switch gears a little bit and talk about the US Men's
National Team because they played a big part in this world
cup and are a big Focus for us as well. And
Nick, I mean, what would you kind of give as a grade
to the US Men's National Team
based on their performance and guitar. Now at all said and
done now it's all wrapped up
because overall I think we'd all agree, it was better than
we thought it was going to be heading into it. I wouldn't
want to look back at our preview show the pour the water
now
because I don't think any of us are really that high.
High in the US. But you were the highest you thought they
could actually do someone at us. Woke up. Yeah, but don't
give me too much credit. I just literally thought they were
the second ranked team and FIFA an ELO ratings and
their group and I thought they'd manage it. I also
thought again, don't give me too much credit. I thought
they'd be Wales and be fine. I thought they might need to draw
around to
get through. I thought they'd get smacked by England
and they weren't, so,
yeah, I made the right call but it was,
you know, with the wrong phone number.
Here's what I think.
I don't want to drop them down a grade or raise them. A grade
based on what's come out about Geo Rana?
Because my biggest problem with Burkhalter was that he wasn't
playing Gino Reda. Now, I understand why he didn't play.
But at the same time,
do I give them
better than a bee or do? I give them better than a b - do
I give them a B for doing almost exactly what I thought they
would do?
And I don't think I can and I don't think it would be fair to
know this. In a story and then move them into a B+ or a C+.
I'm going to go with b -
all right. Andy, what do you think, mate?
Yeah, I'd give him a solid B from,
obviously, get out of the group.
You're competitive
in the in your knockout, round game against that team, that
turned out to be one of the more surprising,
good performers at this tournament but it wasn't just
about the results that they got, it was the performances
and it was a massive, like, think back to 2014 and the
That, that team played
and granted, they were in an incredibly difficult group
with Portugal, Ghana, and Germany. And so, every single
game just felt like, literally surviving to live and play
another day.
And so it was a little bit different from that perspective.
But how many times have we also seen the US Men's National Team
up against inferior opponents that they,
you know, whether through lack of confidence or belief or
ability?
Let them dictate the game. Let them be the team. That's on
top. Let them control the game and they did that almost none
at this tournament. The US. And so they were
group-stage. 6/2 played, they were the better team in five of
them knockout round that they had periods where they match
the Netherlands pretty evenly. And so it's just
it's so easy for me to see the progression in the program and
the quality of play and the squad and to actually see all
the fruits of the labor that we've talked about young team
2022, 20
Looking forward and to see them make a massive step forward to
me. If you keep in mind long term, it's about 2026.
I don't know how it's anything but a huge success for the US
Men's National Team. Yeah, they got further than I thought
they'd I thought they would go out in the group and I think
they showed a lot of
lot of grit and a lot of progression like you said, but
the main thing is to performances, you're right.
They played
better than the points. They actually got in the group stage
and I think with the Netherlands and it was and just
for a couple of defensive mistakes that cost them dear,
they would have been right in that game to the very end and
then if you got to the court as they probably would
have given Argentina, a good game. And I just think that
there we saw a lot of players really
just Elevate themselves, beyond the level we've ever seen and
to do that. I woke up, obviously is the perfect time
to do that and I think it all came together pretty perfectly
for Greg bow Hardware as well. The, the lack of injuries to
key players that had plagued them for the last couple of
years,
you know, Tim wire
McKenney,
Tim, ream coming back. Can the team was excellent said, you
know, dest coming back into the team,
Christian politic Being Fit
and the only thing that really held them back was, obviously a
not having that number 9, that natural finisher
up top that if they have that, and they can find that the next
few years, then they can go on a deeper run at a World Cup.
So, I came a b-minus as well. Nick, I agree with that.
I just think they're it was a little bit left in the tank.
Maybe from
I just think belief level, sometimes in some of those
games against Wales against And wanted to see if they were
going to take a huge step forward.
Those games were there to be one,
and I feel like they were just holding themselves back
a little bit, but that's not a bad thing that's going to maybe
come of experience and the quality of pliers, they have
looking ahead 2026,
very positive.
Alright, let's talk about the MVP, then for the USA.
Nick, who are you going with? Who was the standout performer
or performers for the USA? Yeah, listen, there was so so
many you can honestly name,
But as time has gone on Glad you didn't ask me this two
weeks ago, because the maybe I was trying to be a little bit
different, but it's, it has to be
in my opinion. It has to be Christian polasek.
I love Tyler Adams.
I think he was phenomenal. I know pulla sick. Mister chance
to score early against the Netherlands, but they don't get
out of the group stage without him.
He takes the, he scores in the first half against Iran and
takes that kick to the nether regions. He sets up the way
a goal with. If you watch back that goal, it's a brilliant
pass.
Ass from a player who's not necessarily in the position. We
always see him. So, and I want to give him credit though,
weight of the country was on him as that goofy. Little
commercial goes with the
pressure. Pressure pressure pressure pressure,
he has been the name on everyone's lips from
the minute. He started that game and Kuba but the u.s. didn't
make it out and so we don't often maybe Pat him on the back
as much as we can
because we expect so much from him and I think he largely
delivered he did. He did. So did a lot of other Andy. So who
you picking? Yeah, I will go with Tyler Adams his impact.
And by the way, the interview that Jesse marsch Leeds, United
coach did with Tim Howard that is on NBC's site, is, is
absolutely phenomenal. And the way that that Jesse Marsh who
was coach, Tyler Adam since he was 15 off and on speaks about
Tyler Adams,
I think says absolutely everything about who he is and
the importance of him as a player, to various Club teams
that he's been on. And Also, now as he has become
an Amendment voted on by his teammates, it should be noted
captain of the US Men's National Team
for this world cup.
The impact that he has on the field and protecting
the defense and granted he was at fault for one, maybe two of
the goals against the Netherlands. And so he didn't have his best
game in the biggest moment,
but he gives them a.
He gives both sides
of the squad going forward and defending a massive platform to
build off of, you know, helping out that defense, which was
coming into the tournament, a massive
A question at centre-back, Tim ream,
you know, I think put a little bit of those fears at ease with
some of his performances, but Adams was absolutely
everywhere. And we always talk about the, the fighting Spirit
of the American player. Nobody embodies that more
than Tyler atoms. And so from a leadership perspective,
from a performance perspective and just all the intangibles
that are involved with it to me, he,
I thought Nick was a little crazy go with full of sick at
first, but then, as he laid it out, okay. It's a little bit
closer than I thought, but to me, It's still title rattles.
It's a difficult choice though. So many good performances.
I mean, Tyler items
moose or alongside him? Was excellent, considering how
young he is. Obviously. Christian, pull a sick. That's
a fair Choice. Nick totally understand that. Then the two
fullbacks Anthony Robinson, they said you know Des
just gave the u.s. something totally different,
our wide and gave them a real weapon and a threat going
forward. And that's where they really dominated teams out
wide. But I'm gonna go for a Centre back. When we were over,
Tim ream someone that
kind of known for a long time.
For college football. MLS for taught him a lot over
the years, and I spoke to him just before
he left for the World Cup,
once he played for, Fulham gets man united and they just caught
with that side. Craven Cottage Otis said, you know, it's,
it's inspirational really a story. At the age of 35 to go
to his first World Cup. And let's not forget, he wasn't
really going to go, unless the few injuries didn't crop up,
and the way he's been playing for Fulham, the season,
absolute Renaissance, even we all know. He's great on
the bull,
but defensively. He's been excellent and he just said to
me
on the lessons in life is a rollercoaster, but nobody can
hold you back but yourself, and
that was pretty inspirational message that he gave out and he
definitely played like that. He gave every single ounce and
I think the defensive unit was the reason they go out of
the group, we know the number nine wasn't there. We know
they won't clicking
that well and attack and finishing off chances.
So you had to be solid at the back and that was the big
problem we had, right? Where's the number 9? Where's
the center backs and Tim
Him answer that huge problem
and that's why I think we talked about MVP.
I think it was the most valuable
because maybe if you took Tyler Adams out or Christian Paula
seek out one, the full-backs, you still might you know, you
might get through to the last 16, but I think if you take Tim
ream out of that team,
I think the defense would have been
creaking and probably broken down a few times during that
tournament and group stage. So, again,
huge fan of his and I just think it's a great, great story
to never, give up, and always keep believing.
Yourself and Tim ream is a fine player and I think there's
a leadership skills. All the experience he had. I don't
know. He's going to make it to the next World Cup. By
certainly, for me was a standout performer
for the USA at this world.