward to getting outside soon. Looking forward to hopefully getting Nico in here to tell us what's going on down there. He said he's just getting parked and whatnot. So, uh we'll see what his status is. Uh but as we get into it here this morning, I do have to remind you all that, uh Lobing Scorchers Kickoff, if you haven't heard, does have a title sponsor now. And uh it's QED coffee. You can see it on my mug right here. You can see it in the top corner of the screen right there. Uh if you've not done so yet, what are you waiting for? Go get your QED coffee subscription today.

[00:04:22]lobbings.com/coff.

[00:04:24]Uh you can also get 25% off anything on the uh sitewide with the code ls74.

[00:04:31]But uh we got Kenny on his way to Belgium, Egypt. I'm about to be on my way to Belgium, Egypt. Let us know how it's looking down there. Kenny, I'm not really I'm not sure what to expect. I uh I you know, I just moved I live right by the Roosevelt light rail now. So, uh, that wasn't done necessarily with the World Cup in mind, but it's certainly not going to hurt as far as logistically getting down there, but I'm like, you know, I mean, should I be getting there mad early? Is there going to be a bunch of Belgium people and a bunch of Egyptians at every light rail stop? Am I going to be able to fit on the train?

[00:05:05]Uh, what's going to look like? I don't know. Uh, but that's what we're going to find out. And again, my plan, guys, is to I mean, I'm just gonna be filming as much as I can of within legal FIFA parameters. Of course, I want to be clear about that. Not going to be filming anything that is outside the bounds of uh media approved stuff to film. But as far as like the crowd and the the scene around the stadium and then as much as I'm able to inside the stadium itself with the press box, I'm going to try and, you know, film as much as I can for my own personal archives.

[00:05:35]But my my hope is to be able to put out a video on this channel eventually, which if you're not subscribed to this channel, subscribe to this channel. But I want to put out a video. That's my plan. My plan is to film as much as I can and uh make a video just of uh kind of behind the scenes of what it's like being a credentialed media member for a World Cup game, which is kind of it's kind of it's kind of crazy. It's kind of crazy. That's something that I'm about to go do here in uh just about an hour here. But uh yeah, if you guys have questions about the USMT or otherwise, thoughts, takes, agendas, grievances, complaints, uh go ahead and toss them in chat. Let you guys drive the ship as much as you want here this morning as far as topics go. Uh if you got anything about the Seattle Sounders or Major League Soccer, feel free to uh to dish on it. I don't know. I'm just kind of not in that mode right now because I I feel like uh I don't know. Someone on the uh on the kickoff show where we were talking a bunch of World Cup was saying like we should be club over country talking more about the Sounders, but about what is my question. Like we'll give you the Pedro Dega updates and the Yamar updates as they happen. But uh but right now I feel like I'm in World Cup mode. The city's in World Cup mode and I think we're really going to start to feel that today with this game starting and uh it's a good one. Like something that I keep kind of coming back to is how good a slate they gave Seattle.

[00:07:08]Belgium Egypt is a is a really big really great game to get. Uh they gave us one of the US MNT games which is a big deal. And uh I guess we can start there because uh like I said, the US MNT is coming to Seattle under man, it's it's kind of it's crazy circumstances right now based on how that first game went. And not only how that first game went, but uh did you guys see how the uh Australia game went?

[00:07:39]They beat the out of Turkey, did they not? And that kind of flew in the face against what I think mo about how most people expected this group to go. I don't know. I kind of just assumed that Turkey would be better than at least Australia, but they were not. Australia gets a two-0 win. But what that did, first of all, it changed it kind of changed the way I look at Australia. I think the narrative around them going into this tournament was they were the uh, you know, pluckucky, punch above their weight, disciplined, organized underdog.

[00:08:11]uh that can give a good team trouble but don't have like top end talent necessarily. Uh and you know there probably is still truth to that despite what happened in this game, but uh a couple of these guys that Australia was running out there were real impressive.

[00:08:29]I'm going to look up their names to make sure I uh I get these right, but uh I thought Mo Toué, I mean that kid is a really imposing number nine. But then the one that everyone always talks about uh Iran Kunda Nester Iran Kunda that is a dynamic duo for Australia and that that's like a no joke attacking duo. That's not like a these guys aren't match winners type of situation. I think they're pro they're both they both are young players. They're both kind of upandcomers still that maybe haven't realized their full potential. But needless to say, they looked really good in their first game against Turkey. Kind of flipped the whole group on its head.

[00:09:12]But really, you know what I was getting to is it's kind of ratcheted up everything going into this game on Friday at Seattle Stadium at Field because now you have an Australia team that just got a galvanizing victory.

[00:09:29]They're definitely they're not going to after that game for them, they're not going to feel like they need to come into field and be intimidated. They're going to come to field and they're going to be ready to go and I don't know. I'll be interested to see how they play it, but I think like it's fair to say that they looked much better than I thought they would and then most people thought they would. Everything I was reading about Australia going into this tournament was that like, you know, they're solid, they're disciplined, they're organized, but they're not gonna like they're not really scaring anybody.

[00:10:00]I don't know if they're scaring me, but they definitely just became a way more intriguing, a way bigger test for the US MNT as uh you know, the Yanks have to show that what they did to Paraguay was representative and indicative of the team that they actually are now and not just like a one-off performance. But I don't really think that was a one-off performance. I think that was very much uh reflective of how they were playing right up in the friendlies leading into this tournament. So with that in mind, uh it just makes this game on Friday all the bigger.

[00:10:41]Australia's keeper did have a Tim Howard performance at at different points. He did, but you know, they were out there scoring goals. Australia forwards running at Tim Ree scares me. Exactly, James. Yes. Like, and I think that is something that uh I was thinking about too, watching this tournament so far. Uh and that, you know, that leads me to uh let's talk about what teams have been the most impressive so far. uh because you know I've been watching some of these as sort of measuring stick barometer type situations for the US MNT and USMT look great against Paraguay and I I do think there is a lot of evidence at this point that they have genuinely taken a step as a team as a player pool as a program but I I mean I when I do watch some of these teams play every time there's a World Cup I feel like this but like again you watch some of these teams play and there is there's just a handful of them where it's a bit of a different level even even than what I think the US MNT might be at now. Uh and I I the example I would point to is an obvious one but maybe a not so obvious one which is uh Morocco. You know, I was watching the Brazil Morocco game, which that's like a fire matchup, and I was just so impressed with Morocco, and I expected to be because they were one of the teams that kind of snuck up on people at the last tournament. I think that was kind of the storyline in 2022 was they came in, people were hyped on them a little bit, but they were not considered this uh this contender, this frontr runner. and Morocco I think in 22 Morocco kind of showed like no we're not just like an upandcomer we're one of the elite footballing nations and oh man I was just so impressed with how they came out in that Brazil game they take the 1-1 which uh they probably will feel like they should have won that game but just the way they came out man so calm composed locked in and then when you just look at how they play man their midfield big fast athletic covering ground. All their attackers just lock step in sync. Uh the the goal that they scored was a great goal. A little chip action. Uh and then but like you watch a player like uh Hakeime for instance and some of the stuff he's doing out there, some of the runs he's making, it's just it's just a different level.

[00:13:15]How are you supposed to stop that?

[00:13:18]And I would add, how are you supposed to stop that if you're 43-year-old Tim Ree?

[00:13:25]Like Tim, I'm I really have no issues with him and his role on the team. He's the captain. The guys love him. He's the leader. Uh he played well in the first game. But like when you have Hakeime running at you, it's just a different tier of the game. And that's why as high as I am on what the USMT did against Paraguay and I think everyone should be happy about that. I think everyone should be thrilled with that performance. It was one of the best performances in the history of the USNT quite frankly.

[00:13:58]I just think like it does seem like there's still a sort of wall that you have to get over that. I don't you know I don't maybe this team is ready to to get over that. Maybe uh maybe our starting 11 in a in a given game is the type of starting 11 now that can hang with and maybe beat and compete with a team like Morocco. I don't know.

[00:14:20]Just watching them play, I thought they looked good.

[00:14:28]Kenny's saying he thought Brazil and and Morocco were both both mid.

[00:14:34]It's hard to know because I do think that Brazil team would like they clearly uh have like a a Vinnie Jr. and maybe not much else thing going on. Like I know that there's a lot of Italian attacking talent on their roster, but just watching how that first game against Morocco played out, Morocco was really taking it to him. They were. And then Vinnie Jr. just comes out with one of the sickest goals I've ever seen, you know?

[00:15:08]And I think anyone who like sees Real Madrid highlights or watches that team with any sort of regularity knows that Vinnie Jr. does that stuff all the time for Real Madrid. But maybe not as much for Brazil. So, I guess that's a good sign for them. But, I don't know. that kid is just like that's the fun thing about the World Cup. You get to see these guys really uh that are just on such a different level and they're playing so hard because you know it's for the country. It's for the national team, especially Vinnie Jr.

[00:15:45]think he's not going hard for this. Like that goal was a uh he was like I'm basically I'm not going to let us lose this game. That's what Vinnie Jr. was on with that. That was crazy.

[00:15:59]Um, but as far as the teams that have looked the most vulnerable, I have Canada and Turkey written down here. I don't know. What' you guys think of the Canadians?

[00:16:10]1-1 against the Bosnians. Uh, which is not a a terrible result, but I don't know, their attack looked a little punchless to me. It looked like they were struggling. Kyle Larren comes up with a great goal for them. So, credit to him.

[00:16:28]They were having trouble breaking down the Bosnians, which I will say breaking down the Bosnians might be among the most difficult tasks teams are going to have in this tournament. These Bos I'm I I've been saying it. I've been saying it. These Bosnian guys are not messing around, man. They're not. They're pissed off.

[00:16:50]They have realized that now that they're in the World Cup that every team they play against is a threat to Bosnia's chances at World Cup glory. And they're not going to stand for that. They're not. I don't know what it is about the Bosnians, but when they when they get in this mode where they're chasing World Cup glory, it's like genuinely scary.

[00:17:13]So, where was I going with that? Yeah, it's not like crazy that Canada had trouble breaking down that team, but I don't know. I was I was expecting a little They need Alfonso Davies. That's basically my thoughts on Canada right now.

[00:17:31]Have to have him back. And I think when they do get him back, which he should theoretically be coming back in the next couple games, right? That's going to give them a boost. But it's just it's kind of clear to me that they're very reliant on one guy for a lot of their creativity, their dynamism, their chance creation. He basically kind of just does everything for them. And without him, I don't know how much punch there is there.

[00:17:58]I've spoken quite highly of their striker group. Uh Kyle Laren, Jonathan David. I it Kyle Lair got benched and then scored the equalizer, but Jonathan David was bad. And uh as uh who was pointing it out? Yeah, Christian. Jesse Marsh. Jesse Marsh was about to lose his mind on Jonathan David during that game, which was pretty funny.

[00:18:28]But it's not good. It's not good for the Canadians.

[00:18:31]I don't know. They just did not really look like a team that was like primed for a big run. like they didn't they didn't get the the US came out and they made we made a statement beat the hell out of Paraguay got the three points four goals put on a show Gio Raina no blackmail only Gazos like that that that's the type of performance and result where you can look at it and be like all right you know maybe something is going on here of relevance of substance of note Uh, Canada did not did not get that result. I didn't think they got that performance. They look vulnerable. Jesse Marsh looks pissed. He signed a contract extension, but he's already crashing out. He is kind of highkey of uh he's highkey a crash out, which I kind of like about him. And I think it's funny how he antagonizes US soccer in his press conferences, but that only really that only really plays when you're doing better than the US, which Canada was for a while, and now they're not. So, we'll see if the Jesse Marsh thing gets played out at all.

[00:19:43]What's been the best match of the tournament? What about Japan Netherlands?

[00:19:49]That was a good ass game. It kind of It started slow uh to the point where I kind of like tuned out and was only kind of half watching for a bit, but then in the second half, oo, it ends up 2-2. Uh Japan gets a real late equalizer. Uh, but that was just that was the first game I was watching at this tournament where man, you know, sometimes you just see the two teams are just like kind of, you know, they're competing, but they're kind of vibing off one another and it's just there's just this like back and forth energy going on where they're kind they're bringing out the best in each other. That's how that Japan Netherlands game felt. And, you know, you always got to be impressed with Japan in this tournament. It's funny like even when it was uh 2-1 Netherlands kind of late in the second half.

[00:20:34]I just had this like Japan's going to tie. There's no way they're going to come out and lose this even if it's against the Dutch and they didn't. They get the set piece equalizer and it was like yeah that's just what they do man. Like they are always they're always in it. They're always a factor.

[00:20:54]Maybe they're not going to for anybody, but they're never going to like you're never going to for them.

[00:21:00]So, yeah, exactly.

[00:21:05][laughter] Japan tied the game off the header against the statistically tallest country in the whole world. Exactly.

[00:21:14]That's what they do.

[00:21:17]Marsh is the guy you go on a date with and all he does about is whine about his ex. That's sort of how it's starting to get. That's sort of how it's like it was it was genuinely funny at first. It was like when he would get up on the podium unprompted kind of like Pochettino antagonizes the US MNT bots. Jesse Marsh unprompted antagonizes US soccer all the time. And it was it was it was genuinely hilarious. Especially coming as the Canada national team coach. He'd always say like I'm well I'm happy here now.

[00:21:46]I'm so I'm so stoked about how it turned out. And it's like, all right, well, why at every press conference then are you coming back to your rivalry against US Soccer? I know you feel like they did you wrong, and they did do him wrong, but like now that their team isn't doing as well, it it he's got one of those vibes and personas that's like it really hits when things are going well and if things start to not go as well, I feel like that could get old fast. But we'll see. that's, you know, that's uh that's their issue at this point. But yeah, no, I thought Japan looked really really good. They can definitely make make a run. A team like that that's that hard to beat and that just kind of opportunistic and clutch.

[00:22:35]That was kind of my takeaway. Watching them play the Netherlands. Watching them play the Netherlands, it didn't look like a pluckucky underdog punching above their weight. that looked like two teams that were pretty much just as good as one another. So, I I would say that's among the more impressive performances that we've seen so far. Even in a even in a draw where they had to pull it out right at the end, you're playing a global powerhouse. You went straight up against them, got punched in the mouth, punched them back, got punched again, punched them back again.

[00:23:07]Japan's got to be feeling pretty good.

[00:23:11]uh teams that I'm buying into as a legitimate contender that maybe I wasn't as much before the tournament kicked off, I would go back to Morocco.

[00:23:22]I thought Morocco in the first half against Brazil looked about as good as you could possibly look in those circumstances.

[00:23:31]That was the way they came out in that game. That's how you want every World Cup. That's how you want to come out every World Cup game. is calm, composed, in control. Uh, also they are they're so athletic. All their midfielders and like their entire backline, anytime there's space to close out, you notice this with Morocco, anytime there's space to close out, there's just like no wasted movement.

[00:23:56]They're so fast.

[00:23:58]Every guy on their team looks like a freaking gazelle covering ground. And it's impressive to watch. Hakeime in particular, like I know I already said it, but like he made a couple of runs in that game where I was just like, dude, I don't I don't really know what you're supposed to do about that.

[00:24:21]Christian says, "What happened to both Canada and Mexico? They used to be so good or is that poach is taking the US this much higher?" I think it's partially that the US is on the ascent with uh with Pochettino and the gang, but I also like Mexico came out and uh whooped ass in their first game. I think they we I hadn't talked about them yet, but I think their stock is kind of is kind of up to be honest.

[00:24:48]We'll see what happens with them, but uh you know, you had Raul Jimenez out there baming in goals. Uh, they scored pretty early. They had the they had the crowd going at that stadium.

[00:25:02]No. Yeah, Mexico I feel I feel like if we're doing the Cona Caf rankings right now, the US has got to feel the best.

[00:25:09]But Mexico, like honestly, they should feel just as good.

[00:25:14]And then I really I don't think Canada should feel that good.

[00:25:22]I do think they they probably had the toughest opponent. Like I've been saying, the Bosnians are I would hate to play that team. I know I keep saying it, but I would genu I would really hate to play that team. And Canada had to go out there in their first game and uh play against a bunch of pissed-off Bosnian guys intent on preventing the country of Canada from being an obstacle to Bosnia's quest for World Cup glory. That's that's not easy to do. They onew won it. Great goal by Kyle.

[00:25:59]I think I you know I think that's fair.

[00:26:01]James the uh uh me Mexico had the easiest matchup probably. Although I don't know like how different is South Africa than Paraguay.

[00:26:12]I think Paraguay's I I don't know. I feel I feel like that's pretty much a wash. Like if you could say that you can't judge Mexico yet because of the competition. Could you say you could probably say that about the US too? I don't know. Maybe I'm off base there. Maybe Paraguay is a lot better than South Africa. If you asked me before the tournament without looking at the FIFA rankings, I probably would have told you that South Africa's ranked higher than than Paraguay.

[00:26:40]But either way, I don't know. It did it did feel like more maybe more of an exertion of superiority by the US than Mexico.

[00:26:57]Average Paraguayan is better than RSA.

[00:27:01]Paraguay. Hey, this this is a good shout. Paraguay beat Argentina and Uruguay in qualifying. I I that's a good point and it kind of reinforces how I was thinking of it, which is that like there I think there is a lot of like okay, you had a great game against Paraguay, you got to go prove it. They might not be very good. But I think a lot I think a lot of the reason that they didn't look good I think Kirk Gomez tweeted something like this. But I think a lot of the reason Paraguay didn't look good is because the US MNT made them look bad.

[00:27:33]I don't think Paraguay is as bad a team as the US made them look.

[00:27:39]And I say that admittedly with not that much knowledge of the Paraguay national team, but based on what I know and what I've read, they're not like they're definitely not a joke of a team.

[00:27:59]Okay. You see, I did not I did not realize I didn't realize that Paraguay was that good in qualifying, but I think it's kind of it's kind of reinforcing the point that I'm uh that I'm trying to make. I maybe I thought a little too highly of South Africa, not highly enough of a Paraguay, but just from some of you guys laying down like Paraguay's credentials from qualifying, they're not like that bad.

[00:28:21]They're not bad at all.

[00:28:24]They are. I mean, you have to imagine, again, you know, it's not like I watch these games, but I imagine when they beat a team like Argentina and Uruguay in qualifying, it's probably more like a holding on for dear life, absorbing pressure and nicking a goal at the other end, getting set pieces type of situation.

[00:28:46]But that's exactly the type of team that can give the US MNT or anybody trouble in the World Cup. And the US didn't let that happen.

[00:28:57]Exactly. And the point I'm getting to with all this is this right here. The USA is better than Argentina. And I think that that point right there is a great opportunity to bring in my lobbing scorchers kickoff co-host Nico Moreno who we're going to we're about to find out guys, but I believe he is down in the trenches near Seattle Stadium or field as it's now known. So uh let's bring him to the stage. I It looks like he is calling in with no video, but we're gonna bring him to the stage right now.

[00:29:27]>> Uh, what's up, man? Can you hear me?

[00:29:30]>> What's up, Bari? Uh, how am I coming in?

[00:29:32]>> Uh, you know, not the greatest audio I've ever heard, but I can understand you. So, uh, we are good to go. Uh, where are you at? Where are you at right now? Where are you coming to us from?

[00:29:42]>> Uh, I am just starting to get close to Seattle Field. Um, I am uh trying not to stop moving because I'm afraid that the partial traffic will turn into real traffic. Uh, but yeah.

[00:29:57]>> So, [laughter] traffic, give us the traffic. Give us the traffic breakdown first and foremost. What's the What's the situation?

[00:30:03]>> So, right now it's not bad. I I probably should have left a lot earlier than I did, but so far it's uh pretty common uh peak hour type of traffic. Nothing that uh is like a parking lot type. has been moving good 35 miles an hour as you come into downtown Seattle. Uh so hopefully it doesn't get any Well, my guess is that it will get worse here in the next couple of hours. Uh but so far so good.

[00:30:32]>> All right. Well, I like to hear that. Uh I'm about I'm about to hit the light rail down there right after this show, so I'm hoping that's not too chaotic, but I think it shouldn't be that bad theoretically. But uh what uh so you're you're uh you're driving around the stadium. Are you seeing is there Belgium fans? Is there Egypt fans going on?

[00:30:51]What's what's sort of the scene like? Is it picked up yet or is it still kind of in like calm before the storm mode?

[00:30:57]>> Uh calm before the storm mode. I will say that I have seen more Belgium jerseys than anything else. Uh my guess is that is also not just Belgium fans, but maybe you know like Romelo Lukaku fans uh uh some De Bruyne jerseys. Uh so I don't know if it's just like the real Belgium hard nose uh fan base or it's just maybe some casuals with some some pretty nice jerseys.

[00:31:24]>> All right. Yeah, I'll be interested to see what the crowd is like for a game like this cuz you know I think like a US MNT game I'm expecting that to be packed. But this is interesting because it's not like there's uh you know built-in fan bases for either of these teams there. But like you do have like KDB and Mosala like you and I talked about that's about as big of a global superstar duo as you could possibly uh think of. Uh you know as a few hours out from the first World Cup game uh to be hosted in Seattle. What do you think of this matchup uh specifically now that it's that's coming down on us? What are you expecting from this game today, Nico? Uh this is going to be very uh intense. I think that you have two like phenomenal storylines here that uh you know I want to highlight at some point.

[00:32:10]Uh, I I got a a couple of of shows today that I I want to relay this message because, you know, Seattle might shadow fans and those going to the stadium uh might kind of be uh very privileged to see the passing of the torch of the last generation of of Belgium players uh the Corttois, the Lukakus, the De Bruyne uh and into you know the the Jerokus, uh uh new set of players are going to be taking over this um Belgium team and you know are they going to be a golden generation? Are they going to be just as good? Like we obviously don't know that.

[00:32:51]But there's a lot of promise uh with this Belgium team. And on the other side, right, I mean the the most legendary Egyptian player of all times, a beloved, you know, Premier League player, you know, I I've seen quite a few Mosala uh Liverpool jerseys around.

[00:33:08]Um not today obviously, but uh when I was downtown uh right before the USMT game last week, uh saw a few of those.

[00:33:15]So, uh, you get to see him take his last stand to try to get at least one win and put that into his his profile, his vast and and and successful career. Uh, so I I like both of those uh, you know, um, situations, but both of those storylines.

[00:33:35]>> Yeah. With Belgium, you know, I think, uh, everyone knows KDB and Lukaku and Hazard back in the day and Corta like you mentioned. Uh but like you said, this is like kind of a passing of the torch moment that we're about to uh go witness, but uh let's talk about we talked about him on the preview show, but uh Doku is uh kind of one of the best upand cominging young players in the world right now that maybe people don't know about uh from like your research on Belgium into that player specifically. Like what are the things that make him such an exciting player to watch and what can people expect to see from him uh in this game but also this tournament?

[00:34:15]Uh oh. Did I lose Nico?

[00:34:23]Okay. I think we might have lost Nico.

[00:34:26]So, uh we'll [laughter] get him back added to the stage if uh if we can get his audio back.

[00:34:34]One more time. Nico, can you hear me?

[00:34:36]Oh.

[00:34:36]>> Uh yeah, I think I'm back here.

[00:34:38]>> You're back. You're back. Hell yeah. Did you hear my question? I was asking about uh Jeremy Dooku.

[00:34:42]>> Okay.

[00:34:43]>> Yeah. No, I I think he's the the the new generation winger uh that uh uh has the ability to uh be a really good goal scorer. He's just been streaky. He's just not he I don't think he has found that last level of cleanliness in the final third, but he's just so hard to defend. He collapses defenses. He stretches out defenses. Uh, so I think he's gonna be a phenomenal player as he continues to polish himself into, you know, this is something that I I I was just talking about with uh uh a former Colombian national team striker. uh and it is that in today's soccer wingers are more so we're turning into having less dominant strikers and more dominant wingers that that come into the inside channels that the nine is maybe doing a little bit more of that uh opening space for the winger and the winger is the one that gets the glory of the goal and I think uh Jeremy Douku has that going for himself uh with this uh Belgium team.

[00:35:52]All right, Nico, just a couple more things for you and then uh we'll let you go uh park and get situated down there near uh Seattle Stadium or field as I've been calling it. Uh but uh we got to we got to get your USMNT takes cuz we have not really debriefed uh since this Paraguay victory. And uh when we were previewing this game, I don't think I I neither of us predicted anything quite like we saw, which was just an allaround domination. Uh that game wasn't even close. Paraguay gets one goal, but really the US was they were genuinely taking it to that team the entire time and uh we were talking about it just before you signed on, but like they're not that, you know, people were hitting me with all the facts of uh of them in qualifying. They beat Argentina, they beat Uruguay, uh which I don't really know the circumstances behind those defeats, but that team was not like horrible.

[00:36:37]>> They beat Brazil.

[00:36:39]>> Yeah, they beat everyone. They apparently were just mobbing through all of World Cup qualifying, taking down these global powers. Uh so what did you make of how the US came out and just absolutely torched them like that because I was uh you know I was happy to see it but I was also surprised to see it.

[00:36:57]>> Well I I had the 3-1 that that was my prediction uh going into this game. Uh I thought that as and Ciso I didn't think he was going to play to be quite honest. Uh I thought that uh Gustavo Gomez was also dealing with some aches and pain. So, I was very surprised to see both of those guys out there in the starting uh lineup. So, Paraguay played you with everything they had. Whether they forced in CISO or he wasn't ready, I don't know the situation. I thought he played pretty decently. Uh but what you're saying is absolutely correct. Look, I'm not saying that Paraguay is, you know, a a a dark horse or a contender. Uh but they're they were a very good defensive team that only allowed 10 goals total during the uh qualifiers this year playing some of the best teams in the world really.

[00:37:49]Uh and that those 10 goals that's not even counting when they made the switch to uh Gustavo Faroh as their head coach.

[00:37:56]Uh because when Gustavo Faro took over, they went on a nineame uh undefeated streak when he took over.

[00:38:04]in between that streak. They had a 2-1 defeat of uh Brazil, a two-1 defeat of uh Argentina, I believe, as well. Uh and so, yeah, they were an excellent team.

[00:38:14]So, I don't think people are, and I'm not saying start the parade either, but I don't think people realize how good this US7 was. uh this US7 win was uh because they just ne they never allowed Parway to settle on the field. That that's really what happened. This team was on fire from the moment they took the field. Uh you know, I've I've heard from several skeptics of of of this US team and none of them expected this team to be as dominant as they were so early in the game. And me included. I had a 3-1 win, but I thought that the first 45 were going to be very ky. It was going to be a bit of a chess match and and this Pochettino squad just came in and put down everything that they had into those first 35 minutes. They created chances. Bulligan looked unstoppable.

[00:39:13]Mckenni played great in the half spaces.

[00:39:16]uh this this duo that Pacino hasn't had uh at all really in his cycle in uh Sergino Dest uh and A-OB were were outstanding. You know, the type of width they provide this team was just unreal.

[00:39:31]So, say what you will. Uh if you want to not give uh this USMT team their flowers, that's fine. You you say that this is a mid Paraguay team. I I would disagree. I just think that Al Farro was not expecting this team to come out and use so much of the field and stretch out his midfield. I thought I thought Andre Kubas had a really bad game. I thought that um they really pushed their press was excellent to really push Paraguay uh in ability to play from the back. I mean they they were just they they were able to really pinpoint the few deficiencies that Paraguay has shown over the qualifiers which are not many and and they never let up. So I I I was just flabbergasted by the way that they were able to put this win together.

[00:40:30]I thought that the Gio Raina goal was a cherry on top. I mean that's just you know plain old class. I've never been a Gio Raina guy. I I I'm not going to deny that. Uh but that sort of goal, that sort of quality is the reason why a lot of times you just bring the most talented players regardless of where they're at with their club situation because they they do make a difference.

[00:40:53]So, uh I still think that Tilman was my player of the match. Uh he surprised me playing the double pivot position next to Tyler Adams, uh because he was great at just closing down space, keeping the team shape when they needed to keep it.

[00:41:06]Uh, I thought that he was good on the ball getting forward. Very selective on when he got forward as well. Very smart.

[00:41:14]Was this a perfect performance? No, definitely not. I think that there are some things that you got to look over.

[00:41:20]Uh, that that goal that you gave up uh kind of of a a goal kick essentially was really poor. So, you got to kind of figure that part out. But look, man, that's a a nine out of 10 time performance in my opinion.

[00:41:37]>> Yeah, absolutely. It was uh it was very impressive. My only complaint about it, Nico, was the uh lack of Christian Raldon. You know, it was funny uh on our watch along, I went on a big tangent about [clears throat] how excited I was for Christian Raldon to check into the game and how it was going to be validation for all of us who have been defending his place on this team for all these years that's proven everyone wrong. So, I just can't wait to see him get in the game because I know he's going to get in the game. And of course, he doesn't get in the game. But uh I I I'm hoping that he starts this uh Australia game, which might that might be a lot to ask, but uh that leads me into my last uh question for you here, Nico, and then I'll let you go. But uh what do you think of this Australia game right now? Because I feel like it just got ratcheted up so much with uh the US MNT result versus Paraguay, but also the Australia result versus uh Turkey. What was that? I mean, you talk about a team that uh was kind of not considered to be an a big attacking threat. I think Australia would qualify for that. All the analysis of them that I was reading going into this tournament was that they were uh solid and disciplined and sound, but they're probably they're not going to like strike the fear of God in you.

[00:42:49]And so that's sort of how I was thinking of it from a US MNT lens was like, you know, you got this team that's going to be hard to break down, but like theoretically you should have more top- end talent than them, but I'm watching Australia play and they're in their group stage opener and they uh they whoop up on Turkey 200, but they also like they're uh their their top end attackers. We were talking about them earlier in the show, but uh these kids uh Iran Kunda and Mo Toué, they look like kind of like real deal type attackers. So, you throw in the US performance, uh, you throw in the Australia result and their performance.

[00:43:23]They're coming to Seattle. It feels like it's kind of just crescendoing for this game on Friday. Uh, how are you thinking is the way that you're thinking about this Australia game changed by how they came out to start this tournament and putting on the performance and result that they got, which that was one of the more kind of impressive surprising results I think that anyone's gotten so far.

[00:43:41]Uh yeah, I don't think I've changed my outlook on what it's going to look like against the USMT. Uh we had talked about in our show, Arya, about Rey and the the willingness of this Australia team to just play very direct and and and win those secondary balls and uh be a team that is solid uh defensively. Perhaps they showed more quality on in possession that I had seen over the both qualifiers and the friendlies that I was able to watch this team on. Uh so that was a little bit surprising. However, I still think that this is a very limited Australia team and Pochettino and and and the guys got to come out and do exactly what they did to to Paraguay and they should win this game and they should be uh the protagonist throughout throughout throughout this game. So, that hasn't changed.

[00:44:43]Maybe what did change is was this more of an indictment uh on TIA like were we maybe overhyping a little bit of uh some of those individualities that we thought were going to be game changers for him perhaps? I I think that's that's kind of where I lay my my take on I don't want to dismiss what Australia was able to do, but Tia just looked very um unwilling to play their game. It was almost as if I just didn't recognize that team, the identity, what they were able to to do in some games uh o over uh their uh tenure with with the World Cup qualifiers. I just didn't see it. I didn't see that team. I didn't see the individualities. I didn't see the intensity. So, for me, this is still a an Australia team that should not should not be able to score on that US MNT. I expect uh Pochettino's guys to go with a clean sheet in this particular game. And to your point on Christian Raldan, I kind of like the fact that he didn't um put him on on a on a 3-1 win, 4-1 win.

[00:45:53]he's probably saving him for a more important role in this upcoming couple of games. So, Australia, that's a game where I think Christian Roden could play. Uh, and whether he uh gives uh T uh Tyler Adams, who has been managing his workload in training sessions and things coming into this first game, maybe Christian gets a spotlight there.

[00:46:16]Uh, but yeah, I haven't really changed my my takes on on this Australia team. I just think that they were able to get a very professional win.

[00:46:27]>> Yeah. And you know, as Christian Wood points out in chat, Tyler Adams has to be careful if he gets another yellow.

[00:46:32]He's out next game. All the more reason >> All the more reason that you might see a Christian Raldon sighting in this uh Seattle. Yeah, he has to play in this game. He has to. There's no way. They didn't give him the uh California homecoming uh World Cup appearance, so he's got to get the Seattle one. I don't know. Do you think there's any chance at all that he starts or is it is it are they going to roll Adams McKenna and because I almost feel like you could argue that starting either him or Burhalter here and spelling Adams while he's on a yellow and then bringing him on in the second half maybe there's maybe there's an argument for that or do you just roll like your first choice 11 no questions asked and let the chips fall where they may as far as far as the yellow cards go >> considering how quickly this US Ben 17 got off to this first game. I'd say Pochettino just if it ain't broke, don't fix it. He starts the same 11 and I think at halftime he makes the substitutions just to make sure that a guy like Tyler Adams get in the yellow that he can shift his team so it's not uh too beat up by the by that third game and then going into uh the the next uh stage of the tournament. Um so but I do think that I don't think he'll start. I I would love if that was the case and I I actually think that it would be smart to to do so. But I think Pochettino is a guy that really wants to get this team more repetition, more more consistency, and that's why I think he'll start at the same 11 that we saw against Paraguay.

[00:48:04]>> Yeah. And I could see the argument for that. But uh well, Nico, I'm going to let you go on that. Let you get in that stadium, Seattle Stadium field. Uh get settled in.

[00:48:12]>> Two more things.

[00:48:13]>> Oh, yeah. Two more things. Sorry. I still think that US was absolutely the best host nation to perform so far. I actually think that Mexico despite the win has been uh under fire. I don't know if you you've seen this Ari, but uh analysts, fans, they have really gone hard at uh this Mexican team that they got a two zero win over a very poor showing of of of South Africa African team that I thought could do more and >> getting uh Cesar Montes send off >> their captain their their center back.

[00:48:51]they they have some uh lack of depth at that position. That the fact that he got sent off when South Africa had nine players on on the field just really took the air of the sales of that win for for the fan base. Um so I think that they're second to for me because they still got the win and in the World Cup it's all about just getting that first win, getting that momentum. So, I think that they're second in the ranking of the three nations. And in Canada, man, they were just I I said that to me they were going to get grouped. I don't know if if that will stay because I expected Bosnia to actually win that game. Uh and you know, uh Claren gets in gets that that tide and and maybe that changes think things a little bit, but I still think that Canada was the the worst performance out of all the three. uh hosting nations. So, we'll see what happens. I do not expect Canada to get much better. I was really disappointed with the form of Jonathan Davis. I was very uh disappointed with uh who has had limited minutes with LAFC. There's just too many question marks, too many injuries for this Canad Canadian team, and I just don't see him getting out of the group. the the the the draw puts him closer because all you need is, you know, four points, three points, and you give yourself a chance. But I just was not impressed with Jesse Marsh's voice.

[00:50:18]>> No, I said the same thing at the top of the show when I was going through biggest disappointments. Uh Canada was near the top of the list. And that's that's interesting about Mexico. I didn't realize that they were taking that much heat from the press down there. Uh, it was that clearly South Africa was not really up for that game.

[00:50:38]But also, yeah, that that last red card, I forgot about that. That was stupid as hell. Why? Why did he do that? Like that was just one of the more needless ejections and putting yourself in a more difficult situation for the next game than you really had to. So, uh, yeah.

[00:50:52]No, USA vibes kind of the best so far out of all three of those teams. So, we'll see if they can keep it rolling on Friday. But, uh, Nico, uh, anything else or, uh, you, uh, you good to cut out here and then I'll, uh, see you down there.

[00:51:06]>> That's it, my friend. No, I'll see you down there, man. Uh, it it it's still looking pretty good here when it comes to traffic. So, get out here quickly.

[00:51:14]>> All right. Hell yeah. No, I'm about to jet in just a few minutes here. And, uh, I'll see you in a bit, brother. Thanks for tapping in and, uh, we'll talk soon.

[00:51:23]>> You get a man, baby.

[00:51:24]>> Take care.

[00:51:25]Shout out to Nico for uh tapping in from the trenches near Seattle Stadium Field.

[00:51:30]Uh he is down there for Belgium, Egypt where I am about to head. Uh we're going to we're going to rip for about 10 more minutes and then at around 9:00 uh I'm going to end this stream and then I'm going to start my venture down there.

[00:51:42]I'm excited. It's kind of just now starting to set in folks that I'm about to cover a World Cup match, first one.

[00:51:52]Uh I've covered a lot of USMT. I've been to a few of their games over the years, uh, but never in a World Cup. So, Friday is really, I think, the one that I'm the most excited for from a personal standpoint. Uh, but this one, I think, man, like once I get down there and actually get in there, I got a couple things that I'm trying to do when I get down there. So, uh, we'll see. But I I think reality will set in once like I'm walking up to the stadium, you know, going through security, going to the press box. Uh, you know, I I I did cover Club World Cup last summer, so I kind of got the lay of the land and the feel for the vibes of how FIFA does things. Uh, how do I put this?

[00:52:34]They do things differently than a lot of event organizers would. They got their own style protocol.

[00:52:48]That might not be the protocol that I would institute if I was running the event, but I'm not running the event.

[00:52:53]So, what I've learned with FIFA is you got to just let them cook. They're going to they're going to their website is going to do what it's going to do. Uh the logistics when you get there, it's the logistics when you get there with FIFA, there there comes a point where it's not up to you anymore.

[00:53:13]It's up to God. in the oligarch class, you let those two entities take care of it and you submit and you just you just kind of go with the flow. Uh that's what I learned at Club World Cup. And also uh at Club World Cup last year, I did kind of I was like I got to compartmentalize how this is working for the World Cup next year. So I think I it's just very uh complicated like to know where to go. They set up these zones that are different than how it usually is. It's just like a whole thing. So, uh, we're going to find out what it's like, but but like I said, I'm planning on uh, you know, I I'm going to get as much content as I can. I'm basically I'm going to be, uh, I'm going to be filming the whole time, as much as I can, as much as I'm allowed to. I'm gonna I'm gonna film for you guys, make a little video. I'm I'm Stephen Spielberg, okay?

[00:54:12]Filmmaker up in here. be getting a lot of footage. Uh, I won't be editing it, but I'll be taking it and sending it to Logan to edit. So, it's a big important job.

[00:54:26]Steven Spielberg. I'm Stephen Spielberg and uh, you know, I got my uh, reporter hat on. I'm I'm I'm boots on the ground journalism.

[00:54:34]Walter Kronhite.

[00:54:37]Walter Kankite crossed with Spielberg.

[00:54:40]Is uh, is Kronhite boots on the ground?

[00:54:43]Is that [laughter] Does that make sense? No, it's it's a it's a big day. I uh I don't know how much you guys know, but like mo most of my like work my day job for the MLS editorial staff is on the editorial side. I don't I don't do boots on the ground as much anymore. That's what I used to do. I don't do boots on the ground as much anymore, but I my boots are on the ground. They're about to be on the ground uh in just a few minutes here to go to Lumenfield and uh do some journalisming. It's going to be fun.

[00:55:18]Hunter S. Thompson. Exactly.

[00:55:24]Thanks, Wade. Yeah. No, it's uh it's going to be uh I just like I'm not going to lie, this is like a this is a milestone moment for me for sure because uh I also I I was not sure that I was even going to get these creds. Like you just you never know. Like like I was saying with FIFA, you kind of got to surrender to however they're going to do it. And if they way that they were doing it was like not credentiing me or our staff, I would have been like, "All right, you know, it is what it is." But they did. So honestly, like, you know, shout out to FIFA for that.

[00:55:55]And uh shout out to uh M. Malccom as well for the $1.99 super sticker.

[00:56:01]Appreciate Appreciate you guys tuning in. Appreciate the support. Uh yeah, I'll see you on the link. I'm about to head right there. About to head right there in just about five minutes.

[00:56:12]I think it'll be nice to like I don't really have rooting interest in this game. I think the closest thing I have to uh rooting interest is what I've talked about with my Belgium. Belgium is my favorite national team I've ever watched. Like I I was talking about this on one of the last shows, but they they are the team that made me fall in love with the sport.

[00:56:36]like watching them watching how they played the game like at the apex of their golden generation. It uh it took the sport from something where I was like getting really into it and I was a big fan of and I was following closely to like just like this is I'm obsessed with this and it's I I attribute a lot of it to that team in the country of Belgium specifically. So to be able to have my first World Cup match be like the team that actually made me fall in love with the game, it's pretty cool.

[00:57:06]even though like they're not really that team anymore. Uh but you know with these guys their new generation we Nico and I were just talking about it with Goku kind of leading it.

[00:57:18]I mean he's the type of guy that can be a building block for them like kind of recapturing that level. And you know maybe you know I would never count KDB out. I am not.

[00:57:31]I'd be lying to say I followed his form since he moved to what? He's in Syria now, right? What? I just was looking this up. What team is he on? He's not on Manchester City anymore. I can tell you that. Yeah, he's on Napoli.

[00:57:45]I don't know if he's still the same KDB for Napoli that he was for Man City for all those years, but it's KDB, man.

[00:57:51]Like, what are we talking about? One of the best ever. One of the best ever. Do it.

[00:57:57]Like in terms of midfield counterattack orchestration, has anyone ever done it better than KDB?

[00:58:05]I mean, you we're going to see it today.

[00:58:08]Some of the dimes this guy hits are the best dimes that anyone could hit.

[00:58:14]So, is it relaxing to be a neutral journal?

[00:58:20]Yeah. Yeah, it is. Like, we all know for Sounders Games, I'm not that.

[00:58:26]So, my plan is to just kick back and uh I think, you know, I I got I got a few things that I'm that are on my agenda.

[00:58:40]I'm going to be pursuing a a Bosnia story for that game.

[00:58:46]And then uh for the for this Belgium game, I think a lot of what I'm on the look for is just kind of what the atmosphere is like, what it's like in the city as the World Cup takes over. So there's going to be that. I got a Bosnia story I'm performing or performing. I got a Bosnia story I'm pursuing. Then I'll be covering USMT on site with uh all the angles for that uh from an MLS ccentric perspective as per my job on the MLS editorial staff.

[00:59:17]So, exciting times. KDB money for a good 45.

[00:59:22]All right. So, give cut him some slack though. He's a little older.

[00:59:27]He's like around my age, early 30s.

[00:59:29]Like, you got to you got to cut us early 30s guys some slack. Okay. He's He's It's tough.

[00:59:36]Imagine being in your early 30s and then also having to perform as an elite athlete at the level of Kevin de Brunt.

[00:59:41]Like that's no shot.

[00:59:47]No shot. Uh but all right guys, I'm going to call it right on the hour mark here. Uh cuz I got to get down to Seattle Stadium, Belgium, Egypt. It's going down. Uh we're going to be continuing our World Cup coverage throughout the tournament. Uh I think kind of just with shows like this, reaction shows where they make sense, preview shows, whatever. Like I'm sure we'll do we'll be doing USMT coverage. I think our World Cup coverage the situation right now is it'll be a little play it by ear on a rolling basis because uh there's probably going to be times where we want to rip shows where we're not expecting it or maybe we have a show planned and then it's like not timed well. It might have to move around. So, we'll see what's going on.

[01:00:25]But rest assured, we will be out here.

[01:00:27]We will be covering this stuff. I'm going to be vlogging all day today. You see me down there by the stadium uh on the way or anything. I might have my headphones in. I might have my shades on, but like you can come say hi. Don't be shy. I love it when uh people who listen to the show come say what's up.

[01:00:41]So uh definitely looking forward to seeing everyone on the link. Looking forward to seeing everyone down there.

[01:00:46]The World Cup is here. Uh subscribe to QED coffee. lobbingscortches.com/c coffee. Also uh please like the video, sub to the channel, like, comment, subscribe, rate five stars. Uh but other than that, appreciate y'all. Love y'all.

[01:01:02]Talk soon. Peace.

[01:01:09]goes in. Oh, what a cross [music] off his head.