USMNT vs. Brazil instant reaction, Berhalter salvages pre-tournament friendlies

This episode provides an instant reaction to the US Men's National Team's game against Brazil, discussing the key moments, player performances, and implications for future tournaments.

1. The USMNT showed considerable improvement from their last game, indicating better team cohesion and strategy implementation.
2. Matt Turner's performance as goalkeeper was pivotal, with critical saves that kept the team in the game.
3. Yunus Musah's role in midfield was highlighted as particularly effective, contributing significantly to the team's offensive and defensive plays.
4. The episode discusses the ongoing debate about the USMNT's playing style under coach Greg Berhalter.
5. The broader implications for the USMNT as they prepare for upcoming tournaments like the Copa America, focusing on what needs to be improved based on the friendly matches.

1. Match Overview

Early analysis and reactions to the USMNT’s performance, particularly comparing it to the previous match against Colombia. Alexi Lalas: "This team turned around from what we said was an absolutely horrible performance against Columbia."

2. Player Performances

Detailed discussion on individual player contributions and critiques, with a focus on Matt Turner and Yunus Musah. David Mossey: "Musa was really, really good, especially in that first half."

3. Coaching Analysis

Analysis of Greg Berhalter’s tactics and decisions during the game, including potential areas for improvement. Alexi Lalas: "Greg Berhalter gets to keep his job well...he is fairly going to be under pressure in this tournament coming up."

4. Looking Ahead

Considerations and predictions for the USMNT’s approach in the upcoming Copa America and how this game impacts their preparation. David Mossey: "Now the US, all of a sudden, the narrative changes and the US goes into this Copa America actually feeling good about themselves."

1. Emphasize consistency in performance to build team confidence and effectiveness.
2. Continue developing goalkeeper skills under pressure as demonstrated by Matt Turner.
3. Leverage the midfield dynamism of players like Yunus Musah in strategic game planning.
4. Focus on tactical flexibility and responsiveness to game developments.
5. Maintain physical and mental preparation for high-stakes tournament settings.

Alexi Lalas and David Mosse react to the USMNT 1-1 draw, behind a goal from captain Christian Pulisic. According to Mosse, this is one of the best USMNT performances against Brazil ever. After a disheartening loss to Colombia, Gregg Berhalter and the squad regained confidence with this result and head into Copa America on a positive note.
The guys answer a few questions on whether Berhalter is on the hot seat, players that stood out this match or needed to see more from, and what specifically changed from the last friendly.

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Alexi Lalas, David Mossey

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Speaker A
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Alexi Lalas
Sunshine, I'm Alexi Lalas. Welcome to a very special live edition of the State of the Union. Coming to you post game of the United States versus Brazil. One, one has to be said, a much better performance relative to the friendly against Columbia. Joining me as always, my friend, my colleague, my guiding light, David Mossey, a soccer savant and a Fox soccer researcher, writer extraordinaire Mossy is coming to you from our Fox offices as we get ready to broadcast both the euros which kick off this Friday and then next Thursday, the Copa America.

But we're here to talk about what just happened, this instant reaction of the Brazil game. I'm feeling good, Mossy, I don't know about you, I am feeling obviously much more positive about this performance. And I just sent off a little post over there on the X machine saying that the performance against Columbia, as horrible as it was, I don't think is necessarily a fair representation of Greg Berhalter or of this team at this moment. And the performance here, although much more positive and better, is probably also not necessarily a fair representation of Greg Berhalter and this performance. But everybody out there that screamed and yelled and everybody out there that called Greg Berhalter names after the Columbia performance, I hope you're fair in that.

After this performance, you give him his kudos because this team turned around from what we said was an absolutely horrible performance against Columbia and not only played better, but if you look at the chances missed, there were plenty of opportunities for this us team to score multiple goals and to win this game against Brazil. And I'm not saying that Matt turner didn't make big saves either. But it was an entertaining game and ultimately, I think it was a successful game going into a tournament. Initial thoughts, Mossy? I guess Greg Berhalter gets to keep his job well.

I mean, there's always another game, right? And Copa America is right around the corner and I think in an actual tournament setting, which is because this is ultimately about winning a men's World cup, then tournaments count. My wife, when I told her that the US was playing Brazil, she turned to me and said, yeah, but it's a friendly. And so even, you know, she recognizes that you, you do have to take this with a grain of salt. But I do think that there are certainly positives in that individually, these players and collectively this team can look at this and say, are we more this or are we more what Colombia is?

Obviously, they might want to be more of what we saw today, but can they replicate that this? And it just gets ratcheted up when it comes to a tournament setting. And we all know that this team at some point is going to have to win. Not just tie and play well against an elite team, but have to win come, come the tournament. And chances are it's going to be Colombia or Brazil that the US has to go through.

So it's going to get much more serious and much more competitive come, come Copa America. But if you go through this lineup, I know we're watching the feed here right now. I thought Matt Turner finally made the saves that he was supposed to make, but it has to be said, coming out of the back, that ball that he played out ultimately resulted in the goal. And I'm left wondering, why is he playing that ball? Is it a situation where he thinks that that is the appropriate ball to play out?

And, you know, western McKinney and him just have a miscommunication. But why are you playing it out there anyway? Because if Western McKinney doesn't win that ball and doesn't, I guess, bring it down with his chest or flicker flick it on, then your opposition, in this case Brazil, wins the ball in a very, very dangerous area for the US. So I, I'm glad that Matt Turner made the saves tonight. That's what we want him to do.

And to be quite honest, of late he has not been doing that. I thought the backline was solid. I'm still not sold on Chris Richards. He does not fill me with any type of security. Scally did well, but he's no Seginio dest, but he did well and well enough.

And I guess shut down Vinnie. But there is still more to come and he will be tested. And again, he doesn't fill me with confidence at that right back position. I thought Jedi and Ream were fine. And Ream coming out of the back is still probably our best player with the ball and in a back line that does not like to play with the ball, even though at times they are, I guess, forced to do what they.

What they're not great at. I didn't think that Jarena had a good game. I thought he was invisible. I thought Weston was okay, not his usual impact self. I thought Musa was really, really good, especially in that first half, in that much more familiar position in the midfield, pushing forward.

I thought Wayo was good, Peppy, you know, was kind of invisible for. For most of the game. Not easy because he's got four guys on him up top and he didn't get a whole lot of service. Christian, ballistic. I'm glad that he was kept on for the whole game by.

By Greg Berhalter. Let's see, who else, anybody else in there? Yeah, so, I mean, that was my initial thoughts in terms of the players. Mozzie, I took a shot at Stu Holden on our last pod. So I do want to give him credit today because we ran into each other in the bathroom at Fox today, which is where I have most of my most interesting conversations.

David Mossey
And we talked about this game and he brought up a good point. There was a bit of a pattern here with Konkakaf teams in these pre tournament friendlies. Really bad in the first one, much better in the second one. Canada got drilled 40 by the Netherlands and came back and got a no no draw against France. Mexico got drilled 40 by Uruguay and then came back and only lost three two to Brazil.

And the US got drilled five one by Colombia and did what they did today. So maybe it takes a game for these Kolkata cop teams is adjust to the step up in class and then we see a better performance the second go around. Yeah, you could see from the beginning it was a different us team. Very aggressive in the opening minutes. You had that Musa shot off the crossbar and then fullisic with a lovely run and a shot that Allison saved.

Yeah, it was sort of two different games because in the first half the US really went at Brazil and it was back and forth in terms of the flow of the game. The second half took on more of a typical USA Brazil pattern of Brazil having more of the ball in the initiative and US sitting back and just trying to hit him on the counter. And yet the US ended up having the two best chances of the second half, probably. I mean, that save that Allison made on Pulisic, that was it right there. And that was a chance for the US to get their second ever against Brazil.

But, yeah, overall, very positive. So now the US, all of a sudden, the narrative changes and the US goes into this Copa America actually feeling good about themselves and with a little bit of momentum here. Although you've been telling us that this isn't a great brazilian team, so does it take a little bit of the luster off in terms. In terms of what they are? I mean, it's still Brazil.

Alexi Lalas
Anyway you slice it, it's still Brazil. But I think I was somewhat vindicated in everything I've been saying on the pod the last few months. It was funny that the discourse the last couple of days, USA fans were so down on their team after the Columbia game that they tried to treat this Brazil lineup like it was, like, incredibly scary and intimidating. I saw so many posts on x when somebody posted Brazil's projected line, oh, my God, we're going to lose five nil. This is ridiculous.

David Mossey
And I mean, to me, that's a stretch. I mean, I don't know how anybody can look at this Brazil team, especially when you compare to some of the lineups the US has faced over the years in this series, and not think that this is a vulnerable team by Brazil standards and has weaknesses and the team that the US should have been able to play with. Yeah, it was nice to see Tyler Adams get on the field. We still don't know ultimately where he is in terms of his, I guess, return, but at least he was out there running around on the field. That's a good thing Balagun got on at the end.

Alexi Lalas
There is still a wide open position when it comes to that number nine position going forward. Listen, we've done a lot of talking here, but we want to get you in. If you do want to say something, please hit that little button, little blight, blue light shows up. It tells me that you do want to say something when you come on. Please be efficient.

An economy of words is always appreciated. Don't bore us. Get to the chorus and let us know what you think of this or anything else leading into the tournament or anything else that you want to talk about. You know, life, soccer, anything in between. We are wide open to talk.

To talk about it. Okay, let's. Let's see who's. Oh, boy. A lot of people here want to talk.

How about we. We go all over the place. How about we start off with bump, bump, bump, bump? How about Luke? Luke Selvadio.

I don't know. I'm going to add you, Luke, and see if. See if you got anything to say. Massey, you're over there, uh, working, uh, to get ready. Right.

Luke, you there? Hey. How you doing? Oh, sorry. Oh, there you go.

I was going to talk to Mossy here. Luke? Well, welcome, welcome, welcome, welcome. What'd you think? Oh, I thought it was a really positive report performance, especially when you put it in perspective of last weekend.

Okay. What did you like? Other than the. The results, what specifically did you like and what specifically relative to the Columbia game? Did you see that changed?

David Mossey
I mean, to be honest, I thought that we took our moments well. We. We were able. I think sometimes this team tries to not just sit in when they need to sit in and absorb pressure. And I thought they did that really well tonight and then sprung on the counter pretty well.

Alexi Lalas
Yeah. I think there was, to your point, a better balance, you know, and I had. I think I had posted earlier today that, you know, somebody asked me what this team needs to be. And from the very first day that Greg Berhalter took the job, he has talked about fundamentally changing the way this team plays. And when you say that, what you're really saying is we want to keep the ball more.

We want to be more progressive in the way that we think and the way that we play, more romantic and all that. And that's all fine. And, well, because a lot of times you look at the best teams around the world, and that's what they do. Saying it and doing it are two different things. I do think that he has evolved this team and progressed this team towards that goal, but I also think at times, he is fearful of how it will look if he becomes pragmatic.

And, you know, I've said that I think that this Us team, incredibly talented, plenty of depth, arguably better talent. Who knows? But arguably. But I think for this team to really be successful, they have to worry about being the best version of what we have been as opposed to trying to be something that we are not. And again, this doesn't mean you have to dumb it down.

It doesn't mean you can't play out at the back. But tonight, I think we saw a real good balance of when and what hill to die on and when to say, you know what? We're going to live to fight another day and we will, you know, rally the troops and come back. But, you know, there's still an element of wanting to do things that I just think individually and collectively, this team is not yet capable of doing. And that can get you into that and get you into problems.

It didn't tonight, and I love that. And I hope they use the positive and go back and look at this game going forward to use it right in cope, America going forward. But, you know, one of these, one of these moments, these decide games, and these can be historic in terms of deciding whether to hit that ball in. And I know it's romantic, but at times you just have to say, you know what? We're not going to do that to that going forward.

I appreciate it, Luke. I appreciate it, Luke. See you. Bye bye. Thank you.

All right, let's go, Mossy, anything? I'm going to add somebody else here, but anything to add? Yeah. You know, the eternal play out of the back debate, I think people on both sides of that argument had some material to work with tonight. There was a stretch in the first half, certainly, where the US kept trying to play through the press and giving the ball away, and it ultimately led to Brazil's goal.

David Mossey
So I could see that being frustrating to people like you who wonder, why are we doing this? Why not play long post up Pepe, try to do something else? And yet there were also some lovely moments where the US was able to play through pressure and you could see Greg Berhalter's vision coming together and what that does when you're able to break that initial press, then it opens up all sorts of space and you can cut up the field. So we sort of saw both sides of that coin tonight. Yeah.

Alexi Lalas
At times when we played out of the back, I thought that Musa in particular, you know, he does this thing and we've seen it over the years and it's kind of gone away a little bit of late. But he gets in that little pocket and the guys are confident enough to play him and he gets that first touch and then his second touch is an incredible burst that creates a separation from whoever is on him. And that's wonderful. But there is an element where I'm holding my breath, and the irony is that someone like Giorano, who we know has incredible skill and talent and touch, you know, he's not showing up in those types of positions. So again, it's not that I don't want to play out of the back, or I look down on playing out of the back.

Absolutely not. And there were times where it was not just pretty, but it was possession with purpose to get to the other side of the field and to open up, especially against a team like Brazil, and maybe even more so against a team like Columbia. But I got the feeling that the Columbia team was just waiting for these stupid Americans to play a dumb pass and then just gobble it up. And I think that this team tonight kept Brazil more on their heels in terms of what they know. Brazil is not going to lose any sleep, by the way, about this result going forward.

They're going to go back and they'll go into the tournament, and Brazil and my wife will say, yeah, but the only thing that ultimately matters is how you do in the tournament. And if you were to beat Brazil and go past Brazil in a tournament, that's a whole nother, whole nother level. Let's go over here to Mike Horton. Over here. I'm going to add him.

Mike Horton, you are on right now. Live on a state of the union. Speak now or forever hold your peace. Definitely unmute yourself. Yes.

No, Mike. Gone. Gone ski. We scared him off, I think. Mozzie.

That's all right. That happens. Kevin, about Kevin Slattery. The ocean is undefeated, evidently, according to his profile. Don't know what that means, but, you know, I can certainly understand, given the power.

Kevin, you there? Hey, how's it going? Hey, what's going on? Where you, first off, where you calling from? I forgot to ask.

Speaker D
Oh, it's all good. So I'm from Annapolis, Maryland. Okay. What do you do? What do you do there?

So right now I'm doordashing while I start my next opportunity. I'm a comedian at night. So that's the big. That's the big, big headline. Oh, you are?

Alexi Lalas
Okay. Yeah. So you're. You perform and do all that kind of stuff? That's right.

Speaker D
That's right. A lot in DC and Baltimore, but also a little bit here in the nap. Okay. Were you able to watch the game tonight? So I wasn't.

I was able to follow it. That's fine. Here's my question that I have for you, and kind of from the casual perspective, I was really tapped in in the World Cup. I know a couple of America is coming up, and I did my research on this game to make sure I read about it. So want you to cover ground that you've already covered.

But my question is this, when you look at this team, I know there's a lot of heat on Greg Berkhalter, and whether this is a make or break, Copa America and stretch. This is a really important stretch coming up for America as they prep for the World cup, what are the things that us casual fans need to be on the lookout for as we start to grade out Burkholter and kind of how prepped we are for the World cup? What do we need to be watching? Okay, so it's a good question, and I love the fact that you are, you know, kind of coming into the tent and you're not alone. And we all recognize it, especially those of us that have been involved in soccer, is that this incredible opportunity, and whether it's this summer with Copa America as a prelude to 2026 or any other time, we know that people are going to come into the soccer tent.

Alexi Lalas
Many people that don't necessarily follow it, and certainly don't follow it day to day, and many, you know, from the outside, and some that don't even follow it and are coming in, and this is a real opportunity. But to your point, you know, what should the expectations be? All right, we have been to World Cups, so getting to a World cup is not that big a deal, and especially when we're ost because we didn't have to qualify. All right, we have gotten out of our group multiple, multiple times. So getting out of your group, that should be nothing, that we sit around patting ourselves on the back, winning a round of 16 game.

We have actually done that. And as a matter of fact, we were very, very close. If the soccer gods had smiled on us way back in 2002 of potentially even going to a semifinal of a World cup, and you do need the soccer gods to smile upon you. If you are looking at this team under Greg Berhalter, you have to be able to watch whether you've been watching soccer forever or whether you're just getting there. And it should make you feel like I can believe in this team to actually do something that we haven't seen before.

Because this is about winning a men's World cup. And this team under Greg Berhalter has yet to do the things that have been done in the past, whether it's beat one of the best teams in the world, one of the elite teams in the world, or going far and actually challenging for a, uh, for a World cup. Now, how will that manifest and what that looks like? It's different to different people. So I ask all the people, 100 people are listening right now, what does that look like from a us soccer perspective?

I'm gonna get 100 different answers. But ultimately, it's something that you feel. You look at and say, you know, I get this team. I enjoy watching this team because I believe you know that old chant of I believe that we can win? Unfortunately, right now there's a lot of people that say, you know, I hope that we can win.

Well, it's not good enough. You want to believe that you can, that you can win. And not just blind faith. You want to look at this team and when christian politic gets the ball, you want to have confidence that, you know what? He's going to beat people nine times out of ten.

And when Weston McKinney is on the field, he's going to track you down and he's going to have that bite and have that dog in him that we all know and love and that wonderful personality. And when you're looking at Tyler Adams, the leadership that he brings when it comes to someone like Matt Turner, you got to save the ball. You're the goalkeeper out there. You have to be able to save the ball. So it's, you know, it's all those different, all those different things.

I think tonight you saw some really, really good things that Greg Ber alter can go back and say, look, we just played 1516 passes and not just to whack off when we're passing the ball. That's not, I'm not talking about a masturbatory type of play. I'm talking about possession with purpose, like I said. And I think there's some really, really good stuff that he can bring out and there's some other stuff that he can bring down. Say this is not what we need to be doing going forward, but ultimately you need to believe, whether it's you, Kevin or anybody else, when you come in, you'll know it when you see it.

It's like obscenity from the supreme court. All right? I know it when I see it. I know a good team that I can believe in when I see it, in that I feel that they are worthy of my time, worthy of my attention, and worthy of the pride that hopefully I'm going to give them. Mossy, I don't know.

You got a better answer? I'm sure you do.

David Mossey
Well, I agree with you. The US certainly didn't whack off or do anything masturbatory tonight. No, I mean, I know that when. I see that, too. Yes.

Alexi Lalas
You can use that for your act if you want. No doubt. No, I mean, I think what you're looking to see is the US step on the field against these top teams and not be overawed. And I think even a casual fan can pick up on whether the flow of the game feels generally even in the US is getting chances and being able to maintain possession, or if it's just one way traffic and they're just having to hold on for dear life. So I think that's something that you to look out for as the US sort of progresses.

David Mossey
And when they take the field against these top teams, how does the game feel? Does it feel like even ish or does it feel one sided? So I think, you know, Kevin, that would be something I always have a lookout for. Yeah, it's not. It's not.

Alexi Lalas
Thank you, Kevin, I appreciate the call. All right, good luck there and drive safe. All right, and best of luck on the comedy career. Appreciate it. Thank you.

Speaker D
And hey, one. Sorry, sorry, I lost him there. Sorry, Kevin. I mean, to cut you off there, but, you know, just, this was not a smash and grab type of result tonight. This was not one of those.

Alexi Lalas
And we've seen them over the years, where the US just hangs on for dear life, like you said, and ekes out a result. This was absolutely, this was worthy of your time. And I think that this was justified in terms of the result. This was the 20th all time meeting between the two countries. The first ever draw, it had been 18.

David Mossey
Brazil wins one us victory, which we all know you played in the 98 Gold cup semi as a Casey Keller game, I would venture to say I can only think of one other game between Brazil and the US where the flow was this even and the chances. It occurred in the 1999 Confederations cup group stage in Mexico. I remember Brazil beat the US 10, a teenage Ronaldinho scored the goal, but the US played very well, had great chances, if I remember survey correct, Dita saved the penalty in that match. And that's always stuck in my head as the one time Brazil played the US. And it wasn't this sort of game of the US having to bunker down, Brazil having all the possession, all the chances, and the US just trying to hit him on the counter, set pieces, etcetera.

So I think, yeah, this goes down as. And then this would even be better than that game I just cited. So I think this is the US's best ever performance against Brazil. Even better than the game they won that you played in the 98 gold. Yeah.

Alexi Lalas
And if we're honest with ourselves, Casey Keller stood on his head, saved everything that came at him, including point blank shots from Romario. And then Preki pulled out something of magic to enable us to win. And you're going to need a little bit of that when you, when you are a us team, especially back in the nineties. Listen, Mossy, I'm looking at the. The TNT crew or, sorry, the HBO crew over there and, you know, they didn't wear t shirts tonight, so correlation, I don't know.

But, you know, the US finally, you know, plays. Plays well and they decided not to wear t shirts there. Let's add John and see if he has anything to say about this. John, unmute yourself, my friend, and let us know what you think. There you are.

Yeah. What's up, Rock Hill? Has he been doing well lately? Does this have anything to do with us going with them? Well, I think Mossey mentioned that this is not, this is not.

I don't think a lot of people are looking at this as the ultimate and best type of Brazil representation. Right? Mossy, I don't want to put words in your mouth. Over the last couple of years you have been down on what has happened on the field and what has happened off the field to your brazilian team. You know, this is a Neymar less type of team right now.

This is maybe a team in transition. And if you put it up in terms of this versus other teams in the past, this doesn't, I think, in your mind, come close to the upper echelon of brazilian teams, right? Absolutely. Can I. Will you indulge me?

David Mossey
Let me talk about Brazil for a couple of minutes. I don't think I have any choice, my friend. Go ahead. So Dodeval Junior is the new manager. This was just his fourth game in charge and he insists on starting this player named Juan Gomez in the midfield.

I don't rate at all. I thought he was the worst player on the field in the first half. The guy I've been clamoring for at that position is Douglas Luiz, who came on for Joan Gomez at the start of the second half. But then I only got about 1520 minutes of my preferred trio in the midfield, which is Douglas, Luis, Bruno Guimarenza, Lucas Paqueta, because then Dori valve started making these really attacking subs and kind of destroyed Brazil's balance and he brought an end red for Bruno guy and then Martinelli from Rodrigo. Brazil ended this game with a totally bizarre formation.

And, you know, this game almost. It felt like a competitive match in which Brazil had to win and the US only needed a draw. Some of the subs that Burrhalter made taking off Geo for Johnny Cardoso was sort of befitting of a guy sort of tightening things up a little bit and playing for the point and being happy with. While Brazil was bringing on attackers with reckless abandon and pouring players forward and leaving themselves very stretched at the back in what was a friendly. So I didn't quite understand that behavior from Brazil's coach.

And then it sort of gave the US, because there was the one period where the US looked bad in this game, I think you'd agree, was the first 1520 minutes or so of the second half. There was a stretch where the US was pinned down on their own half. Brazil didn't create any real clear chances out of that, but just in terms of the flow of the game, it was all one way traffic for about 15 minutes there. And then after the brazilian coach made the sub that he did and left the team sort of more exposed. That's when you started to see that the pulisic chance and Allison saved, and then that incredible Brendan Aronson chance in the box.

And there was one more Baligan. Matt Turner grabbed the cross and then threw it to Baligan, who was one on one with Douglas Luis. One guy to beat. It was incredible how stretched the game got at that point. But, yeah, and then last point on Brazil, and then I'll stop.

I said on our last pod that the game against Mexico was the best Vinissi junior look for Brazil in a long time. He came on for the last 20 minutes or so, and he looked like the Real Madrid. Vinisio was skipping past defenders with ease and creating chances, assisted the indirect goal. This was a step back tonight. This was, again, the frustrating vinissues that Brazil fans see, and they wonder, why can't he play the way he does for Real Madrid?

You saw one moment in the first half, that little dummy on Scally, where he turned them over down the sideline. It's sort of a patented Venice's move. It was reminiscent of he pulled it out on Fernandinho in the Champions League semifinals against City back in 2022, and he did it to Scally and then he carried it into the box, and Matt Turner made a nice save on him. That was it. That was his only really good moment the whole game.

The rest of the time, he just looked. His decision making was poor. He just was sort of tripping over the ball at times. And so, you know, we're going to hype him up as one of the big stars this summer and a guy that, you know, is, in a lot of people's mind, a favorite for the Bala Noor. But this was a step back tonight in terms of my hopes of seeing the Real Madrid issues for Brazil.

Alexi Lalas
Yeah, I don't think it's like politics nowadays in that I don't think a lot of the actions and what is happening out there necessarily are changing any minds. I don't think your mind has changed relative to the way that you look at this Brazil team after this performance. I also don't think that there's a lot of people out there that don't like Greg Berhalter, want Greg Berhalter to be fired, are going to change their minds after this result, and it'll just push it forward to the next game. Push it forward, obviously, to cope America. I do think that this isn't a reprieve for Greg Berhalter.

I still think he is fairly going to be under pressure in this tournament coming up. I do think that he, to a certain extent, after that Columbia game, has pushed a lot of chips into the Copa, Copa America and the results going forward. But again, I don't think that anybody's minds are changed one way or the other. Let's take a few more calls here, shall we? Mossy, how about we add WNBA superfans Speedo, Rito 99.

Let's see what this person has to say. Okay? WNBA. A lot of news with the WNBA. A lot of headlines and stuff like that.

Unmute yourself there and then you'll be able to speak. There we go. Once, going twice. I see you mute. I see you muted.

So forever now, ness? No? Okay, well, don't say Eric and I never gave anybody a chance here. Okay, let's queue a couple. We got a couple more questions, then we'll let you get back to the things that you are doing.

Let's see here. What about Ethan? All right, Ethan. Ethan Lee Tyson over there. I don't know where he is, but.

Hey, there you are, Ethan. What's up?

David Mossey
Was there anyone out there that you just wanted to see more of? I feel like there were a lot of guys who will be proud of. The performance they put in tonight. But was there anyone you just wanted to see make more of an impact on the game? Well, I do think that Musa kind of reestablished, or I guess, reminded me and others how good he can be in that.

Alexi Lalas
In that midfield trio when he do. When he does the things as the way he did it tonight, because I think we've been trying to get all the players on the field, and Mossy and I, over the past couple of weeks have been talking about different formations. Stu Holden's joined us and talked about different possibilities, you know, playing him out on the right hand side, we know, with trying to fill that position with dest going forward and all that kind of stuff. But, you know, we might come back to the realization that that's where he is best and we've talked about him, Tyler Adams and Weston McKitty going forward, but now you got Johnny in the mix and you got, you know, Geo Rayna and stuff like that. So I.

I'm not ready to say that Musa has lost his spot. I'm certainly not ready to give up on him and tonight I think only made me feel that more so when it comes to Musa and how important he can be in that midfield trio. But, you know, it does make it difficult to get everybody on the field. That's a good problem to have, but you got to figure out other people to get on the field. As I said before, I think Scally was admirable in his effort tonight.

I think that, like I said, Chris Richards does not fill me with confidence out there. I do think that our backline at times is our biggest liability and the number nine position continues to be open. Mossy, anybody that you want to see more of there or that changed your mind tonight or reminded you tonight? I think the big disappointment in both these games was Giorena and you wonder if the club inactivity shows against this level of opposition. Maybe it doesn't in Konkakov.

David Mossey
He played well in the Nations League semifinals and frankly, I'm starting to wonder if Joraine is not a bit of a flat track bully, which is a term the English use for a guy that plays with all this swagger when he faces inferior opposition, but he shrinks a little bit against elite teams. I don't know. I have to see a bigger sample. He's still young, but yeah, Serginio Dest and Gio Rayner are two players that strike me as guys do when you put them up against players that are level with them or worse, then you get the swagger, the flicks, the, you know, the step overs. But you know, I want to see it against elite opposition.

Obviously sergeant test is not around this summer, so we're going to have to wait on that. But I'm curious to see that the next time, you know, I guess it'll be against Yerevan, the final group game. How geo looks in that game. I kind of want to see some of the things we've seen him do against the likes of Jamaica and Mexico. And I now put Mexico in that category of an inferior team that, you know, if you're playing well against them to me is sort of falls in the category of a flat track bully.

But I kind of want to see at some point in this tournament against an elite team. Geo, show us some of the moves that he shows against those team and play with that swagger and be that difference maker that we know he can be. He certainly has a talent. Hey, it's Kaley Cuoco for Priceline. Ready to go to your happy place for a happy price?

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Alexi Lalas
Ethan, anything before we go? Anybody that you want to see more of or piqued your interest tonight? No. Thank you for doing the space. I would just love to see more of these.

David Mossey
I appreciate you guys. Oh, no problem. I appreciate it. Thank you for coming on. Very cool.

Alexi Lalas
Let's see here. Anybody else? How about we go over to Mike Horton?

Mike Horton. Where's Mike Horton? Let's see what he's got all about. Edinburgh University wrestling alum. Wow.

Okay. Bad golfer. Yes. No. Yes.

Is it coming on? Yes. Mike speaker. Yeah. There you are.

Mike, you there? No. No. Okay. All right, Mike.

Well, apologies. All right. There we go. Let's go over here. Joe Draper.

Joe Draper. Let's see what. Hey, there he is. Unmute yourself there, Joe. Well, yes.

Yes, Joe. No, Joe. Maybe Joe. Oh, there we go. Hi.

Speaker F
Sorry. That's okay. What's up? Hey. So I just.

I'm getting into some things, and I saw your comment about some people not fully trusting Greg or not wanting to keep him in charge, and I replied to your tweet about that. I'm not sure if you saw it or if you're too busy with this, but I'm just going to go into what I said a little bit and how the consistency and the inconsistency with results has gotten a lot of fans to one Berhalter out. But if tonight's performance was what he would put out on display or what the players would put out on display time and time again, that would allow us to build that trust with him. But you look back at getting out coached by van hall at the World cup or getting out coached by Nogglesman in his first game in charge in Germany last year, that's, like, the inconsistency. So where do you think Berhalter needs to show the fans how to improve himself as a manager to get us to be trusted?

Alexi Lalas
Speaker one yeah, I mean, I think you hit the nail on the head, Joey. I think that the consistency is important and so when Greg Berhalter goes to bed tonight, he puts his head on the pillow and he thinks about what this team is and what this team isn't and he looks at his responsibility and he goes through all the different things that he did to prepare, prepare the team for Columbia and all the different things or maybe things that he did or didn't do relative to the game against Brazil is he left with a real concrete reaction as to why there was a difference. And look, I'm sure that all coaches at times will not fall asleep when they're in that moment because they say, you know what, I wouldn't have done anything differently. And yet I have two massively different types of results despite what I did. Now you got to be introspective and you have to take your responsibility.

And sometimes, you know what, it's one of those days where just things just don't go right. But to your point, you got to be able to follow it up with a consistency and the best teams in the world and the elite teams in the world, which is what we're trying to be able to compete against and not just beat but consistently be able to be in games, which is something we haven't been able to do. That's what they do. And so now, you know, well, so what do we have ahead of us? All right, we got a game against Bolivia, we should beat Bolivia and we will not learn probably a whole lot about this team other than they are in a tournament situation.

There are fans in the stands and it is a means to an end to hopefully win a tournament. But if and when the US beats Bolivia, if they don't, that's a big problem. But if they do, you got to take it with a grain of salt because you should beat Bolivia, then you go against Panama. I think we've talked about it on this, on the pod and certainly on this call about the realities of the CONCACAF competition. And the US is almost not in an arrogant way but grown out of Concacaf.

If they really want to be elite and then that third game to Mossy's point, you know, that's, that's Uruguay and that's, that's big boy type of stuff and that's a real opponent and that's one that if and when you show there is a consistency of playing up to that performance or to that. Up to that opponent, that's. That's going to be. I mean, I'm not. I'm not discarding or throwing away those first two games, but let's be honest.

If you. If you slip up in those first two games, and there are much bigger problems, so then you get to that third game and you have to show the same type of tenacity, the same type of execution, the same type of mentality that we saw tonight against Uruguay, and then you go into the next round and to your point, being able to show it consistently, and just because you show it consistently doesn't mean you're going to win every single game. But this disparity that we saw with this team against Columbia and this team tonight, it's almost as if they're two different teams. So what has happened? Did he have a come to Jesus type of situation?

I'll talk about Greg Berhalter with this team. All right. He did. He changed the way that he approached it. Did he, you know, serve them red Gatorade instead of green Gatorade, what.

Whatever the hell he did, he's got to be able to replicate that regardless of the opponent going forward. Mossy. Can I just flag there was a curious VAR moment in this game early in the second half. It's really not that curious, though. Yeah, I just didn't know that was allowed.

David Mossey
I mean, we sort of probably ended up with the correct outcome, but I didn't know that was allowed. So for people to then see it, Rodrigo was through on goal, had seemingly been taken down by Chris Richard. The referee called the foul on the edge of the US spot for Brazil. And then he got called over to review if it was a possible red card. And then in reviewing that, he determined it wasn't even a foul and took away the foul, which, I don't know, a lot of people seem perplexed by that, just in terms of rule book standpoint.

Might need to ask doctor Joe Macnic, but I wasn't sure that VAR had the license to do that. To take away files. No. I've been thinking about this since VAR came in place, because I've talked about and asked about this particular plane. I'm so glad that it is there, because it points out the reality of if in the commission of looking at a potential red card, you find other things that happened, you are allowed to go back and to make the changes.

Alexi Lalas
Okay, what you can't do is say, well, this is not a yellow card, or something like that. And in this case, evidently from above it came that, hey, you need to take a look at this as a potential red card. And not only did the referee go and say, you know what? You guys are wrong upstairs, okay? But the yellow card I gave is wrong, and the foul that I gave is wrong.

But since it was in the commission of looking at it through the prism of a red card, all bits are off and you can change anything that's going on there. So that was wonderful to see that law and have that example going forward. And it'll serve us well going forward in terms of tournaments going forward. And, Chris Richards, thank your lucky stars that you had. That you had VAr because you got your yellow card taken back, which, by.

David Mossey
The way, we didn't talk about this on the pod, but the Premier League is retaining. Remember, Wolves put forth a proposal to scrap Var, and they were the only ones that voted for it, but those voted to keep it. So thank you, Joey. I appreciate it. All right, should we take one more before we go, Mossy?

Alexi Lalas
Sure. All right, one last one here. How about soccer thoughts? It's a good one to add your soccer thoughts. Let's see what kind of thoughts soccer has right now.

Soccer. You there? Hey, Alexi a mossy. Hey there. This is not about the game.

David Mossey
Is actually about something that came out from FIFA today. Okay, what you got? So they released the schedule of where the knockout games are gonna be for the USA and Mexico and Canada. And the USA is not playing in Philadelphia on July 4. What?

Yeah, it's on that. Can you get that fixed? Yeah, I'm gonna see what I can do. I'm gonna call Johnny and figure it out. Mossy, you want to take us through the.

Alexi Lalas
The route here for the US if things were to go well? Well, first off, get that kid to quiet down soccer font. Now, Lex, I'm actually gonna have to look this up, so you're gonna have to talk. So it's Seattle, San Francisco. If the US were to win their group, and to his point, there was the potential, if the US got out of their group, to have a us men's national team game in the 2026 World cup played on July 4 in Philadelphia.

I mean, it writes itself, and yet in FIFA's infinite wisdom, they are not going to going to do that. You know, I don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves, whatever the pathway is fine, but it would have been nice to be able to orchestrate that. And we should say July 4, 2026, will be the 250 year anniversary of declaration of Independence. Yeah, well, you know what? We can't get everything, but if FIFA has taught us anything is that nothing is set in stone and things certainly can change.

When those. When that news came out today, I said, I can't even wrap my little brain around it and where we're going and all that kind of stuff. But, you know, it looks like it would be a west coast type of scenario. I think Los Angeles was included in that. And we should be so lucky to be able to talk about these games because keep in mind, this is a round of 32 game as opposed to around a 16 game, then around a 16, then a quarterfinal, semifinals, and going on.

So there's an added round when it comes to 2026, given the number of the teams that are. That are going to be playing. So, anyway, soccer, thoughts? Anything before we go? No, that was it.

Thanks, guys. All right. All right. You go feed that child of yours. All right.

Maybe it's not even his trial, I don't know. But. Mossy, anything to wrap up here on the gate? No. So the two pre tournament friendlies are done and dusted, and the next time you see the US take the field, it'll be for a competitive mat.

David Mossey
It'll be June 23 against Bolivia and. Yeah, no, we're. Listen, we were cranking today. We rehearsed for the opening match of the euros. We're just two days away.

Yeah, we couldn't be more excited. So the summer of stars is upon us. First the euros, and then a few days later, the Copa America gets underway. And, look, I know a lot of people are watching this team with an eye to 2026, and I am, too, because it is that monumental. It's that.

Alexi Lalas
I think it's going to be that seminal and I think it's that important. And we cannot afford to waste this opportunity. And we want to put our best foot forward and we want to make sure that this collection of talent that a lot of people have said is, you know, the best we've had, that's debatable. But this collection of talent, whoever is leading this team, in this case it's Greg Burrhalter, is getting the best out of this talent. And I think for a lot of people watching, they feel that over the next two years, there is so much more that we can be to be our best self come the summer of 2026.

And I think that's where a lot of people come down when it comes to Greg Berhalter as to whether he is the best person to get to maximize this opportunity. And to get the best out of this group. And we'll continue to argue. And as long as, you know, to our previous question, there is an inconsistency of performance. I think that Greg Berhalter is going to continue to be criticized and to continue to be under pressure, as all coaches are and certainly all coaches in other countries and cultures are when it comes to the national team.

And Greg Burhalter should be no difference. But if he is able to maintain this type of performance and consistency going forward and right ahead of him is this opportunity in Copa America, then maybe, and I say a big, big maybe, he can, he can change some minds out there. But I do think those hearts and minds are pretty much, you know, steadfast in their belief one way or the other. So who knows? But good things on the field, at least tonight for the us men's national team, we'll see how they fare coming up in Copa America again.

We will be kicking off our euro coverage this Friday with Germany versus Scotland, and then we'll continue on all around the weekend and then into next week when Copa America joins, when we simultaneously broadcasting two tournaments. My goodness, just, just pull a chair up, pull a chair up at this incredible buffet of soccer and just, and just gorge yourself all the way through the summer on Fox. We'll be back again each and every day when it comes to the tournaments with a state of the union. So a wrap up and preview as to what's coming, as we've done tournament after tournament. So Mossy is going to be pulled in a bunch of different directions and we'll be cranking out the content for you.

We appreciate everybody that joined us here on the spaces. We appreciate everybody that's listening after the fact, Gousa and all that kind of stuff. We'll talk to you again later on this week when the tournaments kick off. And until then, and as always, my friends size the day.