Pulisic Under Fire, Messi’s Relief-Tears & Bellingham’s Masterclass | Unfiltered Soccer

Unfiltered Soccer with Landon and Tim

[music] presented by Volkswagen.

Volkswagen has long been a supporter of

soccer in America and has proudly been a

partner of US Soccer for over 5 years.

Welcome to Unfiltered Soccer. He's

Landon Donovan. I'm Tim Howard and we

are presented by Volkswagen. What's up,

LD? Where where are you? Look, just give

the people. You're Dallas. Okay, I'm

>> Dallas. Uh, my kids will not be

listening

>> to this show. I'm [laughter] gonna fly

home and surprise them today for a day

before I go to LA. My first day home and

I think in like four months.

>> Wow, that's amazing.

>> I know. It's going to be nice. Where are

you? New York.

>> I'm New York.

>> You're in New York.

>> Only for only for a brief moment. I'm

going up to Boston today.

>> Just for a minute. Okay. Two shows in a

row. Backtoback days. This is nice.

Welcome in everyone. As always, follow

us on social media. Unfiltered Soccer.

Make sure you subscribe. Apple podcast,

Spotify, YouTube, anywhere you get your

podcast. We are going to dig into the

mailbag a ton today because there is a

lot a lot a lot of questions. So, you

can always email Jordan feedback at

unfiltered soccer.com. Quick reminder,

our next show will be our live show in

Dallas. So, if you are in Dallas in the

Dallas area, make sure you sign up, get

there, see it live ahead of the first

semi. And then our show after that will

be the July 18th day before in New York

City. That's going to be so much fun.

Um,

>> okay. So, I just alluded to it. We have

a ton of We're going to spend a lot of

time in the mailbag today because you

guys have a lot of questions. So, we

will do that later in the show, so stay

tuned for that. Um, we want to spend the

day a little bit going around the World

Cup because yesterday was so US focused.

And [laughter]

>> of course, we'll get back to the US

after uh when once the mailbag comes.

So,

>> yeah.

>> Um, all right. So, just looking back at

the round of 16, uh we start with

yesterday, Argentina, Egypt.

>> What a game.

>> Um

>> game of the tournament for you. Maybe

maybe

>> probably there's been a few. I think

Argentina been involved in a few of

them.

>> I know. I know.

>> So, Argentina down two-0, 10 minutes to

go. Chris Romero scores. Lionel Messi

equalizes in the 83rd minute. And then

Enzo Fernandez wins it in the 92nd. 90

plus two.

>> Mhm.

>> Um now eight goals for Messi in the

tournament, which is just wild. on this

goal was so good like half volley in off

the underside of the bar. Um but

honestly the the talking point became

this Egypt goal that was disallowed.

>> Yeah.

>> And I have been a Tim a I am a big fan

of V.

>> Y

>> because I want the call to get right. I

want it to be right. Okay. So O2 we play

Germany in the quarterfinals of a World

Cup.

>> Greg Burhalter has a chance off a

corner. It hits a guy's hand on the goal

line and at [clears throat] that point

it would have been a penalty and a red

card. They've since taken double

jeopardy out of play.

>> Sure.

>> And it would have changed there. I mean,

presumably we score a penalty and we're

up a man and maybe we go to a semiinal.

>> And so I want them to get the call

right.

>> Y

>> Okay.

>> This whole idea of going back 15

seconds, 20 seconds on the other end of

the field to say there was a foul.

>> Yeah.

>> To me is just wild. If the ref gives a

foul, fine. But this was honestly this

was BS. And

>> I feel really bad for Egypt. I really do

because that's not the way you should be

going out of a tournament.

>> It's shocking. [sighs and gasps]

>> Yeah. Yeah. [clears throat]

Um I'm with you. I'm a huge uh proponent

of V. I always say I am. I I I I accept

what you're saying. I I given the way

the law has been written with V. I I

accept it. So, I'm saying, okay, in a

goalc scoring phase, anything that

[snorts] any anything before that where

the ball was in play is reviewable, but

I'm I'm sort of with you given that it

didn't affect the attacking phase.

The referee decided not to like Yeah.

Yeah. I feel like maybe that should be I

>> almost on the other end line.

>> Yeah.

>> Where this happens. I mean, Argentina

had I don't know how many seconds, 12,

15 seconds and six defenders and

multiple plays.

>> Yeah.

>> To put out the fire. And I mean, that's

just wild.

>> I know.

>> It's hard for me to believe. And

>> I think what we're learning in this

World Cup is even with [clears throat]

the Flo Balligan red card suspension and

these things,

>> there's an opportunity now for FIFA.

Look, people are going to and

complain and whine about this and and

justifiably so on all sides of all the

things. Mhm.

>> There's an opportunity now for FIFA to

get these things more defined, more

clear. So, for instance, if you if you

say

>> has to be within 5 seconds

>> of a goal being scored to go back to the

foul or it has to be in the same part of

the field or I'm just making this stuff

up, but they need to define it because

it's all like this amorphous subjective

and

>> it's hard on the referees, too, by the

way.

>> Mhm.

>> Yeah. They adapt they adapt to the rule.

Yeah.

>> Yeah. But what I've what I keep saying

is in some in different parts of the

world depending on where you're a

referee the rules are different.

>> Mhm. [clears throat]

>> Right. So in America it might

>> which is also really weird to me but

yeah

>> I know it is and I know they come in and

they do training and all that but like

their instinct is like oh maybe in my

country yes that's absolutely got to be

a foul.

>> Sure. [snorts]

>> Right. And in other countries it might

say no that was at the other end line

like we let that go cuz we want more

attacking. And so it's actually

difficult on the refs too. But that was,

you know, I I feel bad for and and by

the way, Egypt did not hold back. Um

Ziko said the referee was really unfair.

The injustice was clear. There's been an

unfairness right from the start. It is

clear that this tournament has been

fixed.

>> Well, harsh words. What I what I would

[laughter]

>> It's a huge statement.

>> What I would say is

we as Americans understand the harshness

of it. What I would say to Egypt is if

you make a phone call, you could get

yourself back in this tournament.

>> How? What? Wait, what do you mean? You

You're You say You're saying you don't

believe You don't believe in magic.

>> I believe in the power of a phone call.

They can't get back in the tournament.

>> Why not? Why not? You can do anything

you want now.

>> All right. Anyway, either way, Argentina

moves on. So, it'll be Argentina,

Switzerland, and we'll get to the

quarterfinals next. Um,

>> can I go back to that just for a second?

cuz you [clears throat] and I have

talked about well because we cover the

MLS so so much we've talked about Messi

and he was he was really emotional after

the game and you know what was special

about that to me is I've sort of given

up trying to figure out if he has a

pulse or or if he feels pressure like I

he has just shown me he doesn't feel

pressure he's like you know he goes out

and wins the MLS Cup and he's like thank

you very much this is just what I do or

you know or whatever and and last night

was we never see it. He walks off

shoulder slumped. He sort of just walks

off and says hello to guys who say hello

to him. That's how he ends every game.

So the tears for me told me

he knew there was that he knew there was

an end to this.

>> The end was there.

>> The end was there. That [clears throat]

means something to him. Obviously I

would think it means something to him.

Um the fear of almost that being it. Um,

I felt like that was really real and and

that to me was like, whoa, Messi doesn't

give us that.

>> So, that was cool. I don't know if that

meant anything to anybody else.

>> No, you're right. By the way, you missed

another penalty.

>> I know.

>> So, before we move on to can um

>> No, the answer is no. Don't ask that

question. Come on.

>> No, don't ask the question.

>> They get one against Switzerland. Does

he take it?

>> Come on.

>> You tell you tell me. You tell me who's

taking that.

>> He's definitely going to take it. But if

I'm the coach, [laughter] I mean, I'm

like,

>> if you're the coach, you're like, well,

I I do want to go back.

>> It's so in his It's got to be so in his

head now. He dragged one wide right that

way and then got it blocked right. So

now he's thinking, "Okay, I got to go

the other side." But the goalkeeper's

like, "I know he's [laughter] going that

way." So it's like it's this whole

>> the manager's balancing, do I want to

win the World Cup or do I want to get

back in my country?

>> You hated. Yeah. [laughter] Forever. I

guess we'll see.

>> Uh Canada go out to Morocco 3-0. They

actually played really well. the the two

talking points for this um

>> the Alfonso Davies thing, man. It it's

weird. He played 15 total minutes in the

tournament, I think.

>> Mhm.

>> So, the day before the match, and let's

put this in the context of Christian

Pissic, too, cuz the if this if you took

out Davies and inserted Christian

Pissic, and this was the US, how would

we feel about this? Yeah.

>> Davey said, "Me and Jesse had a

conversation. He asked if I feel 100%. I

told him no. Obviously, we want players

on the field that are 100% to play the

game and can 100% give everything. I

feel like I wasn't there yet.

>> So, this is why we made the decision or

I made the decision to sit down and give

the players the opportunity to play that

can give 100% to the country.

>> And then Jesse said, "Alonso didn't feel

right in training and we got an MRI and

it was clear,

>> meaning no injury."

>> Yeah.

>> So, the good news is there was no

injury, but he didn't. his hamstring

didn't feel right and we were hoping

that by the time this time this morning

he woke up that he would feel better but

he didn't. So we wanted to be cautious

and make sure we weren't risking

anything

>> thoughts.

>> Well, yes. And and so we we do we take

the the Christian implicit comparison

and and Alfonso Davies, right? Two two

brilliant players. I don't know. I I

have I don't have my finger on the pulse

of the Canadian media, so I don't know

what necessarily is coming out of Canada

and and how intense that is. Um, what I

would say is this is this is very

transparent from from Alfonso Davies.

He's he's he's come out and told us what

is going on and the manager is telling

us what's going on. I don't know if we

always get that

on our side of things.

>> Okay. So, so, so that then leaves things

open to assumption and interpretation

and you get the you get the rest. Um,

[clears throat] yeah, I, you know, I

having been a teammate of top players,

I sort of am in the camp,

you know, you landing Donovan in a World

Cup at 70%. Is far better than the next

guy off the bench at 120%. That that's

that's a fact. That's a fact. I I mean,

I could prove that. So, but again,

there's history because if we're going

back to the Nations League, right? So,

>> Bayern Munich is on the phone to Canada.

He's he, you know, he's injured. They

don't don't play him. Jesse Marsh plays

him. He decides to play himself and

tears his ACL, right? So, there's

history there. There's history there.

Um, does that play into it? It has to

play into it. Of course it does.

>> Um, but it's Canada. It's a home their

home country World Cup. It's a big

decision. It's a big decision. And I

have no doubt that there's honest

conversations here. And

>> it feels like

that must have been in his head, too. I

didn't think about till you said it.

He's like, "Shoot, if I play, I'm not

100%." But Tim, the reality is I know

we're just taking his exact words and he

might have just said it without think.

>> Nobody's 100% in the tournament.

>> Sure. Sure. Sure.

>> Okay. So, like

>> it's bizarre and it's also interesting

that Jesse made it clear.

>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. that they got an MRI.

>> Yeah.

>> And it was clear he didn't have to say

that,

>> right? He's like, "Well, we got an MRI

and there were no problems, but he

didn't want to play, right?" And so this

this this relationship is clearly

strained.

>> Yeah. Can I say,

>> but with Jesse saying it it the MRI was

clear makes it more fuzzy for me.

>> Um not not to be not not to be

>> Yeah. That's why he said he's not

stupid, [clears throat]

>> right? But I and so but again what I

what I would say is

that you know that maybe if if it's

clear and Alfonso Davis is feeling

something whether it's whether it's

clear or not you know I I can't imagine

him cutting his nose off despite his

face you know like he would have wanted

to play. So there's something going on

with Alonso.

>> But did I don't know did he want to

play? [clears throat]

>> I don't know. Yeah. I got Yeah. I take

>> I'll just say this like you know your

body at some point.

>> Yeah.

>> In your career as you get older you

understand exactly how your body when

you're young you're not you're like yeah

I'm fine and then you tear a muscle

[clears throat] and you're like shoot I

guess I wasn't fine.

>> But then it just I don't know it just

feels like there's something more going

on there.

>> Can I can I I'm I'm just thinking about

because we you and I and by the way

[clears throat] not saying this is

smart. Okay. Because in hindsight it was

not smart. You and I [clears throat]

have talked constantly about players

being injured, big moments, etc., etc. I

was I was 37 years old. I had I had

taken a sabbatical from the national

team after the World Cup. I finally get

back in as a number one for World Cup

qualifying on New York and Klinsman,

right? I'm playing in Denver, Colorado.

We beat the LA Galaxy in a a historic

shootout for us in the in the playoffs.

And then I go into camp and this camp is

USA Mexico World Cup qualifying first

game and it's in Columbus and Landon my

groin is hanging off. Hanging off. I'm 3

I'm 37. I'm old. So I I got fly into

Columbus. I'm like I can't train the

first day. Second day don't feel like

training here. This is hurting. Like

like I know Landon something's really

wrong

>> but it's USA Mexico. I'm the starter.

Right. So I anyway, week goes on, take

all the injections in the world, take

all the pills in the world. I play the

game, everybody remembers what happened.

[clears throat] 45 minutes on the clock,

I take a goal kick, I snap my groin,

groin come, you know, the my um adductor

comes off, my pubic bone should be

career ending. Like I knew that. And now

you can go back and say that's a really

dumb thing to do, but it was US Mexico.

I was gonna play. I was gonna find a

way.

>> So anyway, yeah, I I I

>> And this is Yeah.

>> And this is World Cup. World Cup at

home. All right, let's [clears throat]

move on. Uh, we'll just breeze through

France Paraguay. It was ugly game. A lot

of just dark arts and whatever from I

don't honestly I don't want to talk

about it a lot because it's the Paraguay

piece of it was it was really ugly. I

didn't like seeing it. France move on

and you just you know it is

>> Let let me touch on it just for a

second.

>> Yeah.

>> What I what I would say is because we

get we get enamored with the beautiful

game because it's so beautiful. The fact

of the matter is

in my opinion LT

>> if if Paraguay do anything other than

that

>> no I agree

>> they get blown out of the gym

>> I agree I'm not I don't blame them for

it I just don't like I just don't like

it as someone who

>> you know

>> Yeah but what but [clears throat] what I

would say is they if they if they try

and go toe-to-toe they're going to get

played off the pitch. What I did like

and Terry Enri talked about this a ton

because he knows that team. He's been a

part of that team. He's won with that

team.

If

Paraguay

played that that game, the dark arts,

the nastiness to perfection. You know

who else played that game to perfection?

France.

>> Yeah, I agree.

>> Because because when it when it was time

for them to stand up, they stood up.

>> Yeah.

>> But then they outplayed them. And like

there's a balance in that which makes

them for me like the perfect team. Did

they

>> just let it happen? You got to stand up

to it. You can't go overboard. You can't

get like caught up in it.

>> Correct. And I and and if you look at

that game, there's two sides to it was

ugly and it was crap. You shouldn't do

that. Please, everybody look at the at

the other side. Look at what France did

when Mbappé the best player in the world

or one of one of two best players in the

world.

>> He he went toe-to-toe with a few people.

He got into a shoving match. He gave it

back. So anyway, yeah, that we'll move

on. But

>> uh I called Norway Brazil in New York

and I have to say I thought

I thought Brazil would win the game.

Mhm.

>> Norway were by a long way the better

team.

>> And this Tim, this was not like an

anomaly. This was not a one-off,

whatever. They they were the better

team. They are the better team.

>> Yeah,

>> they are.

>> Brazil, I said this during the game.

Brazil's front four in that game.

Vinnie,

>> Martinelli,

>> uh I'm blanking now.

>> Kuna,

>> Ryan, and Kuna. Yeah,

>> the lack of defending by those four was

appalling.

>> Appalling. And I I don't know what the

reason. It was hot. It was But it was so

easy for Norway to get into the

Brazilian half

>> with like three passes [clears throat]

comfortably.

>> Mhm.

>> And then on the on the goal on Erling

Holland's first goal, Enrich is playing

on the right and he's defending 20 yards

from his goal.

>> Yeah. And I think it's Shelderup who

just goes by him and he just kind of

like hangs a leg out like maybe I'll

try. And then Shelderup goes in, clips a

ball in goal. And I'm thinking to

myself, dude,

>> you're in a World Cup round a 16th. This

is crazy.

>> And so credit to Norway.

>> Brazil were just

they were not Brazil you expected to

see. [clears throat]

>> Can I You're right. I watched that game

uh and your call of it. I I think what

gets lost and this is the problem. What

gets lost with and you know what I'm

gonna say here with Brazil maybe these

current players and you name them and

obviously I think Vinnie Junior is one

of the best players in the world

the Brazil teams the the the men that

wore that yellow shirt historically

prior to this generation what everybody

forgets because we want to talk about

Roario Betto Ronaldo uh Rivaldo the

>> there was there was usually seven

players wearing that yellow shirt that

were just worker bees. Totally

>> just worker bees. They weren't weren't

brilliant footballers, by the way. Just

worked.

>> They worked their socks off. I'm telling

you now, if you think I'm wrong, go back

and watch some of Brazil's best teams.

Yes, they had El phenomeno. They had

they had the best players, but they had

worker bees that you didn't even know

their name. It just the last name was

long and it said Eno on it. You're like,

"Oh, yeah. This guy plays in Brazil

somewhere." And they worked. Um,

[clears throat] the other thing I I and

I think I I don't know if I said it on

this show, so I'm going to repeat it.

Uh, but I said it within our group. I

want to I want to put this out to every

commentator and every analyst that

covers football. Don't ever Let's stop

saying don't ever say it again. In the

first half, Holland's had only four

touches.

>> He doesn't play football. Let me tell

you what Holland does. Stop it. Every

com and I love and some of these

commentators and analysts I love I love

and I adore. Stop saying Holland,

whether he's playing for Man City or or

or any team in the world.

He only had four touches in the first

half because you know what he's going to

do? He's just going to latch on to one

ball, smash the leather off of it, and

go home. That's what he does. So this

whole this whole narrative around him is

done.

>> Tim, we had the So we have amazing stat

guy Dave Ray who works with us. So he

said coming into the game, he said

>> Erling Holland scores once every 14

touches. Okay, thank you. Historically,

that must be the best ever. [laughter] I

can't imagine it's like imagine

>> once every 14 times he touches the ball,

he scores a goal. And I I don't know the

context I can put that in so people

understand, but that is a wild stat.

>> It's wild.

>> So, we're going through the game and and

he's like showing us a note like he only

has eight touches now. [laughter] It's

in the 60th minute. Whatever.

>> I just slaughtered you guys.

>> End of the game, Tim. End of the game,

two goals, 26 touches.

>> So, every 13 touches he scored a goal. I

mean, it's like it's like clockwork.

>> Look, unbelievable.

>> It's unbelievable. And and I'm saying

that tongue and cheek because a lot of a

lot of the commentators, analysts, I

love I adore. I'm just saying like at

this point, we should we should He's

making a fool of us all. We should just

stop with like

>> he he hasn't he hasn't really done

anything in the first half. Don't worry.

>> I'll tell you what though, too, and I

said this on the broadcast, he's a

winner. like he does when the ball when

their goalkeeper gets the ball uh Neland

and there's like pressure and whatever

and it's time to go long and Brazil were

pressing up the field especially when

they were losing and he's one v one with

Gabrielle or Marinos

>> and they smash the ball and he just

looks back finds them

>> oh my god

>> defends like like the the space and pins

them and whatever and it would drop down

to whoever Odigard or whatever and then

they would go

>> and he would work and run and press and

I was like this guy's the real deal Can

I tell you the real deal?

>> Can I tell you something that's so so

true?

>> Well, last year or the year before uh

with NBC Sports, we were at uh we were

pitch at at Stanford Bridge. Might have

been two years ago and it was Man City

Chelsea. So, we were on pitchside desk

and then our seats are amazing. Our

observer seats are like right behind

Chelsea's bench or or city's bench. It's

like literally we're we're 10 yards from

the pitch. And this ball gets clipped up

the channel and Fanao, the center back

for Chelsea, runs into the channel.

Holland runs in the channel. They

basically eyes for the ball, size each

other up, eyes for the ball, bang. And

not one of I mean, honestly, it was like

two tractor trailers coming together.

You could hear the oof like in [snorts]

their chest. Neither one of them back

down. But I was just thinking like

>> for all of this like the the darting

runs, he's a strong ox, man. And I

remember I remember looking at Beex and

the Robbie's like,

>> did did I did you hear that as well?

Because like literally the air just came

out of it was incredible.

>> Incredible. Um, okay. Spain, Portugal.

So, end of Neymar's career there and end

of sorry, his international career for

sure and end of Cristiano's career here

too. Um, he it was interesting him after

the game. So,

clearly he thought about this and and I

think this is part of the problem

honestly and you know I say this at the

risk of getting just absolutely

destroyed by all these Cristiano fans

>> and me. He said, "I've won three titles

for Portugal. Before Cristiano, not

before me,

>> Portugal hadn't won any titles. I'm

happy. The truth is that the biggest

title I won with the national team was

2016, the Euros, which for me has the

same magnitude as a World Cup, honestly.

So, I leave with a clear conscience and

that's it. Tomorrow will be a new day

and life will go on." And

>> I get that. I do. Um, but when I when I

think about this team in this

tournament,

>> something really interesting happened in

the game. In the prior game against

Croatia, Roberto Martinez made the

biggest decision of his coaching career

>> at the risk of getting absolutely

destroyed and hated for the rest of his

life.

>> He pulled off Cristiano in the 81st

minute and he put on Gonzalo Ramos.

>> And what happened? Gonzalo Gonzalo

[clears throat] Ramos scored the goal to

send them into the round of 16.

In the Spain game, he left Cristiano on

the field.

>> It was 000. And even when it went to one

zero, he made a I think he made a

difference.

>> Yeah.

>> And he didn't bring Gonzalo Ramos on.

And they had a chance late with Bernardo

Silva in the box. And if that's Gonalo

Ramos, it's probably a goal

>> probably cuz he's he's very good in

front of especially with his head.

>> And so the challenge, this was the

challenge the whole time with this team.

When you're playing a good team and

Spain are very good. They might have

lost anyway. When you're playing a good

team, you have other really good players

like Gonzalo Ramos is a really good

player.

>> And I watched Cristiano closely. He had

a few kind of half chances,

but there wasn't a whole lot of

movement. There just wasn't a whole lot

there. Right. And so at some point,

maybe you put Consol Ramos on with

Christian.

>> Correct. That's what I was thinking.

>> But but the challenge was that it's like

his hands are tied. Roberto Martinez's

hands are tied. It's like you pull this

guy off and now you're you're the jerk

who pulled off one of the best players

who's ever played the game.

>> Yeah.

>> And you don't you go home, right? Like

what are you supposed to do?

>> Look, it's conundrum.

>> In Roberto's final moments a as a

Portugal manager. I can assure you

it was the same thoughts he had when he

signed his contract and went into his

his first press conference. he would

have known.

>> The biggest thing for me to do the day I

signed to be Portugal manager is to

figure out how I'm going to manage

the greatness that is Cristiano Ronaldo.

And that always was going to have an end

point for sure. I thought I thought

putting Ramos with Cristiano Ronaldo

maybe putting him at this point you're

down, right? So putting him wide left or

underneath somewhere operationally in

front of goal. I I still believe he

showed up at the tournament. Let's face

it, he showed up at the tournament.

>> No, he did.

>> Um, he did.

>> I I I still think in moments, and you

have to trust this a little bit. I do

anyway. Like, in moments, I still am

like, who can produce something from

nothing? Who has shown me hundreds and

hundreds of times in the biggest moments

they can produce something from nothing?

Cristiano Ronaldo. Yeah, after after the

fact it didn't happen. Okay. But I still

believe that that's what you're that's

what you're hoping for. And I I don't

know, maybe this is why I'm not a

manager. I I still keep him on. I still

keep him on for for the for the

enormity of who he is and and for and

for Yeah. the fact that he should and he

he has earned the right to be on the

pitch when that final whistle blows.

It's maybe maybe that's romantic.

>> Well, I also agree that

>> if a chance fell.

>> Yeah.

>> There's nobody else you wanted.

>> Oh, man. So, but he they just they

needed more and and it was I could see

the handcuff that Roberto Martinez had

felt bad.

>> Um, all right guys, who do you think

will win the World Cup? Eight left. I

have my thoughts. Um, let us know in the

YouTube comments. You can always email

us feedback and unfiltered soccer.com.

Remember to subscribe. Let's take a

quick break, Tim. When we come back, we

go from the round of 16 to the

quarterfinals. We will briefly break

that down, all the matchups, etc. And

then eventually we are going to get to

all of your questions in the mailbag,

which there are a lot right here on

Unfiltered Soccer with Landon and Tim

presented by Volkswagen. Stay right

there.

As you guys know, we are all about

spreading the love of this amazing game

and access to this beautiful game across

the US. We want you to get involved, to

join, to play, to enjoy it. We care

about you. We care about the game and we

want you involved.

>> This is also something Volkswagen cares

deeply about. They have long been a

supporter of soccer in America and have

proudly been a partner of US Soccer for

over 7 years.

>> Yeah, that's right. And this summer is a

massive opportunity for you all to get

involved in the game and not just by

watching the matches. LD, I think it's

important that that people

enjoy the matches, but that they get a

ball at their feet and they play

participate. Whether that's in the

street or a park, it doesn't matter. I

like I think I think it's so important

that they fall in love with the game.

>> It's the beauty of what's going to

happen this summer is you're going to

have the opportunity to be a part of

this sport in a unique way and we want

you involved. So consider this your call

from LDNI, from Volkswagen to get off

the sidelines and make the most of it.

Get swept up, tune in, play, or at the

very least always keep a ball in your

trunk.

>> Follow on social to see how they are

getting in the game this summer. And

check out the Volkswagen Tiguan. Learn

more at vw.com.

On the biggest stage in the world,

FanDuel is changing the game because

sometimes your player gets subbed off

and your bet goes with them. But not

anymore. With FanDuel's super sub, if

your player is subbed out, your bet

stays in. That means if your player

leaves the match, your bet continues on

with the substitute. And by the way, if

that player gets substituted, it

continues on and on and on. So, you're

still in it until the final whistle.

Because in matches like these, anything

can happen. And now your bet can go the

distance. Let there be goals this summer

on FanDuel. Visit fanduel.com to get

started now.

All

right, Timmy, we're back. Round of 16,

quarterfinals. Here are your matchups,

and then we'll go through them briefly.

France, Morocco, Belgium, Spain, Norway,

England, Switzerland, Algeria. Um,

before we get into France, Morocco, I

did want to go back real quick to to

what Jesse Marsh had to say. your guy

Jesse Marsh after Canada Morocco

>> uh he said I'm paraphrasing here but he

said I well I'm not paraphrasing he said

at the end of his interview at the end

of the match he said I'd rather be us

than them

>> and it certainly got a lot of headlines

I think I know what he meant

>> um he said you know we played a

beautiful game we were the better team

we dominated [clears throat] we were in

control

>> but they lost 3-0

And um just you know you know him well.

What what's your take away on that?

>> Like everybody leave Jesse alone. Jess

Jessee is a very very intelligent human

being. One of in the coaching world one

of the most intelligent I know. So the

fact that we're people are are

speculating that

>> well he he lost the game. So of course

why would he why would he rather be

Canada? It's not what he meant. He meant

that [clears throat] he's very very

proud to be the manager of Canada. He's

very proud of his group that went out

and executed a game plan, albeit in a

losing effort. And he he's basically

saying he's the captain of that ship and

he will go down with that ship. And that

that's what he meant. This whole this

whole every everybody's so quick to jump

on and not and not sort of dissect it.

So anyway, um

>> he doesn't help himself sometimes

though,

>> but he also he had his best player out

the whole tournament and I I just I

would love to see

>> what that would have been like with

Alfonso Davies. Uh, okay. So, France,

Morocco. Um,

your thoughts on this? I mean, I this

has the potential to be a really

interesting matchup. I mean, France are

so dynamic, but Morocco are a good team,

Tim. Really good team.

>> I'll give you my thoughts.

>> Mhm.

>> I'm I'm upset with myself cuz I am going

to be at the game and I'm not going to

go to it.

>> Oh, you're like you're doing an

appearance or something?

Yeah, I have I have uh an event prior to

the game and then I have tickets to the

game and

>> I'm not going I don't know. Here's why.

This is

>> champagne problems. But if any but if

anybody can can understand this. So I'm

I'm leaving my hotel. This is going to

sound crazy now that I talk about it

because people would like do anything.

But obviously I I'm in I'm in you and I

are in a different city literally every

day. So, I've got I've got I've got an

event pregame

>> and then the game

>> and then from the game I would then have

to go to the airport and get on a flight

to LA.

>> Mhm.

>> It doesn't sound crazy, but to me

I'm like I I

>> So, what are you doing instead of that?

I don't get it.

>> I I'm just going to go to hotel and

watch the game. [laughter]

>> Okay. it because it's in Foxboro. It's

okay. It's in Boston. It's in Boston

stadium. So, I'm saying it's in Foxboro.

So, then I'm like,

>> that place is a nightmare to get in

there.

>> Bro, when that So, so when the game

ends, then I got to fight traffic and

then I got to go and

>> you could leave with 10 minutes left.

>> Then I go to LAX and then when I get to

LAX, that's like 800 miles from any

city. So, you got to

>> Guys, write in the comments if you feel

bad for Tim that he doesn't get to go to

a soccer game quarterfinal. And by the

way, and by the way, I've been like in

my brain saying this like like Morocco

France blockbuster like blockbuster

match. What am I doing? What am I doing?

>> Let me ask you this.

>> Yeah. Go on.

>> If France lose

>> Yeah.

Which could happen, by the way.

>> Was it a successful World Cup for

Mbappe?

>> Mbappe? Yeah.

>> He's got he's got seven goals. He might

have eight or nine by the end of the

day.

>> Yeah, it's Yeah, it's Yeah, it's

successful.

But that they went out in a quarterfinal

to Morocco and you know how that's

perceived around the world. Oh, it's

Morocco.

>> No, I know. I know. I know.

>> I don't know. You know, I I I would say

for him, Yeah. I mean, I if he scores

and they lose, he can't do everything.

Geez.

>> Okay.

>> But I don't know.

>> Yeah. Yeah. I I just I just think that I

just think that that game and I cuz we

you and I have talked about this like a

couple times on on this show like

Morocco's going to give him game like

they're going to press they're going to

take the ball in the half space they're

going to play they're going to get o

overlaps in the wide area like they're

not going to like maybe they will but I

don't think they're going to sit back

against

>> France that's not in their DNA.

>> It's not right like this is going to be

good. [clears throat]

>> That game is tomorrow 400 p.m. Eastern

time in Foxboro. Uh, Friday, Belgium,

Spain in LA, 8:00 PM Eastern, 5 local

time. Um, I'm just gonna go on record

saying this. I think Spain are going to

dismantle them.

>> I was just going to ask you, does

Belgium have a chance in this game?

>> I think everyone's going to say after

the US game, wow, I think I think they

go back to what they were. I think this

was a oneoff. They were so motivated.

They wanted to give it to the US and

[laughter]

>> the national team and everything with

Balagan and all these things. And I just

think I think Spain are going to

dismantle them.

>> All right. All right. I was gonna Yeah,

I was I was going to try and give

Belgium some hope, but I I

>> I mean they they have quality, but the

[clears throat] US we have to remember

the US were so bad in that game.

>> That is as bad as we can play. Every

player, someone said to me like,

>> well, like what happened? And I said,

you know, sometimes you watch a sporting

event and you're like, that guy had a

bad day.

>> We had like nine of those.

>> Yeah.

>> I mean, you have no chance if you don't

care.

>> Zero. and Belgium. They're they're not

as good as we made them look. They're

not

>> uh Norway, England. So, we skipped over

England, Mexico, so that we could talk

about them here. So,

>> the England Mexico game.

>> Yeah.

>> All of this and we did too. This

altitude stuff, um

>> they got through it, man. And I don't

know what their secret sauce was. I will

say I don't know if factually data wise

this is true

>> but when it's cooler at Esteeeka

night at Esteeeka

>> is definitely different

>> and I think if that got moved

>> not when they had us playing at noon no

>> noon and it was 96°

>> it feels different man and so I just

think maybe with the rain too and just

what it just felt like not as now look I

don't know if the data I don't know if

that's actually factual I just know

anecdotally having played there at night

and having played during the day it is

different but it did not I saw some

moments where England were like huffing

and puffing

>> but man they got through it and

>> well yeah

>> and they got through it well

>> I I I heard from one or two players in

the England camp not directly um through

intermediary and they were they were

like yo this altitude is unbelievable

like [laughter]

they were like this is the wildest thing

we've ever seen uh so [clears throat] I

mean credit to

>> those guys are fit most of them play in

like a you know it's just such a top

league it's rough and tough like they

know their bodies are fit. Um,

>> can I can I just say and I know I know

Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are the best

and I know Mbappe and Holland are and

Vinnie Jr. all this stuff.

>> Can I Can I just Can I just gush over

Jude Bellingham?

>> I I I I watch him and there's there's

throughout 90 minutes I think, oh, he

could be a tough tackling six. Oh, he's

a 10 because he just drove by five

people with power and pace. Then he gets

in and around the box and he's got these

ballerina-like feet and then towards the

end of the game, he's still on and he's

charging to the center back and he's

charging to left back. I'm thinking who

who created this guy? Like who his Jude

Belling would say Belling amazing. I

completely agree watching that game.

>> There have been a lot of amazing

performances in this World Cup, but most

of them around goals and moments and

from a just purely 90minute like do it

all performance. That was the best

performance of the tournament.

>> No, no question.

>> No, no question.

>> It was phenomenal.

>> And here's the thing. You you you and I

have books. We we each we each have

written a book and there's a ton of

great soccer books. I and I'm not being

facitious when I say this, you know, cuz

you played in the Premier League. I

spent my nearly my entire adult life in

playing in the Premier League.

They they get so few things wrong. When

you're in their tent, they don't let you

out.

>> How somebody tell me

>> how Jude Bellingham was allowed to get

on a plane from the Midlands

>> to Madrid and leave

it. That blows my mind still because by

the way it wasn't I've seen players who

were like they're okay then they go away

sight unseen and then they blossom. He

left England with no Premier League team

taking him and he and he went to Madrid

and became instantly how somebody tell

me and and and there's a reason but

Landon how ha how did Jude Bellingham

slip through the cracks of every Premier

League team? That's my Someone write a

book on it. Someone that's incredible.

>> I don't have an answer, bud.

>> Oh my god.

>> Um I am gonna say this and this is I

don't know if you agree with this.

>> I think Norway win this game.

>> Oo.

>> And I'll tell you why. Norway had a much

easier round of 16 game physically.

>> Mhm.

>> Like they walked through that game,

dude. They really did against Brazil.

I'm telling you, I saw it. I was there.

England.

Big big effort to win that game. I mean,

monumental massive effort.

They had to travel then to Miami.

>> Yeah.

>> Of course, Norway had to travel to

Miami. You know what it is in Miami?

It's hot.

>> That stadium's [clears throat] at 5

Eastern. It is going to be roasting.

England have not shown consistently in

this tournament that they can like Spain

just grab the ball and hold it for 70%

of the time. Norway can. Norway are like

because they also have the outlet with

Erling Holland. So if you come and try

to press them and they just go boop,

okay, we'll play one v one with with

Kansa and Ghee and and you know take our

chances.

>> I [clears throat] think Norway win this

game. I really do. And I think the

emotional toll that took on England that

night and the Jordan Henderson injury at

the end, I just think emotionally it's

going to be really hard to get up again.

Okay,

>> I do. That's just my opinion.

>> No, it's wrong. Your opinion is

respected.

>> I was wrong once.

>> Let me say this. Another disclaimer.

England fans behave. Norway are sweet.

They they row the boat. They'll behave.

They behaved in Mexico.

>> Make sure you behave. Um what? Okay.

What I would say is

I think it's coming home.

He hear me. Hear me out. Hear me out.

>> Go to break.

>> Hear me out.

>> Just

>> I think they win the game. First of all,

just hear

>> Actually, I don't think I think they're

getting to a final. I don't think it's

coming home. But I do think England are

getting to a final. I think they beat

Norway. [clears throat] Mhm.

>> And then I think they play Argentina

>> and there's a lot of ghosts there.

>> Well, don't we'll get to Switzerland,

but

>> a lot of ghosts, but anyway, ghosts

there. All right.

>> And maybe maybe Switzerland because

Switzerland, let's let's move on to that

because I think Switzerland

>> so Switzerland, Argentina, that's

Saturday in Kansas City. I'll be calling

that game with Ian. That is 9:00 p.m.

Eastern time. I think it's 8 local time.

Uh first time Swiss have been in the

quarterfinals since 1954.

Um, I think

I'm going to just jump ahead here. This

has the biggest chance for an upset.

Switzerland, Colombia are a good team,

Tim.

>> Really good team. And Switzerland went

through that game. It wasn't easy,

>> but they

>> obviously had to go to the penalties,

>> but they're a really good team.

>> They're a really good team, and I think

Argentina have expended so much energy

in this tournament. It's also going to

be roasting hot. I know it's at night.

roasting hot and can see. Now Argentina

have the fans behind them which is a

whole different animal but man

Switzerland are very good.

>> I don't disagree.

>> Very good.

>> There's a chance for an upset because of

that and because of the last two games

have been difficult.

>> If you are betting man or woman or and

you enjoy lumping on a game Messi will

score and Argentina and Argentina and

Argentina will win.

>> A bold prediction

>> and Argentina will win. Yeah, it is.

>> That's right

>> for sure.

>> Okay,

>> there you go.

>> All right. So I have my semis. I would

have

France, Spain,

Norway, Switzerland.

>> Yeah.

>> Wow. All right.

>> Yeah. I'm just I mean, you can go chalk

and boring, but I'm I've watch the

games. I I'll probably be wrong. It's

fine.

>> Uh I will be I'll do France, Spain,

>> and one side Arland, Argentina.

>> Yeah, England, Artina. Can I say this

though? Can I say this? And you've been

you've been freaking all over the place

covering every game. So, I don't you've

got every country in your brain.

I'm really happy. I'm really when I look

at when I look at the quarterfinals, I'm

like, and and this may be going back to

how we you and I thought about the the

tournament originally, like this is what

I want to see. May I mean, Switzerland

might be the the one that's like, whoa,

that they're they're a bit of a

surprise, but like

>> right

>> I want block I like at this stage

>> probably last last.

>> I want all the superstars, right, which

a lot of them are in it.

>> Yeah.

>> And I want amazing storylines and

matchups. The only one I was really

hoping for our game was Argentina

Colombia

>> cuz just I mean it wouldn't have been a

soccer game. It would have been

[laughter]

>> seriously.

>> Yeah. Yeah.

>> I mean

>> I know. So but but it's great. The these

matchups are like oh they're beautiful.

>> All right let's take a break. When we

come back we will give you today's cold

moment right here on Unfiltered Soccer.

And then eventually after that we are

getting to all of your questions. It's

going to be a lot of fun right here on

Unfiltered Soccer with Landon and Tim

presented by Volkswagen.

This episode is brought to you by

Airbnb.

>> Part of the amazing part of being a

professional athlete is you get to

travel to places that you would never

otherwise travel to. So in O2, we go to

South Korea. I had been to South Korea

the year prior. We went to sort of get a

lay of the land, but otherwise I would

never spend time in South Korea. So now

you're going to all these little cities

for these games. You're meeting people.

You're experiencing their culture.

You're trying the food. It's It's

honestly one of my favorite parts about

being a professional.

>> At an event like the FIFA World Cup,

travel becomes part of the story. You

meet people from different cultures, as

you said, spend time in local

neighborhoods you otherwise never would

have experienced, and realize how much

the game connects people all over the

world.

>> Yeah, travel has a way of bringing

people and cultures together unlike

anything else. And where you stay helps

shape how you experience it. With

Airbnb, you can book stays in local

neighborhoods, giving your group the

space to stay together, connect much

more deeply, and experience each

destination more like a local. Airbnb,

the world is meant to meet. All right,

Timmy, I want to set the scene. It's

1994, USA versus Columbia.

As in every World Cup game, you need to

win, but really need to win.

>> Tab Ramos gets the ball, slides through

the midfield. Ernie Stewart makes a run

behind the Colombian back line. Tab

slips the ball into Ernie. I'm taking

you right back, aren't I? Slips the ball

to Ernie. Ernie scores, beats the

goalkeeper. Celebration ensues. It's one

of those moments where one, you remember

where you were because it's a World Cup

moment where you're you're about to beat

Colombia. And it's another moment where

you're just celebrating. You're grabbing

a Coors Light, hugging the person next

to you, maybe drinking it, maybe not,

maybe throwing it in the air, but it's

just one of those special special

experiences.

>> You're right. People were celebrating

with Coors Light as we know. But yes,

you took me back. You know why you took

me back? I was in the building.

>> That's amazing.

>> I was in the building watching that

game, seeing it. The my heroes, man.

They were my heroes. And

>> so you saw Balboa's bike, too.

>> I saw I was behind the goal. Listen, I

was behind the goal. Marcel Babawa rears

up big bicycle kick just misses. I mean

it was honestly one of the greatest

soccer memories of my life.

>> What a moment to celebrate. Get Coors

Light delivered straight to your door.

Visit cororsite.com/ufs

or you can find it pretty much anywhere

that sells beer. Cororsite. More goals

more celebrations.

>> Celebrate responsibly. Coors Brewing

Company. Golden Colorado. Beer.

That always looks so tasty when I see

that. [laughter] I'm like, "Dang, I want

a beer. It's 9:00 a.m. I want a beer."

>> Uh, time for the cold moment of the week

sponsored by Coors Light. More goals,

more celebrations. Go to

cororsite.com/ufs.

>> Cold moment of the week. Um, watching

the game last night. The Well, first of

all, just all the late drama, Tim. Yeah,

>> there have been 31 goals scored in

second half stoppage time in the turn,

which is amazing.

>> And the latest one was Enzo Fernandez's

goal. What a header that was. Um, kind

of out [clears throat] of nothing and

they just hit a long ball, goes down the

right side,

>> clipped into the back post, and he rise,

>> bang, heads it back where it came from.

Phenomenal goal. Just it just it's been

so much fun to watch all these late

goals. I think the the for me it sort of

speaks to how talented these players

are, right? Because the first thing that

goes is your mind. Late in the game,

>> the fatigue sets in, your brain

literally starts to shut off um because

you're so tired. You you you've

exhausted every ounce of energy. and to

see how talented these players are to

hold it together. Talented physically

and and from a skill set standpoint, but

also the the mental side to drive

themselves through that fatigue. It's so

impressive. It's exciting. I sort of

think we're going to have more. There's

been 31, 32. There's going to be more.

>> Feels like there's more coming. Yeah.

>> I'm glad you say that, Tim, cuz people

forget like Yes. You're physically

exhausted. It's why the penalty

percentage goes way down when you get

into extra time. Yeah, you're so tired

physically, but your brain actually is

more exhausted and you can't focus as

well. And so for him to run the length

of the field, get up. Just a perfect

snap header. Phenomenal

>> to everyone who scored a late goal, but

especially to you, Enzo Fernandez.

Cheers to you. Congrats.

Stoppage time. As always, sponsored by

FanDuel. With FanDuel's super sub, if

your player is subbed out, your bet

stays in. That means if your player

leaves the match, your bet continues on

with the substitute. Download the

FanDuel Sportsbook app and place your

bets today. Spain Belgium in LA on the

10th. I think it's 8:00 p.m. Eastern

time. Uh this is an interesting matchup

just given everything that's gone on

around Belgium, how motivated they were

against the US. They are back in the

tournament now and in a real way. I do

think though, I've seen Spain a couple

times now. They are just so methodical

in how they do things and how they

overtime wear you out. He saw it against

Portugal. I was there that day in LA.

90th minute. Mikkel Marino gets slipped

through, slots it home. It just they

just wore down Portugal and eventually

the winner came. So in the end, I do

think Spain win this game. I think

Belgium are going to come off that high

a little bit and and Spain are the

better team. So I think that will

prevail. Uh I do think there will be

goals. Spain I think will score and

probably score early and Belgium will

open themselves up. Belgium have enough

talent to get a goal. So I think this

game will provide some goals. Oyer

Thabel has been quietly one of the best

players at the tournament. He's a

phenomenal striker in the box. He does a

lot of things well for Spain, but when

he gets in the box, he's absolutely

lethal. So I think he scores and I do

think Belgium find a way to score in

this game. Spain will win the game. I I

see a 2-1 or 3-1 win for Spain, but I do

think Belgium score at some point

because the game will get open at some

point. All right, so to recap,

unfiltered Soccers World Cup, same game

parley this week. Spain to win the game.

They will go over the two and a half

goals. Ooble will score at some point

and both teams will score. Don't forget

to check out the full list of unfiltered

soccer game parlays on our socials later

this week. All right, we'll take a

break. When we come back, what you've

been waiting for, all of your questions

on the AT&T Fan Connection right here on

Unfiltered Soccer with Landon and Tim,

presented by Volkswagen.

LD, I feel like the best soccer watch

parties are never just about the match.

>> No, definitely not. It's the people, the

food, the atmosphere, the backyard

setup, the last minute run for more

snacks. That's what makes it.

>> Exactly. And for big soccer moments this

summer, Walmart makes hosting feel like

a breeze.

>> You can grab everything you need from

snacks and drinks to party essentials.

With the express delivery as fast as an

hour, you don't even have to leave your

house. You won't miss kickoff.

>> So whether the crew's in the living

room, the backyard, or the parking lot

before kickoff,

>> Walmart helps you pull off an amazing

watch party.

>> Who knew?

>> Timmy, as you know, in soccer and in

life, there are those moments where

everything comes down to connection.

>> It's that call to your family right

after a big win, the text before kickoff

when the nerves hit, or watching the

match from halfway across the world,

feeling like you're right there in the

stadium. Those are the moments that

matter most. And when the connection

matters, it has to be AT&T. Because it's

not just about having service, it's

about showing up when it counts. Whether

you're watching the game at home or on

the move, AT&T helps keep you connected

to what matters most.

>> Yeah. Because soccer isn't just about 90

minutes on the pitch. It's about the

highs you celebrate, the losses you

write out, and every message, call, and

shared reaction along the way.

>> So, wherever the game takes you, make

sure you've got a network you can rely

on. Visit at.com/wy-at

to learn more. AT&T, connecting changes

everything.

>> It's time for the fan connection

presented by AT&T. Every week, we invite

you, the listener, to connect with us by

submitting your questions. At AT&T,

connecting changes everything. And on

USLNT, our connections with you will

help grow the game.

>> You're muted, Timmy.

Gotta unmute me, bro. It's live. Uh,

[laughter]

AT&T fan connection. This is what we all

been waiting for. Uh, we don't know if

the We don't know if it's going to pop

up on the screen or Jordan's going to

come steaming in over the top, but

>> No, she's coming in. [clears throat]

>> There's a lot of There's a lot of US

men's national team.

>> Back by popular demand.

>> Here we go.

>> Will you have her?

>> No. Ah, she's coming in. There it is.

>> She's back.

>> She's back.

>> Did you miss me?

>> You were desperate to get in here. Yes.

Yeah, she texted us all week and said,

"Can I please be part of this?" Please

let me back in for you guys.

>> Go on, give us some What's going on? We

understand there's been quite a bit

going on in the mailbag

>> there. Yes, I've been very very busy in

the mailbag. Um, there's a lot of things

in here. I bet you can guess what

they're about.

>> So, good question. Do you ever respond

to the mail?

>> I do.

>> Oh, you do?

>> She's got like a whole She's got like a

whole another life. She just

>> Yeah, right. She just [laughter]

Okay. just I'm I'm I'm I'm forming real

friendships with the people in

[laughter] the mail. So,

>> um All right. So, this is a combination

of stuff that came through YouTube

because our episode yesterday there were

like 1,200 YouTube comments. So, I

soured through there

and some of the things that came through

email. So, I feel like we have to start

with Christian Pisic because there were

a lot of a lot of comments about him.

Um, this one from an account called Lost

and Found History on YouTube said, "I

seriously appreciate your guy's honesty

and openness discussing this stuff.

Pissic deserves every single ounce of

criticism he's receiving. The most

important ability is availability, and

he just doesn't have it."

>> Go ahead, Tim.

>> Yeah,

>> I can give you more polistics stuff if

you want to hear it all and then kind of

respond as a group or do you want to

just go off the first one?

>> Well, yeah. there's anything else what

like what's anything interesting that's

different or yeah curious

>> um

Patrick via YouTube said hearing Pistic

say it's now time to rest while

shrugging it off postmatch really pissed

me off which I there was a lot of kind

of comments like that that the fans were

really annoyed with his comments after

the match um this one is from Austin via

email so Austin was at the USA Belgium

game and Austin said I was at the game

and just wanted to send in another

firsthand account this was my view I

cannot 100% % say because I could not

hear him but everyone around me could

see him talking to the bench and clearly

gesturing to his ankle directly in front

of us. We thought at the time he was

saying I'm done

>> shortly after he was subbed off. So I

know we had said we don't want to posit

conjecture but this is someone who was

sitting in the stands

>> near him at the time and this is what

they were saying. So

>> yeah. All right. I I'll I'll tackle it

first. So

he deserves every ounce of criticism,

uh, every ounce of praise of which he

gets a lot and he should he should get

it. Um, the availability part, it's now

again, Lon, we talk about England being,

you know, England players being

scrutinized, the Mexican players being

scrutinized. This is what comes with

this.

>> Yeah.

>> That you and I have tal this is the

biggest World Cup in history. Our boys

did a lot of great things. They were put

on I'm in I'm in Time Square, which is

where our studio is. They were put on

billboards all across the world, America

anyway, and and this is part and parcel

of that. Um he so he won't be under any

illusions of what's being said or what

the narrative is. So the good news is

he's still young. He has an opportunity

now to change that narrative to be

available more often to

>> Yeah, he he does he controls the ability

to do that. Uh, look, the postgame,

which everybody listened to because he's

the biggest name, the postgame

interview.

Yeah, it rubbed some people the wrong

way. I sort of see this, and I'm

speaking to you, Landon, who who's

spoken about the depths of hell and the

things you went through and your ability

to come back from that. It's not easy. I

I don't I I don't envy Christian Pissic

right now. That's a difficult place to

be. I do though believe that the sort of

perceived nonchalantness of of the

interview was not that he doesn't care.

I think he's hurting. I think he is

aware and I think that's his own defense

mechanism. Whether that's for his own

personal mental health,

>> well, I don't know. I I don't know. All

all I can say is I would think it'd be

impossible for him to feel the way he

felt being being one of the leaders on

that team, the biggest name, the best

player with his ankle hurt and they them

getting crushed and going to World Cup.

I would find it almost impossible for

him to legitimately give a nonchalant

interview. So, there's something else

going on there.

>> All right. So, if you'll allow me a few

minutes here. Mhm.

>> Um, so someone said to me yesterday,

someone was texting with me yesterday

and they said, "Hey, did you see the

piece that Fox did right before the

game?" And I saw part of it because when

I'm working and I'm at the stadium or

there's stuff going on or whatever, I I

hear part of it, but I don't necessarily

see all of it.

So, I was doing the Spain Belgium game

when they did the piece. And this person

said to me at the end of the piece, he

said, you know, to be honest, all of

this attention and all these things, it

causes me a lot of stress and anxiety.

>> Mhm.

>> And I think it was kind of just looked

over and passed over. And it made me

think then about his interview. And what

you just said I think was really

important to him. Like I think that's

his defense mechanism. You know, almost

pretend like you don't care as much

because then you don't have to face the

pain. I will say this. I I believe I am

uniquely qualified the only person

probably who's been in his shoes. Okay.

>> The level of which he is dealing with

this is much greater than the level I

dealt with cuz this was 2006 for me. Not

many people were paying attention. It

was not a home World Cup. Social media

didn't exist. So, this is exacerbated by

a ton. But, I have been in his shoes. I

had a horrible World Cup. completely let

the team down, was getting criticized

for the first time, not to the extent he

is, but I know the feeling. The feeling

is [clears throat] identical.

>> And I would just say this,

it led me to therapy.

>> Mhm.

>> It led me to take a look at my life and

my career honestly for the first time.

>> It allowed me to have massive important

conversations with people I love in my

life about all things, not just soccer.

And it changed my life forever for in a

positive way.

>> I don't know if Christian will cares

about that, wants to do all that. We

don't have a great relationship now. He

doesn't, you know, I'm sure he doesn't

like me. He doesn't respect me. I'm

saying this to you, Christian. You

probably don't listen.

>> This is an opportunity to help and to

change your life forever. One of the

biggest problems I speak to people who

are at US Soccer. I speak to his

sponsors. I speak to his teammates. I

speak to the staff and the coaches.

>> People [clears throat] are fed up with

the way things are handled around him.

>> And it's not necessarily him, but it's

his agents, his family, his hangers on

the people are influencing. People are

fed up with it. They treat people

poorly. They do things poorly. It's

always a no. Whenever you want to ask,

"Can we do an interview? Can we?" It's

always a no. you can't get near him.

>> He doesn't say hi to the commentators

who do all the games all the time when

they walk by. All the other guys come

over and shake hands and say hello.

There's just this sense about him that

like you can't get near him. It's too

big. And I actually don't think it's

from him.

>> I think it's from the people around him

>> and they need to stop and he needs to

man up and have a conversation with them

and say, "Look guys, this is not helping

me."

>> He needs to get some training on media.

I did too. I said a lot of dumb

>> Mhm.

>> And people are like, "Hey, Landon, you

don't want to come off this way, do

you?" And I still make mistakes all the

time.

>> But all of these things can be a

positive.

>> He has I have to say though, he has a

big challenge ahead

>> because Tim, I'm thinking ahead to the

next game. And J.R. like if we happen to

be at this game,

>> the next US game in this country,

>> what do you think that's going to look

like?

>> Like think about that. Is he going to

get booed

>> when they announce him? Maybe.

>> Like people are livid. So anyway, it's a

long-winded way of saying this can be a

good moment in your life, but a lot of

things need to change. And I actually

think it's not him. I think it's the

people around him

>> that so well said, Jar, I'm jumping

again. Sorry, because this is obviously

the big topic. You know, obviously LD,

the way you share some of these moments,

other people have no idea. And so I I I

certainly as your friend appreciate

that. What I what I would say is

is Christian Pistic listening? No,

that's not important. the people around

him. I'm not even talking about his own

crew. US Soccer, his teammates, have a

look at this. US Soccer, he doesn't He

doesn't need to be on every single

advertisement. I know that's what

sponsors want. I get it. I get it.

>> Well, I'm Tim. I I'm just saying I speak

to people. They don't want it anymore.

>> Okay. I think people are done. I

>> fine. I don't think he I think he wants

to play his

>> And he doesn't want it either, by the

way. Correct. It's just fine.

>> Correct. And there's listen and to his

teammates I I I don't know if they're

fed up with him, if they love him, who

who knows probably everything. We're

we're all teammates. I will say J.R. and

I and and I mean this we had a hell of a

group. We had a tough group. We had good

footballers. We also knew that our

golden child was Landon Donovan. And

Landon was always younger. And so we

knew we had to protect him on the field

in the media because guess what? He was

our cash cow. He was our golden shot. He

was going to do things on the football

pitch that none of us could do. Clint

could do it, but none of us could no

none of us could do it. So, we weren't

going to let him get tackled without

retribution. We weren't going to let him

get slammed in the media without one of

us going out and being the face and the

mouthpiece.

>> And yes, you're strong enough to to to

do that yourself, but we felt an ownus

as a team. So,

>> yeah.

>> Amazing. Jordan,

>> I don't I honestly I I'm [laughter] I I

just think that we've had so many

conversations about this, right? Like

since last summer that obviously we were

talking about Christian a lot, there was

kind of a little bit of a feud going on

between his camp and you guys. And I

also just think like every time we've

seen him doing interviews or the

documentary they made when we talked

about that afterwards, I think the thing

that I said was he just looked like he

didn't want to be doing it. And I wish

that it would be possible for him to be

a successful footballer and just be

like, I'm not doing interviews. I'm not

speaking to anyone. That's not for me.

What I do, if you want to see what I can

do, come to the game. Otherwise, please

leave me alone. But I understand why

that's just not

>> maybe that'll happen now. That's the

good that comes.

>> Look, Landon, Landon, moving forward,

>> this is what I say. And and you're

you're you're a walking testimony and as

am I. Every footballer is. I say I say

about my daughter, there are things that

I can't teach her that only the game can

teach her. Guess what?

>> Christian Pistic and and any other

footballer is no different. Your career,

your journey looks so different based on

experiences. There are going to be

things that nobody in his camp can tell

him

except the game itself and the

experience.

>> Yeah, that's true.

>> We'll see.

>> Okay, let's move on. Yeah. Um, this one

is from court via email. And I really

like this one because he is quoting

Landon directly from a year ago. So,

here we go. LD, a year ago, you said,

"I'm so sick of hearing how talented

this group of players is and all the

amazing clubs they play for. If you

aren't going to show up and actually

give a about playing for your

national team, decline the invite.

Talent is great. Pride is better." My

question is, how can I interpret

Monday's result as anything other than a

soft paper tiger effort that looked

devoid of pride? We are not three goals

less talented than that Belgium team. No

way, no how.

>> We're definitely not three goals less

talented. Um, this is what this is how I

interpret Monday. Of course they care.

Of course they're proud. Of course I

actually think the problem was in and

this has been shown over and over

against good teams. This is actually

more of like a tactical problem with

this group. When they play teams they

should beat, and Tim said this great

very well yesterday, they almost always

do. When they play teams above them,

they play the same way. And you cannot I

I remember someone said when we were

young when I was with the early days

with the national team they said we

can't just roll the ball out against

Portugal or Spain or Brazil and expect

to beat them and just say hey let's just

go play soccer we have no chance zero.

And what this team has not been able to

do and not proven to do whether it was

with Burhalter or Pochettino is have a

different way of playing against teams

that are better than you cuz yes this is

a talented group but guess what the

Belgian players I we listed their names

yesterday what Lukaku did in the Premier

League none of our players have ever

done Christian's been a great player he

hasn't done what Kevin De Bruyne has

done

>> Troard Jeremy doku we don't Sergino

Odess is a good player individually

usually runs at people. He's not Jeremy

Douku.

>> Mhm.

>> He's not. Tim Ree isn't their center

backs.

>> You know, Tibbo Corttois is miles better

than Matt Freeze right now in his

career.

>> So, you can't just say, "Let's just go

do what we did against Australia and

Paraguay. You can't you have to have a

different way of approaching that game."

And this team has not ever proven they

can do that. And that was the problem.

Of course, they cared. Of course, there

was pride. And then the last piece is

when you're down 3-1 and the shit's

really flying, did anybody pull the team

in, grab someone, and say, "Look, I

don't care what we were supposed to do.

We're going to do this, and we're going

to defend, and we're going to try to hit

a few counters and get back in the game

to 3-2, and we'll go from there."

>> Yeah.

>> And we didn't see any of that.

>> Well said. Well said. Yeah.

[snorts]

>> Okay. I have This is a great one. You're

going to love this. Good. So, I will

just say this question has been asked by

several people

>> um in different variations, but this is

the right person to ask this question.

So, this is Ben via email and Ben

>> happened to be briefly on the Fox

broadcast after the US men's national

team game because he was wearing a

Portland Hearts of Pine jersey looking

sad. So, he has now been dubbed by the

internet the face of American sadness.

So, I'm very sorry. [laughter]

>> I saw that. I saw the picture. So, we

we're giving him some love so that maybe

he cheers cheers up a little bit. But

Ben's question, like I said, has been

asked by many people, but he said, "I

was at the match Monday and it was clear

we were missing a dog in the fight to

pick us back up after getting punched in

the mouth and take it to Belgium. I

think Diego Luna could have been that

guy and brought the jolt of energy and

physicality we needed in the second

half. Thoughts from Landon and Tim?"

Well, you know, I I learned a lot of

everything that I know about football

from my time at Man United and and

playing for Roy Keane, the greatest

captain in history of football. And

sometimes he would just say like,

"Sometimes you just got to start a

fight."

>> I'm like in a g in a soccer game. He's

like, "Yeah, sometimes you just got to

start a fight

>> just to because the momentum is against

you." you. And by the way, not every

player can do that and not every player

is really keen, but sometimes you have

to J.R. change the momentum. Bring

someone on who is going to be nasty and

is going to stir things up. And maybe

that player is already on the pitch, but

but we and Landon talked about this at

3-1. We didn't break the momentum. We

didn't do anything different. We tried

to do what we were what we set out to

do, but we didn't do anything different.

Um, so yeah, I mean the Diego Luna

thing, he obviously wasn't even wasn't

even on the on the squad, but um, but

yeah, there was a bit of a, you know,

there's there's a bit of nastiness there

that I think is an interesting sort of

squad makeup, right? Like there's always

a there's always an enforcer on the

bench, you know, whether that be in in

the NBA or NHL. I'm not saying every

football team should carry one, but

yeah, I don't I don't see why why there

can't be someone um with that mentality

on the bench that's coming in and

stirring it up and changing the pace of

the game.

>> Well, I think Sebastian Burhalter does

that,

>> right? And I I'm not sure there was

enough time or enough in the game still

for him to do that. And look, he has his

limitations. I think he's a very good

player. has his limitations in some

ways, but you don't have to question

whether that guy cares or whether he's

willing to go into a fight. I mean, you

do not. And I'm not saying the coach

explicitly says, "Hey, Sebastian, go

kick someone get in a fight." But you

could say, "Hey, Sebastian, we need to

change the momentum a little bit here.

Let's go be a little bit nasty, right?"

And and he has that in him. So, the

problem though is that we're talking

about one player in 26 and maybe Diego

Luna who is not even on the team.

>> Like, where's the rest of them?

>> Yeah.

>> Who else is doing? And by the way, I

have seen that in them

>> against Australia and the friendly,

against Paraguay and the friendly. We've

seen some, you know, Chris Richards.

We've seen that in them.

>> It just I I don't know if the moment was

too much. I don't know what

>> they just looked like they looked shell

shocked in the game. They really did.

>> Yeah, the moment was big.

>> Yeah.

>> Um, okay. Maybe one more about some

strikers.

>> Sure.

>> DJ via email said, "What are your

thoughts on Pepe's tournament?" For me,

very lackluster and unproductive, and

could those opportunities have been

better suited for an inform more

athletic Wright?

>> I think so. I I can't I can't figure

out. But at some point I'll hopefully

get to speak to Pochettino about it or

or someone will ask the question. I

cannot figure out for the life of me why

didn't play more. I have no clue

and I don't I don't know if there was

something going on, if he was injured,

if they don't like each other. I I'm not

saying any of that. I'm just saying I

have no idea what what went on. I would

have absolutely had him in the game at

some point

>> in in all the games.

>> Yeah. this. So,

>> I mean, I think that [clears throat]

managers sometimes, and this is probably

not their fault, this is managerial

thing. Lenny, you've done some some

managing, you can probably speak to

this. Sometimes managers

create their own like problem like like

sometimes they create a pecking order

and then it's not like horses for

courses, it's next guy up. Like, you

know, in England they do they say like

horses for courses like it's chucking

down rain, maybe we just lump it long.

So big fella plays today, but but big

fella is not going to play all the time,

right? And so and so

but the tournament itself looked exactly

like what the last 12 months looked

like, right? Like like

>> what do you mean?

>> Well, when Flo wasn't available, it's do

we play Christian at the nine?

>> And then there was a there was a time

and I don't remember if it was March, it

wasn't March. It might have been it

might have been November, December. And

we said it was backto-back games and we

said Flo played in the first game. I

don't remember when it was. Flo played

in the first game.

>> He got injur he got subbed and Pepe came

in

>> right in the first game. The next game

Flo couldn't go. So you're thinking,

"Ah, Pepe's going to play because he's

the next man up. He didn't play."

>> Christian as a false nine,

>> right? And so and so

the what happened in the World Cup then

doesn't surprise me, you I I mean, the

only thing these guys can do is is go

back to their clubs and bang in goals

and still try and be available and knock

on the door. That's all they can do. I

mean, yeah. Or or a new manager. I don't

know.

>> It's a good point you make. And also,

sometimes managers put players in a box.

>> Yeah.

>> And I think you've said this before and

it's a really great way to say it. They

think about what the player can't do.

>> Yeah.

>> Versus what they can do.

>> And so maybe that was just the pecking

order and you know, if something

happened to Pepe, maybe Wright goes

in. But that was very bizarre for me.

>> Bizarre.

>> Do you also I think something that's

important when I listen to the two of

you talk though is that to me and maybe

to the people who are listening and

watching the show right now,

>> there's a drop off that's pretty

substantial from Flo to Pepe.

>> And then maybe the drop off between Pepe

and isn't quite as big, but that

first drop off,

>> it's not a one for one. And that's why

we have to have these conversations

about replacing Flo with Pepe is not

just the answer to every [laughter]

problem. And so is not the answer

>> e either. Yeah.

>> Why do you think J why do you think we

went to such lengths to get Flo to be

able to play against Belgium, right?

It's not. [clears throat] And by the

way, I would say that about the entire

bench.

>> I mean, the drop off to the next guy and

we didn't get to see a lot of them in

this, you know, we didn't see Brennan

Aronson a lot. We didn't see we saw a

little.

>> We had all those conversations about

what happens if Chris Richards wasn't

going to be ready after his he had the

problem with his ankle. Like we would

have been in really big big trouble.

>> Yeah. I think the drop off was massive.

>> Yeah. But you want you want you want you

want my some receipts because and I'm

not happy to say this. At least two

years ago, Landon, when we started this

show, I said to you

our best 13 players in America are our

best 13 players in America. That's it.

Yeah,

>> you can build a roster of 26, but I can

tell you

>> these are our best 13 players, 14

players. That like that's it. Now, other

countries you can go, well, yeah, but

that guy's starting for AC Milan and and

he's starting for PSG. Like,

>> look at Belgium, right? Look at Belgium

guys up, right?

>> Yeah. Look at Belgium. So, like, so

like, but that's it. I've been saying

that and like I don't know then that's

probably a knock on like the youth

development in our country. Who knows?

I'm just I'm just telling you that like

our best 13 players are like I said to

you two years ago I can tell you for

sure 13 or 14 players that are going to

World Cup for sure and it's two years

out.

>> Yep.

>> And I think you were right on all of

them.

>> He was and again there's the the only

way this gets solved is by fixing the

youth development. It is the only you

can hire whoever you want Pep or Jurgen

CL. That's the only way it ever gets

solved.

Great questions.

>> Um, I would like to end on a high note,

so I'm just gonna put up a lower third.

>> Let's do it.

>> This came up in the chat when I showed

up. So, [laughter]

>> queen, let's go. I mean, Crystal,

>> so good. She said queen [laughter]

when Jordan showed up.

>> It's amazing. That That's the high note

you're ending on. Geez.

>> Yes.

>> That's pretty amazing to be fair.

>> I'm I'm a woman of the people, guys.

>> You are You're a woman of people. Okay.

So, first of all, uh I think our beloved

friend Jeremy who's running everything

behind the scenes right now, he might be

able to throw up a lower third that has

the feedback email. That is where you

can send questions to us if you want to.

It's feedback at unfiltered soccer.com.

>> That's for all time. Anytime you want to

send us a question when the World Cup is

over, we'll still take questions there.

Just a reminder that we will be in

Dallas on Monday, but we will be live

streaming. So everybody who's watching

right now, you can watch us.

>> Watch it live. Cool.

>> Yes. Live. And the same thing for the

New York show, which is on Saturday the

18th.

>> And if you Yeah. And if you want to see

Jordan live, come storm the gates.

Tickets are sold out, but storm the

gates. Let's Let's make this a

revolution. It's a World Cup revolution.

There's 200 tickets available. We want

7,000 people there. We'll figure it out.

>> Someone Someone I'm getting a call after

the show, so I'm

>> All right. I'm getting out of here. You

guys wrap it up.

>> Nice text back, J.R.

>> Thanks, guys.

All right, man. That was really fun. I

am on a plane home. Hopefully my kids

are not listening. Surprise the kids.

>> Love it, man.

>> Um, you have safe travels, bud. We

appreciate all of you guys. I'll see you

in Dallas. Um, we will see you all in

Dallas. Remember to subscribe on

YouTube, Apple Podcast, Spotify,

everywhere you get your podcast. And

follow the show on all our social media

at Unfiltered Soccer for all the bonus

content. Thanks as always, VW, we love

you. Fan connection sponsor AT&T, love

you. stoppage time sponsor FanDuel. We

love you. Thank you guys as always for

the support.

>> Thank you also to our unfiltered refresh

sponsor Kors Light and our additional

sponsors Airbnb and Walmart Landon. I

will see you in person on Monday night

with another live edition in Dallas of

Unfiltered Soccer.

Hey,