Mexico Stay Perfect

24:37The Scottish fans are amazing. And who knows, maybe out of a surprise you score a goal, You know, at Seca Stadium, when you grow over yourself, it's not going to be an easy path if Mexico would play them, obviously. But I don't think that Scotland will get that privilege to go through because minus three goal difference, I think, is too much. Yeah, the Mexican fans, as well as the Tartan Army, that party. That's going to be a lot of beer. A lot of cerveza. Absolutely, there's a lot of cerveza there. The most disappointed people are the bar owners in Mexico City. Absolutely. All right. We're going to take a quick break.

25:15But Canada went down to Switzerland and the USA may already know their opponents. We'll look at both next.

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26:48It undoubtedly the toughest game of the group in Vancouver for them. And the Swiss took a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Vargas and Manzambi. But Canada were able to pull one back. But unfortunately for the Canadians and all the home fans in Vancouver, they couldn't force anything else as they lost this one and lose the chance to play on home soil again. Elsewhere, Bosnia and Herzegovina took on an already eliminated Qatar and powered their way to a 3-1 win. big celebrations from the Bosnians at full-time on the pitch and after the full-time whistle as they feel that they would have done enough to get into the round of 32 as one of the best third-place teams.

27:29Right, let's have a look at the Group B standings there. That confirms Switzerland are the winners of this group on seven points. Canada now will have to settle for second and as I said, that loses them the chance to play in front of their home crowd again for the rest of the World Cup. Right. Big opportunity missed, Herc, for Canada on this one. Yeah. Opportunity missed because the first half to your capabilities without players like Bombito, without players like Alphonso Davies, without players like Cone who are injured and without Estacchio, who's on the bench due to a precautionary, I guess, injury to his hamstring.

28:07You managed to have more shots in the first half against Switzerland. Their goalkeeper was forced to make more saves, and you're 0-0 against a better team. To come out in the second half, Jesse Marsh's team, and in 90 seconds get scored on. In 90 seconds, Switzerland had two shots, not on goal, just two shots in general in the second half, and they scored both goals. They shoot to themselves in the foot. They put themselves behind the eight ball, and when Jesse Marsh finally makes the substitutions and you get players on the field, he throws caution to the wind. You are the better team. You out shoot Switzerland.

28:38You have more expected goals, three times more. You're putting more pressure on. You're knocking at the door. You score a goal. It's there for the taking. And you know that you don't want to go away from the friendly confounds of the Canadian atmosphere. You don't want to be outside of Vancouver, outside of Toronto. And you get in second place, sends you to Los Angeles. And they're lucky that in Los Angeles, it won't be South Korea. Here in L.A., there's a massive South Korean population. It would have been a home game for South Korea. Remains to be seen if it'll be South Africa, but if so, it's much more friendly to them.

29:08But this was there for them, for the taking. They've already made history getting their first win. I felt like this was a massive opportunity loss because of where they had Switzerland and how they let it go. Juergen, Canada now the only of the three host nations to not top their group. If you're Jesse Marsh, what are you thinking after this one? Well, as a coach you're angry for a couple of seconds. Not too long because it's all about the next game. You have to confront it the way it is because it is just the way it is. Now you've got to come to Los Angeles and you wait a second now, who's going to be your opponent if it's South Africa.

29:45It's much better than South Korea because there are ten thousands of Koreans here in Los Angeles. It is what it is, and you can now prepare your team for the knockout phase, which means for finals, one final at a time. So for Canada, it will be right away a final. They would have felt a lot more comfortable being at home, in Vancouver, in Toronto, but it is what it is. I think he has, anyway, I think Jesse has this attitude in himself, anyway, that the bigger the challenge, the more he likes it, The more he kind of expresses himself, you know, and he has so much energy and he has so much positive leadership in his personality that I'm not worried too much about Canada.

30:32I think they're going to go and take care of business, whoever they meet. Not much of a home field advantage, is it, though, for Mexico or Canada, that if they slip and they would have come in second, they're no longer at home. So even though you're a host country, you're not really a host country. Casey, what did you make of Canada? Lost opportunity. You know, I mean, I think we felt that Switzerland was the strongest team in that group, but Canada showed at times that they could easily compete. And they had the opportunity. Look, they had the opportunity in the first match where they didn't take it.

31:06And we kind of thought, OK, there's something not quite clicking. Then they have that blowout win and you think, OK, maybe they've turned the corner. But then we saw again today, you know, some of that inability in the final third came back to haunt them because they clearly created the chances to get that second goal and even the third goal. And they weren't able to take it. But again, like Juergen said, you get upset about it. It's over. It's done. You'll look at the tape. You've got six days to prepare. It's not like the old days where you have three days to prepare. so you got plenty of time to get your guys rested up and get that game plan when you figure out who that's going to be.

31:47And, you know, they had some success in this stadium, in that Nations League. So, yeah, I think they'll take a little bit of confidence in that and come down to L.A. and try to build some atmosphere. But, yes, huge opportunity lost not being able to play that game, that round of 32 at home. Yeah, and as Herc pointed out, Canada's still without their biggest star in Alphonso Davies, that we keep seeing him on the sidelines. Jesse Marsh saying that he's still just not quite ready yet. We will see, because I'm pretty sure, JJ, they could use him in the round of 32. Oh, 100%. But I think Jesse's the one who knows the best, right?

32:26If he's 100%, if he maybe gives them that extra game, just to have him back then in the knockout stage, you know. But I think Jürgen said it right. I think that Jesse, everybody who knows Jesse, he likes this kind of games, this situation, this moment, right? So he strives for that. And I think maybe he turns around and he looks at this game and says, it's just good because we were a better team, but we don't use the chances. And this is something you can now address to the guys to say, look, if we play like this in a knockout phase, we have the chances. We don't create that moments and score the goals.

33:00That can cost us the tournament. So we have to be focused on that chances when we get that chances. And I think that's the moment I think what a coach, I think Jürgen maybe can express that more to explain, to say that I'm pretty sure you use that as a coach to say, look, from that moment we can learn. This game we lost today, even if we were better. In a knockout stage, we have to be focused more. Yeah, Canada definitely with a mountain to come, at least in the round of 32. But as we know, the ball is round. All right. Well, like I said, there were plenty celebrations on the pitch for Bosnia and Herzegovina from their players.

33:33but also back at home. Just look at what it meant to everyone back at home. Like I said, they will feel like they have done definitely enough to make it through to the round of 32 as one of the best third-place teams.

33:52Well, coming up next, we're going to stick a pin and speak about Bosnia and Herzegovina because it looks like they could be on a collision course to meet the USA. We'll look at that next.

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35:48Of course, it's great. We want to win these games. There's no doubt that's the first piece, but we'd rather create history in a different way. Hey man, America likes winners, so we're gonna give them some more to cheer about. We have a young group, you know, and they created some excitement in this country. After the two games they showed, I think we own some respect in this tournament. I mean, this is a big deal now. Get excited! Go crazy! Take advantage of it! Enjoy it while you can! It's my first World Cup, you know, I'm enjoying it. I'm enjoying the states, I'm enjoying the pressure. I see clear advantages that this U.S.

36:21Men's National Team has to a lot of teams in this tournament. Who would have said that you start in this World Cup with two wins right away? Convincing wins right away. Anything, absolutely anything is possible. For us, it's how can we have more and more and more? That confidence, that belief. Hey, we can dream. And we're hosting the World Cup. So let's dream big. Right. Can the USA follow Mexico and make it a perfect group stage with three wins from three? They're going to face off against Turquia in less than 24 hours. But will they have to do it with a couple of these players who are at risk of suspension?

36:58The likes of Tyler Adams, Chris Richards, Anthony Robinson, and even their big man up front that's been scoring, Flo Balogun, have all picked up cards. So, considering they've already qualified, should Juergen, no, should Mauricio Pochettino rest some players? We'll talk about that in a bit. But right now, Sam Borden caught up with Tyler Adams. What's been the highlight? What's been the moment that you will always remember so far? Probably after the game in Seattle so far, when everyone's singing Country Roads. I mean, I think that for me, that kind of epitomizes what America is. Hearing everyone sing the national anthem, however many people are there, 60 ,000, 70 ,000 people, celebrating and looking how happy the fans were after the game.

37:45And, you know, everyone wants to talk about how soccer is not a big sport in the U.S. I feel like with what we're doing and bringing people together, it can become one of those big sports in America like it is around the rest of the world. So for me, it's been really exciting to take on this journey with the boys because we've put a lot of work in over the past four years since Qatar to make something special happen. To hear people having earnest conversations about can the U.S. win this World Cup, what does that make you feel as a player on this team and somebody who's been following U.S. soccer, obviously, for a very long time?

38:16I think for me the most important thing is representing the country in the right way, right? Like, what are our values? What do we stand on as a country? Like, when I think of Americans, I think that we're a diverse place, which our team is diverse. We're extremely competitive, brave, and we go out there and we want to compete at a high level in whatever we do. And I think every American believes that we're the best at everything. That's just the reality of America. And that's exactly what we want to be in the soccer world. It takes time to continue to build this thing, but hopefully we can continue to be the foundation for that.

38:49Do you allow yourself to think about just how far this team could go in terms of making history and getting to the semifinals, getting even beyond that? My goal whenever I'm in something is to win. Do you know what I mean? I don't set a limit or a standard on exactly what that looks like. I know that if we consistently continue to put in performances like this, we can compete at a high level against anyone. But it's about respecting each other, giving each other the opportunity to get better and continue to grow. That's the only way that we're going to be able to do this. I know that you want to play on Thursday.

39:16I mean, you said that, right? I mean, you always want to be out there. Is this one of those, like, head versus heart situations with the yellow card? Like, how are you approaching Thursday and what that game means to you as a player compared to the team when you know that you're already through to the next round? Yeah, I think you go through all the scenarios in your head, potentially playing and not getting a yellow card, potentially playing and getting a yellow card, not playing and giving other guys opportunities to show what they're capable of, and our team is fully capable of delivering an important performance.

39:50But this is football at the end of the day. I think there's a lot of unknowns. Do you know what I mean? Obviously, I don't make the decision whether I'm playing the game or not. That being said, of course I want to be on the field and be able to continue to support these boys. I don't take any game for granted, especially in a World Cup. You don't know when you're going to have the opportunity to be back. So I hope I'm on the field. I hope I can avoid getting a yellow card. Do you know what I mean? You have to be smart in these scenarios and be able to manage the situations. I did it last game, and I think I can do it again, but you never know.

40:19When you look at what someone like Leo Messi is doing, about to be 39 as a soccer fan, what do you think? That he was graced by God in being chosen as the special one. I mean, what he's doing is something in and of its own. We just need to enjoy it while it's in front of us because we like to make a lot of comparisons about who's, you know what I mean? And it's just enjoy what you're watching because who knows if it will happen again. Tyler Adams there, one of the players that has already picked up a yellow card before tomorrow's game against Turkary. Juergen, of course, all of the talks now is what should Mauricio Pochettino do?

40:58Should he play any of these players? Should he give them a rest, especially considering that the job's already done? Absolutely, they should play. All of them. Absolutely. I mean, ask any of these guys, you know, because you have one yellow card in the next World Cup game, you don't play from the beginning? I mean, it's nonsense. Obviously, every player is responsible for his own behavior, you know. So you pick up another yellow card, yeah, then you pay the consequence. But, I mean, obviously, if you play a World Cup, you go from game to game. You keep the momentum that they build now. They're getting to fine-tune more and more.

41:37The more they play together, every minute they play. You can, obviously, after an hour or 55, 60 minutes, you can sub the one or the other out with a yellow card. Maybe that's in the back of your mind. But for me, I mean, the best play continues now their road, their path. And it's not about giving other players an opportunity. They get their opportunities, but there's a clear hierarchy of the team. And I would respect that hierarchy. I mean, if somebody is not smart enough and picks up a yellow card, then it is what it is. It is what it is. JJ, is that how you see it too? Yeah, 100%. I'll say this.

42:17If Jürgen would come in in 2014 and would tell me he takes me out because he wanted to save me with a yellow card, I would destroy my room. Again? Again? What? As simple as it is, because as a player, you want to play. So at the end, the coach puts you on the field, and then like Jürgen said, it's your own responsibility. What do you do in the situations when you come in that moment where you maybe risk to get a yellow card? But that's something even as a player you know, but you want to play because now you're in the moment. Nobody knows how quick that tournament comes again for a player. And I think that's just how easy it is.

42:53As a player, you want to play. I understand that the coach, you think a little bit, okay what can happen if but like Adam said he said I want to play so and I think that's the just like you're 100 % right that take the momentum because now you're building something and you don't want to go between and even between the games is always long breaks so why you want to take that and that's an important point is you know if you don't play that game tomorrow you basically didn't play for 11 12 days that's a huge I mean at least play the guys that are on a yellow card, at least one half, you know, 45 minutes, give them a go, give them a go, give them the rhythm.

43:28And then afterwards, in the second half, you can make two subs if you want. Just my personal opinion. And I think that's one of the benefits that five subs gives you as well, is you can make changes that you weren't able to make when there was only two subs. But yeah, I think it would be frustrating if you lost a bunch of momentum from this. But I think the one thing that Tyler said that is extremely important is just spend more time in Seattle. And if you do that, then the good vibes come. And obviously, if you can win the round of 32, where do you go? You go back to Seattle. So obviously, it's all lining up, folks.

44:06And Casey would absolutely love that. And I think what a lot of people would absolutely love here tomorrow, Herc, is to see Christian Pulisic back on that page. Yes, and this is where I do think it's beneficial to get him back on the pitch. If he's got the green light, we've already seen him training for the last two days, seen video of him making sprints, doing sprints. He's 100 % back into the team session. He said he's 100 % or close to it. You've got to do what you would do in a normal week. If he's got the green light, put him through the protocol. He gets 20, 30 minutes, whatever the case may be, but you put him through the regular motion.

44:37You've got to treat this not like a World Cup of old where a game every three days. You've got to treat this a game every seven days, and there is no rest needed for certain players. And you need to reintegrate Christian Pulisic so it's not three weeks without a game for him. That's where I'm in agreement with Juergen. I love playing for Juergen because he trusts his players. I love playing alongside this guy Jermaine Jones because he played on that edge, and I want guys like that all the time. But I've got to save the players from themselves. And I don't know if I trust the player. I understand the player's willingness and wanting to be on the field because it's a World Cup and nobody wants to miss time.

45:14But could you imagine somebody, for whatever reason, picking up a yellow in a game that doesn't mean anything to you, and then you miss out on the next round and have to be an important player like a Tyler Adams? I love what Juergen is standing for. He wants to trust the player. I don't know if I trust the player. That's my problem. I think sometimes we need to save the player from himself. Take the decision out of their hands. Yes. All right. Well, I guess that's why Herc's not a manager, right? Could be. All right. But I guess I suppose now we were talking about Bosnia and Herzegovina, feeling like they've done enough to make it to the round of 32.

45:50JJ, it looks like they could be on a collision course to play the U.S. men's national team. How would you feel about that matchup from the U.S. perspective? Yeah, let's say this. Bosnia, you have to be careful. They have players that can hurt you, Especially with Edin Dzeko in the front. Yes, I see him week for week with Schalke Nulfija. And I can tell you, he's not somebody who will run away from you. But he has experience. He's good in holding the balls. And he's getting good the people around him into the game and bring them in position to score goals. But you were able to see, even against Qatar now, Bosnia, they're not playing a game that you'd be like, oh my God, they're playing amazing football.

46:30But somehow they get to the moments, to the chances, and then they score their goals. And that's something where I want to see the U.S. team play against a team who knows to bite, who knows to defend. I want to see if the U.S. team can change their style or play different because so far the games we saw with the U.S., a lot of stuff worked out for them. But I would be surprised that this game against Bosnia will be a completely different one. All right. Well, it's my favorite time of day now. We have to say goodbye. to Hercules Gomez. I'm just kidding. Not my favorite. Herc, you've got another show coming up, haven't you?

47:07You're kicking me off the set. Is that what you're doing right now? We're going to kick you off the set because we're going to bring in an even bigger name sooner. But Herc is going to make the very short journey over to the set right beside us where we are going to be also filming Ahora o Nunca. If you speak Espanol, just check it out. It starts in a few minutes. And hopefully you will join us again tomorrow for a special edition of Football America because we kick things off at 9 p.m. Eastern time, right after the USA against Turkey. And we're also on before. Time for yet another quick break.

47:45But when we come back, we are talking about Germany. And we're even bringing a very famous person on set.

48:02Here's a look at the schedule coming your way on Thursday. Things kick off with Curaçao against the Ivory Coast, plus Germany going up against Ecuador, who needs something, anything to try and save themselves. Then Japan take on Sweden, and Tunisia have to contend with the Netherlands. And then it's Paraguay against Australia. And of course, the U.S. men's national team looking to put a cherry on what's been a pretty sweet group stage so far as they go up against Turkey. Right, like I promised, there's going to be a very special guest here. and we've got our own Archie Rintut, who you may be familiar with from our Bundesliga coverage.

48:38But Archie, Germany now going up against an Ecuador who really has left a lot to be desired, but usually when they have their backs against the wall, they come out swinging. So how does Germany approach this one? They may come out swinging, but whether they actually land a punch is another thing because this Ecuador team really struggles to score goals. They went through a patch in qualifying where they didn't score in four games in a row. So Sebastian Beccasese, the coach, is under a lot of pressure. So from a Germany perspective, this game lays up quite nicely. They don't have Nico Schlotterbeck for the rest of the tournament.

49:10He's out. Nene Brown is out with an adductor injury just for this game. But I think the questions that everybody's asking back in Germany right now are, will Dennis Undav start? And Julian Nagelsmann said, no, he won't. He will continue to be on the bench for now. and I understand it, but I do wonder, does it work with Wietz, Musiala and Havertz? Not doubting their qualities, cannot doubt their qualities at all, but whether they all work together on the same wavelength, I do put a question mark there. Do you want to ask that question to Jürgen? Jürgen, of course, I'm pretty sure Nagelsmann has heard all the cries for Dennis Undov to start, but you know as a coach, you don't listen to any of that, do you?

49:53And it's a great problem for Germany to have, considering he can come off the bench and still make such an impact. Well, as long as Undarv stays focused, is positive and is coming along, you know, it could also happen. You know, I don't know this kid personally, but if he gets more and more angry that he's not getting the start because he's scoring the goals, he's saving the team, you might lose him. But I'm sure that Nagelsmann knows what he's doing and he talks to all of them anyway on a daily base. It's a tricky game, as Arne said. It's tricky because Ecuador has a point to prove. They haven't delivered yet and this is a really good Ecuadorian team.

50:36But they're not scoring enough. and it will be interesting to see with what energy and what kind of attitude also Germany will face this Ecuador team and finish off the group on top of the table, obviously. JJ, a tricky game for Germany? No, I don't think so. I believe strongly that individual, the German has the better team. If they stay focused and concentrate on their game and don't get pushed into the Ecuador game, I think that we will maybe the first 20 minutes it will be tough but then I think Germany will take the game I'd like to see Undov get rewarded and and see it in a game that doesn't particularly matter To start and see gives them an opportunity to see if that fits better For Germany, but also I think Ecuador having to score goals having to open up Only plays into Germany's hands and if they do that it could be a long day All right.

51:33Well, since Archie is probably not going to be with us here tomorrow, Archie, give us a quick prediction for this one. 3-0 to Germany. Oh, feeling 3-0? I go with 2-0. 2-0. 2-1. 2-1. All right. So we're giving Ecuador a little something, but in the end it will not be enough to take down the mighty Germany in this one. Archie Rinta, thank you so much for joining us. You survived it. Yeah, just about. Just about. We had you put on your Sunday best jacket, but of course we have had such a good time with Archie here. Thanks to everyone, of course, as well for watching. Thanks to Casey, JJ, and Jürgen for hanging out with us.

52:16We'll be back here tomorrow, not once, but twice. So please join us right here. Remember, we'll be counting down for the U.S. men's national team's final group game against Turkey. Can the USA put a cherry on top of what has been an absolutely brilliant group stage for them. Stay tuned to find out. Until then, it's goodnight from us here in Los Angeles. And welcome into Extra Time. I am back with the boys Casey Keller, Jermaine Jones, Jürgen Klinsmann, and look who has joined us, Archie Rintott in a very suitable jacket, Archie. You're looking normal. Most of the time I'd say that's a compliment, but that's not here.

52:55No, we know we love your jackets on our Bundesliga coverage. Right, let's get straight into the questions. First one up for Casey. Casey, as you were leaving the pitch in your last professional match, did you do anything special like Memo Ochoa, who kissed the goalpost? Did you kiss some goalposts? No, definitely not kissing goalposts. You're not as sentimental? No, not for the goalpost. You spent so much time with goalposts, though. Did it ever save you? Sometimes, and sometimes they didn't. I mean, it kind of worked both ways. No, I think for me it was really just the reflection on having 20 years as a pro and being able to have all the experiences in Europe, then to be able to come home and finish my career back in the Pacific Northwest in Seattle.

53:45So, yeah, tons of fond memories, but nothing specific about, okay, this is something sentimental about that. Juergen, did you do anything in your final professional game? take a piece of the net, the grass? No, no, I didn't. No, I was just kind of tired of listening to coaches. So it was time to be one. So it was time to be one. So I really knew it's really time to move on because I could not listen to coaches anymore. Anymore? JJ, did you? No, I don't do anything. I just walked off and that's it. Oh, wow. All right, very sentimental. Next question for Jürgen. Jürgen, which former Bayern coach do you think goes the furthest?

54:29Tuchel, Nagelsmann or Ancelotti? Oh, they're all three of them had their tough times at Bayern Munich. I had my tough times at Bayern Munich too. But, I mean, it's an interesting question because all three are so different. You know, they're so different, these personalities. Thomas Tuchel, obviously, now coach of England. Julian, coach of Germany and Ancelotti, coach of Brazil. I mean, I'm a big Carlo Ancelotti fan. I also played against him a long time ago in Italy. And, yeah, but, yeah, my feeling is that Brazil will make it the furthest. Oh, I love that. What do you think? I think maybe England.

55:11I think maybe they had their little moment that kind of showed them that, okay, let's get back to humility here. But in a different day, I think they score four goals in that match. But I think England have a good chance to surprise some people. Yeah, and I mean, it's pretty interesting. A German leading the English, Archie. Let me tell you, around some family roundtables, that's always a discussion. But I do think that it will be Tuchel of those three who will go the furthest right now. I think the fact that Germany are on course to face France, if things go the way we expect them to go. That's a really tall order for Germany in the current space they're in right now.

55:53JJ, Tuchel and Shalotti or Nagelsmann? I said from the beginning, I have some feeling that England goes. England goes far in the tournament, so I go, like, yeah, pick Tuchel, the German guy coaching the English guys. Still going down a bit weird. Next question now. There seems to be a lot of pressure to start UNDAV, But isn't it important in today's game to have players you know can deliver coming off the bench, especially for the knockout rounds where games may go to extra time? Of course, Jürgen, everyone's talking about this like it's a bad thing. But as we discussed, it's actually a great thing for Germany to have.

56:30Oh, absolutely. It's a super luxury. I mean, you have a guy that delivers every time he comes on off the bench, but it doesn't make him happy. He wants to play from the beginning on. and they are fighting for their spots and they don't want to be known later on as the super sub. They want to be known as the ones that started the games and hopefully go all the way to the final and maybe even win the final. So this kid, Dennis Undav, is hungry, hungry for the starting spot and that's a good thing. But obviously they take every goal he scores off the bench, they take it greatly. Yeah, Archie, Undav's done himself a world of good these last two games.

57:06He has. He's already seen as this every man in Germany who's very popular with fans because he's always got just a little saying on the edge of his lips as well. And I think that that's such an important quality for Julian Nogsman to be able to use and weaponize. It's just, does the team look better with a natural striker rather than a false nine? I don't know. But Nogsman already said in March that he wasn't happy with perhaps Undav's fitness levels in the heat. That was a big political storm that he had to weather. And it's going to be one that he's going to have to keep on weathering the longer that Germany go on in the tournament.

57:46JJ, what do you think? Look, the whole story of Undav is just amazing. Because when you look where he played for a couple of years and now he's here in the World Cup, he scores goals. And yes, I get it that as a coach, you look at it and you say, everything worked out exactly how I want it. He comes on the bench, he scores the goals. But then if you turn it around, 100 % he will sit there and say as a player, you say, I want to play. I was the one who kind of saved us. I came in, I changed the game and scored my goals. I want to show the people that I can. And of course, the people all love him because he's the guy who's in front of camera.

58:21He has good chemistry. He's talking sometimes stuff. He brings people to laugh. But at the end, he backs it up on the field. So for me, it's so that I look at it and go, you have to look at the moments. he creates in the games and at the end he's he's there to score goals and that's what he's doing so he's pushing for his position to start at one point yeah it will be tough for Julian Nagelsmann. I like seeing players get rewarded for doing the job and you say to a player hey start on the bench come in and prove yourself well he's proven himself the question mark is is do you change the system from the start to put this player in?

59:02And are they better if they change the system from the start? And those are why coaches get paid what they get paid, is to be able to make those difficult decisions. And as the team still wins, there's still a case to do that. But then there's also a case to say, look, the team's been better in the last 15 minutes when he's come in and played this way. And so, again, I'm glad I'm not making the decision. Yeah, it's a tough decision, indeed. Next question. 19 of the 26-man squad in the South African national team play their club football in the local South African league. And the one playing in the Premier League is not even a starter.

59:38How big of an achievement is this for South African football and its development? Yeah, you're going to first time out of the group for South Africa in their history. We didn't get to talk much about them in the main show, but this is huge. It is huge and it's a big testament to the South African league. you know and i followed the south african league over the decades now because i have a couple of friends down there and uh this is huge i mean that makes them super super proud of what they achieve right now and and proving to the world that they play good club football in africa as well and uh we saw it last year in the in the club world cup with a south african team that went really spectacular well and uh yeah no that is cool and you got to give them only compliments Well done for Bafana Bafana.

1:00:26Tabirjo Mocuena, their captain, suspended for the game today. And I thought maybe their chances go with that too. But actually, if we look at how they started the tournament, how they adapted from the back three that they played against Mexico, and suddenly they've gone to the back four, back to the way that they play, and they've looked so much more comfortable since then. And now, in the next round, look, Canada is going to be tough. But, particularly the intensity that Canadians play, But given what they're showing, a little bit more confidence on the ball, they've got a chance. And we better brace our ears for it because Vuvuzelas will be heard from now till kingdom come.

1:01:01But JJ, what did you like about what you saw from South Africa and how they went about this group stage? Because I feel like we were almost sleeping on them a little bit. You know, I was not that much surprised because a good friend of mine, Stephen Piana, he told me already. He said, like, look, we like Jürgen said, we have a good league. We're playing good football and that's what you see right now. Yes, we can say when you watch the games that the other countries have more position in all that stuff, but at the end, South Africa, they get the chances, they put the chances away, they play with an open heart.

1:01:37They're not scary. They come here and they're proven to say, look, we have maybe not the big names, but we work as a team. We trust in each other and we try to prove everybody wrong. And I think, and I always say that, we see different faces right now. In South Africa, it's a face where it shows you that as a team, they perform really good. In other countries, you see the individual quality. So, and it would be interesting to see how they go through this tournament. It's giving Canada something to think about, Case. Definitely. I mean, I think we all expected Korea was going to get a goal in that match and kind of change that whole outcome.

1:02:14But again, you love seeing that reward of a group that nobody expects, that doesn't have necessarily big stars that they're relying on. And they play as a team. They play as a unit. They have pace on the counterattack. They cause a little bit of problems. They're efficient in the final third. And yeah, look, I think Canada's much happier probably with their slip up to play against South Africa. but I think South Africa has proven that if you take them lightly, you can be embarrassed. That indeed. Next question is for Archie. Who is Archie's favorite ever Fulham goalie? And why is it Casey Keller?

1:02:57Luckily, he didn't say Fulham. No, come on. I played like 10 games for Fulham. I'm so glad you got me out of that. Thank you. No, look, the truth is, I remember Casey's run to help Fulham get survival back in 2008. He played a huge role in building the blocks for Fulham to go to the Europa League final. Because without that, Fulham go down to the championship. Who knows what happened? The truth is, the best goalkeeper we've ever had. Mark Schwartz was very good. But Edwin van der Sar was even better. The Great Wall of Holland. Yes. Loved him, loved him. But I know your favourite Fulham player of all time.

1:03:34Primer Pride. There we go. There we go. He said, forget the Ronaldos, forget the Pelas, forget the Messies. They played for Fulham? No, but I think Brian is probably his favorite player of all time, period. I have never seen Archie get emotional quite like when he talks about Brian. All right. Next question. Also for Archie. Wow. For Archie, which U.S. men's national team striker should be brought to Fulham to carry the full America torch after Jedi gets sold for$60 million? It's still Brian McBride. Don't it, Brian? Can still be. No. Is it Riccardo Pepe or Foller in Balogun that I have to choose from there?

1:04:17Probably. The problem is... Two very different ones. I saw Riccardo Pepe play for Augsburg when he first moved over, and that was not the best version of Riccardo Pepe that I saw there. In fact, I was wondering, how has this guy got this move? But look, he's gone to a league in the Eredivisie and with PSV, where he's playing in a very attacking side. And I think that Balogun would actually, of those two, he would suit us a bit more because Balogun is used to running in behind a bit more. Whereas with Pepi, he's used to playing against teams which are used to defending a bit more. At Fulham, we need pace.

1:04:51We really need pace. For all those counterattacks. So yes, please. Jurgen, what do you think of that Pepi better suited probably to Fulham in the Premier League? I don't really care.

1:05:04He doesn't want to talk about Fulham. Fulham is not my business. Oh, exactly. JJ Casey. I used to like Jürgen. We have to show Fulham some love for Archie. We do, we do. I like both options, but I think Balogun coming from Monaco might be just that little bit different. Obviously, he came through Arsenal youth. Why would he go from Monaco to Fulham? Seriously, no. I mean, please. Where'd you go? Monaco to Tottenham? It is Monaco. You played Champions League. Why would he go then? With all due respect for Fulham. But really. Please. Jogan, I'm just saying. It was a bit late for the with all due respect.

1:05:48Yeah. It was, you know. No, it was perfect. You've killed us. It was beautiful. You've killed us. The body is on the ground and you've gone with all due respect. All right. We're going to cut that right there because bugs are attacking me at the moment. But thanks, of course, to Archie for putting on a brave face and joining us here to talk some Fulham. Please remember ESPN FC, we are on seven days a week. You can catch us also twice in the morning during the World Cup.

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