Marek, I would never, ever leave you out of my World Cup squad.
Ahhh! That's nice.
You've got no idea what I'm talking about, do you?
No.
Landon Donovan being left out by Jurgen Klinsmann.
Ah, Landon Gone-a-van!
Nice, well you know what, I think we should find ourselves an American super-fan and find
out just how that decision has played out.
But, can we make sure he's wearing the away team colours?
Not a chance Marek, no.
Are you going into this tournament with any confidence? Because you have one of the hardest
groups.
You know, pound for pound, player for player, I can't see us getting through, I've got to
be honest. But, it'll be exciting. We always make it exciting.
Why is it that the American soccer team is always under-rated in the World Cup? Because
you qualified for the last, what is it, the last seven or eight or something?
Yeah.
And done reasonably well but no one really, sort of, fancies you in competitions.
I think it comes down to individual players, their pedigree. You know, we're kind of seen
as this, you know, it's the US, we'll put on a show, we'll make sure everyone has a
good time but, you know, maybe we don't know exactly how to play the game. Now I think
it's changing, we're having more players in Europe, our league is growing, we have a World
Cup winning manager. So, who knows?
In terms of the squad you're taking out there, the most recognisable names are Tim Howard,
Clint Dempsey, what about players in the squad that perhaps the wider fan doesn't know much
about but you think could have a good tournament.
One big one, Kyle Beckermen, defensive centre midfielder. I think he's going to open it
up a lot more for players like Micheal Bradley, who's obviously quite famous. Quality player,
I've always liked Michael Bradley.
Altidore has been a bit underwhelming for Sunderland, is he going to start for you?
I'm not too sure we have anybody else of his quality. You know, a few months ago, in the
World Cup qualifying I think he ended up scoring five in five.
Because Altidore is one of those players, when he puts on the national shirt, he nails
it...
I know he often talks about the service he was getting at Sunderland, maybe it was a
missing link there, maybe it was the system.
A bad workman always blames his tools, right?
That's a saying that, yes.
Do you believe in Klinsmann? Are the fans behind him?
I don't think you can argue with the way that we've gone through qualifying but if we go
and we bow out without really being in any of the games, his reputation would then be
quite low, I think, really.
You were playing in a diamond formation against Mexico, do you think that's going to be the
only chance the US have got, is by playing different formations?
Yeah, I think so, it's just about controlling the midfield. We're obviously, player for
player, not better than, erm, you know, Ghana, Germany or Portugal but we're going to have
to figure something out and I think that is probably the best way to keep teams from scoring.
OK, let's predict your group, game by game. Starting with Ghana, which I guess is the
must-win game, right?
Must-win, yeah. I would say two-one to the US, Ghana scoring first.
That's a good start.
I'd like to see that game.
We can arrange... we can sort that out for you Marek. Erm, so Portugal next up...
If the great one, Ronaldo, is healthy I don't see us having enough. Portugal, 3-1.
3-1?
3-1 to Portugal, yeah.
He struggles in big tournaments though, so... and then Germany.
With all the German connection, 1-1.
1-1? So you're ending up with four points?
Four points, yeah.
Is that going to be enough get you through?
I'm not sure. I'm not sure. I think if we get four points I will be partying like we're
through.
Well, that's the main thing, right? That's the main thing. What kind of chants do they
have?
We have more than U-S-A, U-S-A...
Oh good!
Erm, the one going at the moment is called "I believe", so it's like...
The R Kelly song?
Yeah, it's: "I believe!" And then everyone goes: "I believe!" And then it goes: "I believe
we! I believe we! I beleive that we will win! I believe that we will win!" That's it.
I'm glad that that's where it went and not I believe I can fly.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Well, best of luck. It doesn't seem like it's completely out of the question that you could
have a good cup run this time round again.
Quite a few of us are hopeful with Klinsmann behind us, he has the er... he's lifted the
trophy, so...
There you go! I like that, textbook American optimism. Let's high-five out of this one,
I think.
Yeah! USA! That's what I'm talking about, come on!
Well, he was a thoroughly nice bloke, Marek but I don't think America are going to do
very well at the World Cup, what do you think?
Well, I think he was a thoroughly nice bloke but I don't think America are going to very
well in the World Cup.
What do you guys think? Let us know in the comments below and if you like Your Shout,
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Marek?
Yes, it's quite simple, you just press this thin that says subscribe. If you can't read,
it's here, where I'm pointing. S-U-B-S-C-R-I-B-E.
You had to rehearse that about ten times.
Well, I know they're going to put it so the letters don't line up, so I look stupid.
OK, yeah, do that, can we do that? We can do that.
Alright, good luck pressing the button...