Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
WCAD 4-15: Jon Arnold Joins the Show as the US Meets the Moment
1.6k Plays3 days ago
Austin is joined by Jon Arnold from the USA Today to recap a stellar start to the World Cup for the USMNT and a tight 1-1 draw between Canada and Bosnia & Herzegovina. Plus: how much ball does Marco Rubio know?
Recommended
Transcript
Early World Cup Days & John Arnold's Coverage
00:00:01
Speaker
So we are not even a full day into the World Cup. We've had two kind of half days, right? Like two game day on Thursday, a two game day on Friday. and And I think the question of the World Cup is not even where is John Arnold? The question might be where isn't John Arnold at this point? My man, you're you're in Mexico City for the opener. Every time I open up the USA Today sports website, you're all over it.
00:00:25
Speaker
You're on every podcast, and you even made time for the World Cup after dark. And by the time this is published, you're going be at Japan Match Day minus one. That's right. I mean, you you know, yeah I made time for, yes, i have to make time, but you know, i'm ah I'm a World Cup After Dark listener. I was a little rattled to see there's another Bushnell. You know, like, I'm here, I'm here. and And look, like, to prove I'm a listener, bad night last night for those who think the U.S. will be eliminated in the round of 32.
00:00:53
Speaker
Bad night for those, but a very good night for our dark horse loving friend who's finishing up his his Asian adventure. Amit Malik will be
US vs Paraguay Opener: Key Players & Victory
00:01:01
Speaker
back on the show on Monday. My name is Austin Miller. That on the other end, obviously, is John Arnold of USA Today, who has very graciously made time and is very busy scheduled to hop on today's show.
00:01:11
Speaker
Let's get right into it, John. Wow, is I think that the overall reaction of that for the U.S. The best U.S. performance since... That's actually like how I start my TikTok is like, it's the best game since question mark. And I think like it's difficult not to have recentism and bias, et cetera, toward what we just saw. And I think doubly so because, you know, I wrote after the Mexico game, like there was this release of tension in Mexico City that was palpable in the stadium when Julian Quinone scores the opening goal, but maybe even like when the opening ceremonies start on time, when people are actually getting to the stadium act, you know, like without too much delay. And like, but then after that goal, I think they played tense and Canada as we're going to get to played real tense and the U S did not. Right. And so I think like, you can kind of like say that even I think adds to the importance of this performance. And like, I don't know, I need to get out the history of books and the media guides, et cetera. Like my gut, like absolute guns in my head. I'm like, since South Africa, but that seems insane. Like that can't be right.
00:02:16
Speaker
But it was that good from the U.S. s And if you did not catch the game, it's funny that you did not catch the game and are checking out this podcast, but the U.S. 4-1 winners over Par in their World Cup opener. We have to start there.
00:02:28
Speaker
John, it felt like coming into this tournament, I had two big questions for the U.S., right? My first big question was, Can this system that Pochettino is putting in place, will it fire on all cylinders? And will it create space for Pulisic, for Baligan, for these other attacking threats?
00:02:44
Speaker
And will they meet the moment? We talked about the expectations. We talked about how this felt like it was the pinnacle of what U.S. s soccer had been building towards for such a long time. The
US Team Strategy & Player Contributions
00:02:54
Speaker
buildup was disjointed. it was poor at points.
00:02:57
Speaker
The answers to those two questions, at least after one game, with all the caveats that that entails, resounding yes. Resounding yes. No, totally. and And like all the kind of questions that we were asking the press and like that, some like, you know, Christian politics. I got to talk to him before the tournament, but he's like, I wouldn't call him prickly, but he just doesn't seem to enjoy the parts of his job that are not kicking a soccer ball. That's fine. There's a lot of soccer superstars like that as we go through the history. But like one of the things that kind of like was rubbing me the wrong way and that he kind of kept bristling out was like people be like, Hey, a lot of pressure on your shoulders.
00:03:30
Speaker
Hey, like this is the biggest moment of your career and he told me in the interview that we did like that my life has been leading up to this it's like well if your life has been leading up to something it like seems like you would be pretty tense or or nervous or like when that thing starts and he kind of kept saying like there's no pressure there's no pressure there's no pressure and then like he played like a man with no pressure on his shoulders I mean the way he got between the two Paraguay defenders on that first goal I think just sort of unlocked something where he was like not only can I try things they are going to succeed tonight and for 45 minutes they did It was so good from Pulisic. It was so good from from McKinney. It was so good from Balogun, who I think we'll get onto in a minute, has just really upped the level of what this U.S. team can do in attack. The U.S. started this game on the front foot, and it felt like immediately they got into every single space that was left by Paraguay.
00:04:22
Speaker
I felt like Paraguay tried to do a little smoke and mirrors pop for the first 10 minutes. Like the bill that we said, it look, like I mentioned it on every single preview podcast I did. Oh, they're going muck it up. They're going to be grimy. They're going to play defensive. They're gonna try to spoil the moment. It kind of felt like Paraguay tried to go against tendency to start this game. And the U.S. said, oh, that's cute. That's even more space for us to take advantage of. And they did.
00:04:44
Speaker
but I think it's a lesson as well for like teams that are starting the world cup, because again, again, we look at these matches, the host teams have played the teams that have tried to do what they always do. Just stick to your identity, be yourself, have been the ones that have generally succeeded, right? Mexico wasn't glorious. It wasn't beautiful. They played a bad South the Africa team. They win. And they did it kind of in the way that like it Like, these teams have been playing. And I think the US stuck to its identity, too. Paraguay, you see the nerves, you see the rattled nature of what happened. They're like, well, don this this doesn't usually happen. and And then they get hit. And it's like from there, I mean, really, it ended up being the case. Obviously, it's not the case and ah every time in the in a run of a game. But like that first quote goes in and it's like, it's over.
00:05:27
Speaker
And I think it
US Consistency & Paraguay's Tactical Missteps
00:05:28
Speaker
felt like everyone in the stadium felt like that, including the Paraguay players who like were like, well, now we got we can't go into this shell and we already came out of it and it doesn't work. And it didn't, and it continually didn't work. So so on the first goal, you mentioned it, the Pulisic play was incredible, right? These are two genuinely good Parkwine defenders that are chasing after him, and he just splits them and leaves them in the dust. They can't even foul him. He was so good. And then he puts it across, Balogun is threatening, Damian Boadis just makes a stabbing clear attempt and puts it into the back of the net.
00:05:58
Speaker
And from there, it just didn't slow down. And it just felt like Paraguay were all out of sorts and the U.S. was doing everything and anything that they wanted in this game. And it felt like, to me, watching it, John, the U.S. was playing fast.
00:06:11
Speaker
the The passes came quick. They were first touched and the ball movement. And Paraguay is so good generally at... slowing things down and if you take time on the ball boom they're going be in they're in a challenge and they're making like difficult the u.s didn't even give them that time couldn't even make challenges for most of this match they weren't even able to foul the american players that's how good and how quickly the ball was moving it was it was again of coming back to this it was as good as i've seen the u.s play in ever it felt like You know, I remember the video game term like cheesing where it wasn't like you're putting a cheat code, but you just found something, especially in a sports video game that worked and then you just spammed it and your roommate would get so mad or whatever, you know? I mean, it was kind of like that, but like, that's like a lot of times what fans want to see, right? Like it seems like, Oh, like if we can get the ball to the left side and Jedi Robinson can so that set up Christian Pulisic or the midfielder can set up Pulisic, it's just going to work down that side.
00:07:07
Speaker
Why would we not keep pressing this button? That's like automatic chance creation button. And, And they did. And and like you're saying, it was so crisp, it was so quick and it worked. And even in the second half when Pulisic goes out, as I think we're about, you know, going to get into, like, I think it would have been easy to a take your foot off the gas, which, you know, obviously the game settled into a bit of a rhythm. There was a moment where it seemed like they could just pass the ball around and, and you know, have the, you know, teach the U.S. fans to chant Ole and like see out the final, you know, 45 minutes basically, because the ball movement was good at the back. Chris Richards without a single pass put wrong is the most passes completed with 100% ratio in a world cup since like, i think 66. Is that the Optistat floating around? That's the Optistat floating around. You are correct.
00:07:48
Speaker
I mean, they're smarter than me, but that seems so, that it seems wrong. It like seems impossible that that's the stat. And I mean, but that's just
US Midfield Dynamics & Adaptations
00:07:56
Speaker
what the night was. That's how crisp things were. And that's how, yes, the the speed of the Americans, the the way the mind function, the way the plan laid out, it just seemed like Paraguay was always one step behind, sometimes more.
00:08:08
Speaker
And I made this point on on the podcast that I did with Isaac after day one. So much of the World Cup at this point kind of comes down to, can your center backs do things? And the answer was for the U.S. Yes, Chris Richards, you mentioned the past. that I thought Tim Ream played good passes for the U.S. Tim Ream won a foot race. he would run He won a foot race in like the 80th minute.
00:08:26
Speaker
I was like, oh, well I mean, you know, we're worried about this old man. And obviously, Paraguay, again, didn't look like the fastest team. But I was like, okay, you know, everything about this game just makes you feel better about the U.S.
00:08:39
Speaker
And so the rest of the first half, Flo Balogin was phenomenal for this U.S. team. He had the next two goals. The first coming off a great setup for Pulisic. And the second was as good of an individual effort as Pulisic had on the first goal. Balogin had it here on the third goal. He takes grown men defenders. report like We're not talking about, ah sorry, John, i I know this might make you sense. We're not talking about some Caribbean island in in a Gold Cup group stage game here, right? We are talking about it. I'd like to be talking about that. we're talking about a team that has grown men defenders playing at high level who are good at shutting off chances.
00:09:14
Speaker
And Balogun just made them look like little boys. And then he hit them with the too small celebration. And it kind of felt like, yeah, that's accurate on this play. Not even the celebration that drew my eye the most, but yes, definitely. And I think that just the fact that that Balogun too, like it just seemed like the finishing was there, even the one that was offside where he puts it in the back and it's like, oh man, like, you know, and and the goal as well, like he was getting into the places,
00:09:37
Speaker
that he needed to get into and he was finishing. And as we saw from some games, we'll talk about like, hey, finishing actually matters, especially from your start forward, right? Especially the World Cup. I mean, you really only get so many opportunities. Obviously, the U.S. was creating them in bunches and waves yesterday. we know that won't be the case the entire tournament, but it kind of looks like no matter what happens, they're going to keep playing this tournament because it turns out three points and a plus three goal difference is a pretty great start.
00:10:03
Speaker
It's
World Cup's Cultural Impact in the US
00:10:04
Speaker
as good of a start as you could hope for. The second half, as you said, John, things kind of slowed down a little bit. um It was funny, the U.S., s to go back to the cheesing mentioned, they brought on the ex-coach's son for their star player to play the second half, which kind of feels like a cheesing moment. It seems like Christian Pulisic is okay. His post-game...
00:10:23
Speaker
His postgame phrases suggested that he should be fine. Obviously, that's a big concern for the U.S. if he's not. It kind of felt like this was Mauricio Pochettino saying, okay, you don't feel 100% and we're up 3-0. We're going to be as cautious as possible. There's a decent break before the next game. That's something to watch for for the U.S. But even with that change of personnel, they were still good in the second half Definitely. I think that it kind of worked still. Obviously it's easier to do that when you have the 30, you know, halftime lead the goal, you know, I think it's easy to sort of like be sportscaster guy and be like, but it wasn't a perfect night. Like the U S conceded. And it's like, yeah, but I mean, you know, yeah, you should clean that up. Yeah, it should be better. but like those, I actually think that that that's the kind of thing that does help a coaching staff where like, it's so easy to get so high about this. And then that coaching staff can say, Hey, and no, but we got to clean this up and look like that is Colin Chris Richards. Right. So it's like, are you worried about Chris Richards going forward? No, not really. He had a pretty incredible first game. So I think that, yeah, it totally, it worked. It was kind of like,
00:11:26
Speaker
And like we talk about, oh, peaking at the right time. And it seems like this is a game that, again, like could have gone so wrong and it went so right. And like, what can you say other than congrats to the Mauricio Pochettino and his coaching staff for getting it right? You know, I think the second half was a lot of game management. The second half mentally is more difficult.
00:11:43
Speaker
And then it gets capped off with this weird cherry on top Gio Reyna goal, which killed my 3-1 prediction, which would have been dead on. But, you know, it's OK. He deserved it. He earned it and he certainly made the most of it.
00:11:56
Speaker
I, uh, Gio Reyna came in, I was, I admit was, was watching in a hotel lobby in Bali, Indonesia on a, uh, on a computer stream. And, uh, I, I let him know, I said, oh, these are going to be 10 great Gio Reyna minutes. And if they were 10 great Gio Reyna minutes.
00:12:10
Speaker
And he just hits an absolute world-class goal and then hits the haters with that kid here, your celebration. Like my dude, it's four foot. Like it's fine. It's Gio Reyna. Yeah, no, totally. But also like, yeah, I mean, it's like, I think that was even like, oh, Pochettino got it right. Pochettino got right. You know, there's so many people. So why is this guy here? It doesn't even play. And then it was like, oh, I guess that's why.
00:12:30
Speaker
That's why he's here. he's He's got some skills. He's got some skills. A couple of guys that we haven't mentioned for the US. I thought Freeman was really good. I think he allows Serginio Dest to kind of play in a more forward role. Again, we'll get to defensive questions further on in this tournament, probably for the U.S., but I thought Freeman was really good for this team. And then Malik Tillman was really good in the midfield for the U.S., just another midfield runner crashing piece that really helped string all of this attacking intricacy together.
00:12:59
Speaker
Yeah, and I think the midfield sort of balance, especially with Pochettino not taking as many central midfielders as we thought he would, you know is such a big question. Now, you don't want to see Tyler Adams take a yellow card, which he did. you didn't you know There was no other discipline, so that's good for the U.S. But overall, I mean i think the way that Tillman and McKinney worked together, the way that Tillman was involved in the buildup and and helping to start to create those chances that we're talking about was really impressive in the fact that they're both kind of...
00:13:25
Speaker
filling a lot of the same role you know that's how it's supposed to work in the system and and i think they they really showed an understanding of it that maybe even in some of the games before the friendlies etc you're seeing the glimpses of that and i think could see like that's the midfield that pochettino is going to roll with but like you weren't necessarily sure what the understanding was that the i think the germany game timo was a lot deeper than he was in this game i don't know if the heat maps totally bear that out but that's what it felt like especially in that first half And and it worked. You know, I think that like you can have these two guys getting forward against this Paraguay team. Now, you know, we talk about a team with maybe some similar players, like similar two way midfielders. It's like, well, maybe, you know, you're going to have to have someone be a little bit more defensive or have to give McKinney more defensive responsibility and Tillman to attack more. But like those are problems for for next week.
00:14:10
Speaker
Yeah, so it's one game, right? I think that caveat is relevant here, but every opponent probably won't be this stagnant. They won't be this susceptible to the speed of play they brought. But it really felt like this was a performance where the U.S. showed what their ceiling can be at this tournament, and they kind of fulfilled all those potential expectations. And it also felt like this result was exactly what this tournament needed. Right. There were all the all the questions, all of the issues. And look, that's part of every pre-World Cup build up. But for as far as capturing hearts and minds. Right. Like this is exactly the kind of result that is going to do that.
00:14:48
Speaker
I
Paraguay's Performance: Strategic Failures?
00:14:49
Speaker
mean, it's like legitimately, I was thinking about it this morning as I kind of like ran through my neighborhood. It's like, you know, people, I think a lot of people have been looking for reasons to be proud to be American, to express how do I express that pride in being American in this current time? And like, if this team does make a deep run, people will be...
00:15:08
Speaker
ah you know, people will be really excited. People will be in on it and And I think that this is the start of that, right? Like it was impossible not to watch that and be stoked. And look, like the ratings aren't in yet, but the Mexico game was the most watched Spanish language TV ah game in the US ever. So it's like, people are ready. People are tuning in. If this game sets viewership's records, and oh, by the way, you won 4-1, I think most people are going to find a way to knock off work early on Friday and watch the next game. So it's, look, it's way too early to say this was unifying moment for the country.
00:15:39
Speaker
But I think it's a unifying moment for the soccer community. And definitely the World Cup seems to, you know, the World Cup will benefit from all three of the host countries doing well, having interest around them, having great stories around them, having fan community come together. And this is absolutely the start of that.
00:15:55
Speaker
Ticket prices for that Australia game on Friday through the roof after this game ended, right? Just boom, already inches from that. and i don't think that's good, but yes, I hear you. but like It's an indication of demand, yes. Exactly, right. Look, I've been spending too much time with that. Big tickets got me. It's in my head. but but Well, that's all good. More ticket price stories. No, but yes, of course. and and And I think even after that first Mexico game, the U.S. game shot up. Like it just seems like the ball, kind of like what we were talking about when I was on last time, like the ball starts rolling and people are just like, oh, it's the World Cup. It's the best thing in the world. And and yes, it's here. yeah so I stepped on your point.
00:16:28
Speaker
No, it's fine. I think the the discourse as well, like there's going to be a week of media stories about the U.S. and about this World Cup. And we're getting to the point, the NBA, the NHL, they're starting to wind down, right? Like those series are going by the time the U.S. takes the field against Australia, barring a game seven in the NBA, those series are going to be gone. and what there going to be? Golden Knights champions. Yeah, Golden Knights champions. and And we'll be on to the next. oh No, no,
00:16:52
Speaker
No, and I think and not only that, like, and yes, I think it's like the US fan wave, but also I do a show with Lori Lindsay on our USA Today channels that people can check out after they listen to this. And like Lori has played at a World Cup and she was saying, you know, the the time between games like is vibes based. And of course, like we know that from international soccer, but like with the full week, imagine the difference in how the US is going to be able to prepare for the next game and how you feel and how you talk to each other and how you, you know, you co-mingle in the camp.
00:17:19
Speaker
and how Paraguay is going to feel. Like it's just going to be such a different mood. And you just stew in those feelings for longer in this tournament. And I wonder how that mentally affects players with this expanded format that we've just never seen before.
00:17:31
Speaker
And it's a more spread out group stage, particularly in comparison to Qatar, right? That was very condensed into a short window. You were turning around and playing within two or three days here. Again, there's a full week in between game for these teams.
00:17:41
Speaker
On Paraguay, to close this out, John, it kind of felt like Gustavo Alfaro, the magician who had, you know, he's this great speaker. He's got all these phrases. He can really unite a country. He can really unite a team. He performed magic to get this Paraguay team to the World Cup the way that they did.
00:17:59
Speaker
It felt like last night he pulled out his magic. He took off his magic hat. He waved his wand and he pulled out a dead bird instead of a rabbit. It just felt like everything was off for Paraguay in this game. They never got a foothold in this match. They didn't approach it correctly. I thought what Alfaro said post-match was really telling, right? He says, there's basically, there's levels of games that you get to where defensive order, Gara, I'm not sure how we want to translate that.
00:18:25
Speaker
Like fight, right? Like where defensive order fight running just doesn't like it doesn't matter. It doesn't meet the level. And it felt like, yeah, and they didn't even have that.
00:18:36
Speaker
Right. So they didn't have what they needed to even meet a minimal level. This was really, really poor from Paraguay. And I think is is pretty concerning for them going Oh, absolutely. I mean, you talk about the US building and preparing and, you know, Paraguay was super excited for this. There was a good section of traveling fans. We saw the images from the country where I think one firework for every Paraguayan was set off at the sendoff game, which was nice touch, you know. um but But truly, like people obviously, you know, Paraguay one of those stories that maybe is a little under the radar where it's like, hey, like they haven't made the World Cup in a while. They're back. People are extremely excited.
00:19:09
Speaker
And this is the performance. and
Canada vs Bosnia: Match Overview & Challenges
00:19:11
Speaker
And it's like, yeah, like, I think Alfaro can be right to say, like, hey, like, we were levels below today, which is true. But also, like, you've been preparing for this in the same way the U.S. has. And like, the tension and the buildup seems to have cratered them, whereas the U.S. it seems to have given them rocket fuel.
00:19:28
Speaker
One game, again, there'll be chance for Paraguay to bounce back from that. But yeah, just just what I expected to see from Paraguay in this game was not what we saw. And I think a lot of that is obviously due to how well the U.S. played. But I think Paraguay takes some of the blame for that as well. I just didn't think they got it stuck in as well as they should have. And look, a seventh-minute goal will change that. But it just never felt like that they they got a foothold here. Anything else from this game you want to highlight, John? Any pregame ceremony comments?
00:19:57
Speaker
You know, i don't quite understand why Fox isn't showing more of the pregame ceremonies. It seems like they're locked in on the coverage, which I guess is fine, but I don't know. um The U.S., I think they've showed a fair amount. The Canada one was like, i had to get a Telemundo to find it, which then I just stayed on Telemundo and it was fine. Good coverage over there, except for they can't figure out who actors are. Maybe we'll get into that later. um But no, I mean, you know what? I actually, i think it's like,
00:20:22
Speaker
this classic ah grumpy sports writer guy to say, like, why is this ceremony happening or this dancing is weird or whatever? And like, honestly, I thought all of them were like pretty fun and like also none of them were too long, maybe because there's three of them. That's a big thing. Like FIFA said, hey, they're going to start at this time. They're going to last this long. they're going to have these actual fantastic musical artists and then we're going to be gone. And I think like That knowledge is is like pretty important because then you're just like, if it's like an hour, you're just sitting there like, how long are they going to do this? But like everything's been snappy. The presentation has been pretty good. The graphics are good. like It feels like a World Cup. I think that's like, it's it's not a minor detail, right? That it's like, it's we'rere we're on you know we'rere reviewing day two of the tournament. and it's like, it feels like
00:21:06
Speaker
a great like it feels like it did in 2010 it feels like it did in 2014 it feels like and that's what i think everyone's hoping for and like i do think like part of the reason that fifa still exists and part of the reason that we kind of tolerate fifa is like they put on a world cup and they know how to do it and and it's here and and i'm i'm back in the spirit i think you know Good. I'm glad to hear If you're still working in journalism in 30 years, good clickbait article for you. He sung at the World Cup opening ceremony. Here's what he looks like today for the little boy who sung alongside Katy Perry. Just file that away. but i thought you were saying Andrea Bocelli at the Mexico. was like, I don't know if that's going pretty, man. No, it's ah it's it's it's a little boy. It's a go clickbait article. The other opener that we got yesterday, John, a 1-1 draw between Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
00:21:52
Speaker
It felt like in the end, this is a productive result for both of these teams. You beat Qatar, you're probably going through. But I think Canada can maybe build a tournament out of this result. But it
Canada's Tactics & Substitution Impact
00:22:03
Speaker
certainly feels like, whereas the U.S. answered all of the questions, my questions still feel kind of pending for Canada.
00:22:10
Speaker
Oh, totally. And I think it's the questions that we were asking before the tournament, right? Like it was kind of like, well, can they finish? Can they kind of hang on the level of physicality with some of these teams that they're going to be playing? i was going to say top teams, but like with respect to Bosnia, I don't think they fit in that category um and And what's it going to look like at the back without Moise Pompito healthy and without Alphonso Davies for this first game, two games, we don't know, right? Like with the, you know, I think the physical question, the injury question, all those questions seem to be echoing even louder to me after the first game. And that's not what you want, right? You don't want to come into the tournament and say, oh, all the things that you were worried about. Yeah. It turns out you were really right to worry. So I actually you know I agree the result is probably fine and Candidate Woodwell has kind of scrapped back for it. yeah um
00:22:59
Speaker
But I do think it was a pretty concerning opener in the way it happened. I will say, for most of us listening to this podcast, for neutral in this game, turned out to be a lot better of a...
00:23:12
Speaker
watch than I was expecting. Like, I really thought this was going to be pretty ugly, especially when Bosnia scored in the first 21 minutes. I'm like, oh, this could be pretty grimy. And, you know, it turned out to be pretty fun. Like there were some more chances from both teams and Canada ended up equalizing. And, you know, it was it was a good watch for the neutral, but a concerning watch for the Canada fans.
00:23:32
Speaker
It felt like of the three opposing first match teams, right? South Africa, Paraguay, and Bosnia. Bosnia were by far the one who got the approach right to this game. And it helped that they just stuck with what we knew that they were doing. And look, they are a grimy, physical, mid-to-bottom mid-tier European team, but they have just enough athleticism, just enough flair. I thought the contrast between Bosnia and Czechia was pretty glaring here. Like, Bosnia can do a lot more than Czechia can do in the game state that they're trying to play. And as you said, they took advantage of of their chance early. They got a set piece goal.
00:24:06
Speaker
And it said Klasenek first post flick on Jovo Lukic, University of Teta, Cluj's finest, obviously, in the Romanian league, putting the goal in the back of the net.
00:24:17
Speaker
And that really highlighted the contrast to the Canadian start to this game where they created some good chances. And one of our questions coming in was, can they finish those chances? Jonathan David,
00:24:28
Speaker
Great chance right on the edge of the box. Hits it soft and right at the goalkeeper. And then Olussoe with a great chance from a good spot. He just skies it straight over the goal. Doesn't even get it on target. Those were their best first half chances. They had eight corners. And from those eight corners, John, they got one wildly off target header from Derek Cornelius.
00:24:47
Speaker
I mean, we talk all the time. You guys spoke a lot in the preview podcasts. Anyone who's watched the Premier League like understands that like set pieces in this point in soccer's evolution are so critical to get it right. There's so many things now you can do with them, but also like physicality and kind of brute force is going to be important. And Canada should be a team that can can kind of do that. right like It is an athletic team with physical players.
00:25:12
Speaker
That's kind of what they do and how they got here. And then you have these opportunities and and look like, yes, easier said than done, like, hey, score on a corner. But like it needs to be better. Like it just has to be better. And the and the plans have to be better, right?
00:25:25
Speaker
Bosnia did it, right? They got one corner. Totally. Right. No. And I think that like, yes, of course, like it can, you can, you know, you can have infinite, infinite, the infinite corner kick theory, I guess, like where it's just like, it's not just going to go in, but at the same time, like when you had these opportunities and you're creating, you know, you're getting deep and winning the corners, like that has to be this key moment. And it just didn't work for Canada, partly because of poor finishing and at moments as well. So I think that, yeah, like, look, a lot of Jesse Marsh discourse before and after the game.
00:25:59
Speaker
That's fine. But I don't think Jesse Marsh is saying like, let's not try on set pieces. Like sure maybe you take issue on who he hired as a set piece coach I saw going around, which, you know, even as a concaf sicko, like was a little out of my depth. um Like I didn't know this guy's name and I still can't remember it. So, you know, like, yeah, it's, it's obviously a key part. Maybe it's someone in the weeds and like, yeah, of course, like some people,
00:26:21
Speaker
are that deep in the weeds and know what's going on there. I'm not really sure if that guy's the problem or or what, but you got to do better on those. That's how things work now in international soccer, in club soccer, in the game.
00:26:33
Speaker
Two clear chances at the start of the second half for this game. Richie Larea somehow doesn't score his sad class. And i I didn't think played very well in this game. He looked pretty old and beat up. And and particularly as this second half went on and fantastic clearance, he somehow clears it. And instead of putting it in the back of the net, he puts it off the crossbar that keeps Canada out. And then Bosnia had a chance to go two goals up.
00:26:53
Speaker
It was, um, Demirovic it was, of course, who gets in behind. He's in his space. He's one-on-one, but Maxine Kripo makes a save. And then I'm going to steal the hockey time We're talking about Canada, the hockey guys. They make a line change. They bring on three fresh attackers. And that kind of felt like it put something in into this Canada team when Schaffelberg and then Ali Ahmed and pro Promise David come on. And then Kyle Lahren comes on as as the fourth guy later. Felt like this was a different Canada side once those guys came on.
00:27:20
Speaker
Yeah, a little behind the curtain. I was actually getting conca-caffeinated right at the 60th minute. I went to make a coffee and I came back and I was like, man, this game really needs Jacob Schaffelberg. And then I was like, oh, there he is. like And Ali Ahmed as well, who was like really, really strong, really solid. And I think, you know, pretty quickly made that impact.
00:27:40
Speaker
And like, this was just what the game needed. Like again, Marsh discourse, like, did he get it wrong? Like, is this, I think obviously has some, something to think about, right? Like, but I think like evaluating the opponent, maybe it was kind of part of the the calculation of, of putting Tejan Buchanan in there of, ah of starting Tani alongside ah Jonathan David.
00:28:00
Speaker
Instead of Promise David or instead of Kyle Lahren. But then obviously those guys are the ones who are able to make a difference. So, you know, we'll keep reviewing the game. But like that did seem like a huge kind of inflection point where you needed energy. You needed
Canada-Bosnia: Individual Performances
00:28:15
Speaker
dynamism. You needed attackers to run.
00:28:18
Speaker
And those guys, literally all three of them will do that. And it felt like Ahmed did more the first 10 minutes on the pitch than Buchanan did in entire hour. I thought he was really good. He had Kolasinac tied up and and was constantly beating him down that right wing and really opened things up for Canada. I don't think Promise David is as technical as Jonathan David is, but man, he's a tank and he's physical. And in a game like this against a backline like that, that can really work.
00:28:41
Speaker
No, definitely. But I think like, and that's another guy who like, he didn't finish the season fit, right? Like there's so many guys on this Canada team that I think like like a lot of ways I've said the world cup kind of comes in the wrong moment for Canada where it's like they have a Davies out. Bombito's out.
00:28:56
Speaker
David's like rusty. Uh, Johnson's rusty. Like, um, the Alfie Jones is rusty. Like, you know, you just have all these different guys and even like, you know, Cropot, Dane Sinclair, et cetera, et cetera. Like,
00:29:09
Speaker
Like, Capone makes his big save that you mentioned a couple minutes ago, but, like, also, like, would like to see a little more on the goal. But, you know, um yeah. I just think there's a lot of rust to knock off on this team. And to me, that's why I promised David, who, like, is his physical presence, who is going to work, is going to grit.
00:29:25
Speaker
Can you start him and have him do that all game? I don't think his body's there. Maybe I'm wrong. Hopefully I'm wrong, you know, or or or just the fact that like weeks are going to go by in this tournament and like Canada will keep playing games. You just love to see Canada at the peak of their powers. And I don't think they were that part. i don't think they're going to be that this summer because of the realities of the human body and injuries. But I also think that, yeah, like they probably the moment seems to overwhelm at moments.
00:29:50
Speaker
And I think, yeah, like there are tactical changes that probably have to get made here. You could really feel the tension in the crowd too, particularly after Bosnia e scored the opening goal. eight The air kind of went out of the place and there was just this, this murmur kind of throughout for most of the game.
00:30:04
Speaker
Canada do find the goal though, John, and it's attackers three and four from this team who get it It's a nice touch by promise David. And it's Kyle Lahren, the number nine who finishes, gets the benefit of a good deflection.
00:30:15
Speaker
Kyle Lahren's only 31. I could have swore like 36. It feels like he's been around forever. I know, man. I know. And, and like, I, that's kind of, what was my reaction to the goal as well. was like, man, this guy, we thought this guy had given it all. And then like, he does it in a world cup. And then I'm like, well, yeah, like he actually could probably play one more world cup. I
Canada's World Cup Prospects
00:30:32
Speaker
mean, I think like a lot of CONCACAF guys are like that, especially obviously for us who like, we watch these guys from U20 level or whatever, like even Raul, i was like, yeah, Raul's going to be like the same age as me. Like, you know, 30 since like, oh no, he's 35. I mean, he's close, but like, you know, like, He's also still got a couple more years, just signed for Wolves, et cetera. Weird deviation there. But yeah, was, mean, Kyle Lahren, like I, you know, I said that like this game needs Jacob Schaffelberg and I was right. People were kind of saying on, you know, social media on Blue Sky, like, oh, well, they they need Lahren in. And I was like, well, I'm not sure that actually fixes your problem. And then it was like, oh yeah, it does. Like you needed someone to to get into the box. That touch was like,
00:31:10
Speaker
Man, I just didn't, again, like we've watched Kyle Lahren for a decade and I was like, oh, right. Like I kind of forgot he can do that. And he did it. And and in the in a moment that really mattered, a bit of luck on the deflection. But like, that's why you take high percentage shots. Things happen.
00:31:25
Speaker
So it was cool to see him score, man. I liked that. Kind of felt like Bosnia then was was hanging on by the end of this match, that the legs were kind of gone, that they made some attacking changes that didn't have ah a ton of effect. Kyle Earn had a chance to to win this right at the end of stoppage time. That got blocked. um It's a first ever World Cup point for Canada. And I think if if Qatar are what we think they are, three points in match two is going to be absolutely crucial for Canadians.
00:31:50
Speaker
ah Totally. I mean, you guys are as down on Qatar as I am. I heard in your preview pod, which is, it's always great. Great to be ah aligned. um They got to win. They got to win. um You know, the the the standard I think for Canada is different than the other two host nations because of that lack of men's World Cup history. yeah This is their first point. That's worth plenty, but it's not going to get you out of the group. Even with a third place opportunity, a win over Qatar almost certainly does that. And Qatar is there for the taking, at least we think, based on the roster.
00:32:21
Speaker
We'll see as we get into the games today as we're speaking. But yeah, I mean, i just it's you have to win that game. You must win it. And if you had beaten Bosnia, then maybe there's less pressure on that. Although, again, I think the good vibes, momentum, et cetera, that we're talking about with the U.S., like then those flow as well. Whereas for Canada, it's kind of the, ah you know, Larry David, like gif where you're just like, I guess, like maybe, but yeah, you're in a must win situation now. Welcome to
Bosnia's Strategy & Potential Advancement
00:32:45
Speaker
the world cup, right? This is how it goes.
00:32:46
Speaker
There's going to be some tension in the stadium in Vancouver for that game as well, particularly if Canada can't find an early goal. be really key, I think, for them to find an early goal. For Bosnia here, I thought Sergey Barbaros approached this really well.
00:32:57
Speaker
Edin Dzeko didn't play at all for them in this game. I don't think there would have been a ton for him to do. Okay, he probably scores the chance that Demirovic gets if he's able to get that same sort of chance, but it felt like Bosnia approached this right. They played their younger, pressure, legier guys in a game that really demanded that, and I think them taking a point from this is probably a good thing.
00:33:17
Speaker
Especially because we just think that Qatar is going to be the doormat, right? It's like, you know, Canada and Bosnia are both on four points and you know, it how how bad do you pound Qatar? Decides who goes through second and third. So, yeah, it's ah it's a really good it's a really good point for Bosnia because we just didn't know what to expect from them. And, like, now they're in this opportunity where, okay, Dzeko's got another week, he's fresh, et cetera, for maybe, you know, bashing them in against Qatar if that's their game plan, right? Or, you know, trying to go toe-to-toe with with Switzerland.
00:33:45
Speaker
Which i think they can do, right? Like we saw them go toe-to-toe with Italy and I think those are kind of similar levels. I i think that's going to be a really interesting game. I think that, as I said, that this is a... They got to go to LA, man.
00:33:56
Speaker
they do Yeah, I know. It's weird. This is the one cross-country trip in this World Cup. Canada are obviously going from Toronto to to Vancouver, and and Bosnia will be traveling across like get an extra day of rest to do that. Now, final thought for
World Cup Cultural Aspects: Celebrity & Pride
00:34:07
Speaker
me on this game, we just need ah a general refresher on who Canadian celebrities are. You mentioned the Calundo crowd didn't have – here in Argentina, the D-Sports crew was a bit lost on their their celebrity meter for for identifying Canadian celebrities and even American celebrities in the late game.
00:34:23
Speaker
Well, I would say like my, and I'm not good at celebrities. This is like my weakness in like, you know, pub quiz and that kind of thing is identifying celebrities in like movies. It's just not my bag. um But, you know, I i do know my Gosling from my Reynolds. sure I will say um a lot of the Canadian like fan shots was me being like, I didn't know that guy was Canadian. And then I was like, well, is he Canadian or is he just like at a game? Like, You know, there's a lot of there's a lot of people in that category, kind of like secret Hollywood Canadians. So, um you know, I'll give them some grace, but it was a good refresher for sure to kind of see, oh, right. Yeah, I forgot so-and-so. Oh, yeah. but I'd never forget about Alanis Marcet.
00:35:05
Speaker
Naturally. Great national anthem. Love when they go bilingual. Always ah always warms the heart with ah a good rendition of of O Canada. ah
Upcoming Matches & Player Stories
00:35:13
Speaker
Justin Trudeau, former Canadian prime minister, wasn't at the Canada game, but he was alongside Katy Perry at the American game.
00:35:18
Speaker
I mean, yeah, I thought Katy Perry should have been involved in the Canada ceremonies instead of the U.S. ones, but I mean, I guess she's American, so fair enough. One final one for you on the ah the celebrity politics game. From zero to ten, how much ball does Marco Rubio know?
00:35:33
Speaker
Oh, dude. yeah I mean, I guess he's from Miami. It's like maybe there's a little of an osmosis there, but I mean. He did not look interested to be there last night. He was like, oh man, I got two hours of this.
00:35:48
Speaker
Listen, i I'm not here to to defend Marco Rubio on anything, but I will say, I was thinking when i so when they show that shot and they look so bored, I'm like, man, if I wasn't interviewing him, you know I'd have plenty to say to Infantino in a work capacity. But if I'm just like sitting there, I gotta wear a suit,
00:36:04
Speaker
i got I got to sit in this assigned seat with the little iPod behind it. I'm sure the food and drink is good, but like I can't be i can't you can't get drunk, right? like You can't like be just like having you know housing beers or eating way too many. And if you're eating nachos or something, you like can't do that either because then you spill on your suit. That goes viral. That's so embarrassing. It's actually not very it's not a fun...
00:36:23
Speaker
environment for politicians to be in at the game because you can't do anything other than sit there and scowl at Infantino, right? Like that's it. So, uh, I guess my one small defense, but I'll i'll go two out of 10 if he knows ball, just two points of Miami osmosis knowledge.
00:36:40
Speaker
All right, I'll buy it. I'll buy it. all right, let's wrap this up, John. We've got a four-game slate coming today on Saturday. What are you looking forward to today? Naturally, you're obviously going to to go to the CONCACAF Gold Cup participants' guitar, right Yeah, our CONCACAF brothers. Well, now, you know, we we ditched Qatar Air for Riyadh Air, so, you know, maybe we'll watch the Saudi game when it comes around. Tonight, we're locked in on Haiti, Scotland, of course.
00:37:06
Speaker
um Truly a game that I think Haiti is going to contend in and will really make or break their World Cup, right? Both of the other teams in this group who are playing each other. like I totally get if people are watching Brazil-Morocco. Maybe you'll chat about that one. I don't know.
00:37:20
Speaker
We actually don't have them rundown, listener. um i You know, like that game... will be interesting but i think the the desperation for haiti skyland and also the fan um reception it's gonna be a point of click over to usa today i've got a piece that's gonna be published here in a couple hours about um the parties and the fans why cleft jean and i spoke that's not a joke i spoke to why cleft jean for this piece um and i've got a piece up on ricardo ade the haiti center back who ah was scammed in Thailand and had to beg for money on the streets to get back to his home country before going to play semi-pro in Miami. And then of course, going to famous launching pad, Santiago Morning in Chile, before ending up in Ecuador.
00:38:03
Speaker
Austin, as you well know, played the Copa Libertadores semifinal, a huge star in Haiti, just a big star kind of like worldwide. And he's going to be on the world stage after, again, um you know, like literally got scammed by an agent took took him to Thailand and he had to ask people for money and like experience like disgusting acts of racism where like he was on the street and people were like pinching their nose as they walked by him.
00:38:24
Speaker
But like, I mean, that was many years ago now, but like he just kept, kept pushing and kept pushing and kept pushing. And now
Conclusion & Further Coverage Promotion
00:38:32
Speaker
he's playing the freaking world cup. So, um, you can check that story out on USA today as well. And I'm going to make a tick tock after we finish this kind of teasing it. So hopefully people will see that and and understand how cool his story is. That's what I'll be locked in on today.
00:38:43
Speaker
you ah You put me off by 15 minutes on our our our scheduled recording time, John, but I'm happy you did because it gave me time to read the full Ricardo Ade piece. I really, really enjoyed it. He's a guy that I've obviously been following for a long time. He's at Liga de Quito. And man, the the scenes in that crowd, right? I don't think there's a single alcoholic beverage left in the greater Boston area with the the Scotland fans being there. And yeah, that the the Haitian...
00:39:06
Speaker
The Haitian support is going to be incredible. It's going to be awesome. I'm looking forward to that one, but also Brazil-Morocco. I think it's going be great. It's a game that I've really been looking forward to for a long time. I think we're going find out a lot about Brazil.
00:39:18
Speaker
that We're going to get to see where Morocco's level is at going into this World Cup. It's going to be a really, really good matchup, and and I think I'm really looking forward to that one. Rest of the schedule, Qatar, Switzerland opens it up in a late-night special between Australia and Turkey, which could get a little walkie. I've seen those Turkish attackers play. Should be a really, really fun day of World Cup action. John, a massive, massive thank you to you for coming on the show. Thank you for helping me get through my emit-less weekend before he gets back on Monday. It was fun.
00:39:44
Speaker
Absolutely, man. Appreciate it Always have fun. Good vibes to admit and safe travel to him and ah good vibes to all the listeners. Hope it's ah another great day at World Cup action. Four games, man. It's starting. It's all good. Just pop yourself on the couch and don't move for the rest of the day. We will be back to recap today's game tomorrow morning. Another special guest will be joining me. I won't spoil it, but I promise you're going enjoy it. If you like what we do here at the World Cup After Dark and want to support us, you can do this so at patreon.com slash WCAD. Three bucks a month. Subscriber only show, subscriber only content, and you help us do what we do here. If you don't want to do that, you can simply just subscribe to our podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, rate, review, click, stars, thumbs up, all the fun stuff helps us find more people to bring into this great community and enjoy this great tournament. So that is all for us today. We will see you guys tomorrow. Enjoy the action.