The Dark Side of the Blue Moon

25:57And I said, well, that's just normal. Like any other player, if you're on the bench, you're an international player, you won't be part of it. And you can be frustrated and irritated after a game. That's just normal. and that i say wow that's fair and that if it's just that problem that's it and then i receive another email saying that he left i say oh my god what's going on i don't understand that's not possible that we can see an ending uh like this that's that cannot be an ending for player like him a player like him has to decide himself okay uh maybe it's the end of it um i say goodbye thank you farewell and then you do like maybe you they will do for missy and last game you know tribute for him because he deserved that he said that's the only ending you want to see your celebration now an escape and that's very sad if it is what it is if everybody is assuming or thinking of it's sad i don't want to believe that i still want to believe that there is something happening and they did it for the best of the national team to make sure that they finish that time with the national team in a good way.

27:05Gab, what's the percentage chance that this whole situation does eventually lead to the end of Cristiano Ronaldo with the national team? Do you mean like as in, is this the last we've seen of Cristiano with the national team? Yeah, percentage. What are you feeling? 50-50? I know I would say 10-20%. Oh okay. And look maybe I'm being naive here. George Jesus is not an easy character despite the fact that you know he worked with Cristiano before obviously. This is not the way to handle it. Cristiano missing as we heard from the report missing training sessions. That's not like Cristiano. The fact that the Portuguese FA came out and made a point to tell us that, oh, no, no, he's fully fit, just coach's decision.

27:57This leads me to think it can't end this way. I don't want it to end this way for the same reasons that Frank outlined.

28:07They have to find a way back, not for him to come back and play every game, but at least have a farewell if this is the end. because I think whatever you think of Cristiano, and I know some people love him, some people don't, you can't wipe away his achievements. This is not the way to treat somebody who was so instrumental not just in Portuguese football, but in world football. Could he be a diva? Could he be a prima donna? Of course, we know that. But precisely because we know that, we have to be straight and honest with him. and not humiliate him on his way out. Nothing wrong with being a little diva or a little prima donna.

28:51Just saying. Oh, okay. Just saying. Are you talking for yourself? Well, I was... Exactly. I was staying on to that, Frank. All right. Well, for plenty more prima donna and diva behavior, make sure to check out ESPN FC tomorrow because Craig Burley will be back. It doesn't get more diva-licious than that. And they'll be looking at that game between Portugal and Denmark.

29:16Michelle Smallman here. Fall is one of the best times of the year to be a sports fan. From playoff baseball to football weekends, now is the perfect time to refresh your gear in-store at Lids. Shop the latest headwear and apparel from your favorite teams and brands all in one place. Visit your local Lids and find your next favorite look. Plus, you can get 20 % off your purchase when you text USL to 29017. That's USL to 29017. Selection varies by store. Harry Douglas here. Game day brings the excitement. Your stay should feel just as memorable. With Marriott Bonvoy, official hotel partner of the NCAA and U.S.

29:57soccer, you're connected to a portfolio of brands designed for how you travel. Some offer complimentary breakfasts, others give you room to spread out, space to stay productive, or extended stay comforts. So whether you're a traveling fan or part of the team, Marriott Bonvoy celebrates the moments that live on before and after the game. Marriott Bonvoy, where game day checks in. Elsewhere, the USA beat Chile 4-2 in a game where Sebastian Berhalter and Julian Hall found the back of the net as well as Matisse Albert, who scored in injury time to become the youngest goal scorer in U.S. history. Former U.S.

30:32Men's National Team player Jermaine Jones joined us to talk more about this. um first of all hi to see you guys and um it's always nice to be back with you guys and um yeah you know for me is it there's two things i look at it and go exciting that we see a lot of young guys playing and i always said that already i think two years ago three years ago when i was working with the u20s i said that the u.s has a lot of quality coming um it's good that pochettino is now giving the chance the guys to come in and perform and they're doing it. But if you look at the game at the end at 4-2, but not really if you watch the games, you would say, are we playing such a good game?

31:18Because the last goal you can put away because it was overtime. But until then, before the time before, you were able to see that Chile was in the game too and they had some chances to go even in front, what then happened too in the game. So, yeah, I think it's still fresh and we have to see what's the next, because the next game against Mexico will be a big one. Yeah, that's definitely going to be a big test for a lot of the young and new faces that we have been seeing. JJ Mauricio Pochettino handing out over 10 debuts. A couple of them have already repaid him with goals in this one. You spoke about how the U.S., you feel, has so much young talent.

31:54So are you happy to see all these debuts or do you want a bit more balance in the team? You know, we talked before. What I would like to see more that we challenge us more, that not just playing on conquer side and South American teams. So I would like to see us going to Europe and face some games there, especially if we bring now the younger ones in. I think it would be a good experience for them to go to this stage of their career to get faced with the best. And I think the most best countries are overseas, you know, or you can play Brazil and Argentina in the South American side. But in general, I think it's good because I had Brooklyn Reigns with the U20s when I was there with the assistants as an assistant coach, you know, and Freeman was one of them.

32:43And it's just amazing to see how many talent we have. And if you look at here, age 16, 17, 18, there's so much coming. And I hope that we can make this next step as a country and Pochicino said that, give us time, you know, just now give us time and see how we develop and get better game for game. And I hope that that happens. Chaka, JJ brings up a good point because I think after the game, you know, they were talking about the streak that the USA now has against Conmebol's sides. But when we say Conmebol, it's not exactly the Brazils, the Argentinas, the Colombias. It's going to be the Chiles, the Bolivias, the Peru, who once were powerhouses as well, but now they have definitely had a fall from glory.

33:25So the fact that what JJ is saying, he wants to see them probably go over Europe and pay more opposition there. Does it make you take these victories with a grain of salt? I understand that perspective. My issue is, and I'll keep saying this, is this international window, the first after the World Cup. Normally it's earlier in the footballing season, whether it's late August or early September. It feels like, well, you fall into one of two camps. and you see either you're a Spain or Norway who've had incredible World Cups and you continue to build on that momentum, or for so many others, including the US, given how they crashed out against Belgium, even good performances in this window, people say, well, where was this a couple of months ago?

34:13So I like Pochettino naming as many young players as he did. I like Pochettino naming as many young players in the starting line-up as he did against both Chile and Peru. And I thought you saw some of those performances. And, well, Jermaine is absolutely right. Chile had their moments in the first half. It was a far more even game. I think the experience gained by some of those young players, including Hall, is absolutely invaluable. Now, while there's a friendly to come against Mexico, if the USA and Mexico is ever a friendly, I don't expect Pochettino to use as many young players. But if you're thinking about the U.S.

34:58as a powerhouse in CONCACAF and a four-year cycle and what things may look like come 2029, 2030, these minutes that these young players got in this window may prove the kind of foundations that those World Cup squads are built on. So I kind of like what I saw. I like what I saw from the young players. And listen, once Pochettino started making substitutions later on, you saw the difference in the more experienced players and how dominating, how commanding they were. But everybody has to start somewhere. And I think the young players getting this experience and even the experience of just being on the team bus, just being in a team hotel before a USA-Mexico game, I think puts them in far better stead than you would have thought kind of going into this window.

35:53Yeah, JJ. And of course, we see a lot of young new faces for the U.S. men's national team, but we do still see some of the more experienced players that were brought on as well. How soon? And I know it's too soon to talk about the World Cup in 2030, but considering this is the cycle that Mauricio Pochettino signed up for, so how soon do you think they should start moving on maybe from some of the veteran players? or do you actually still see a good portion of them being a part of the U.S. squad for the next World Cup? Yeah, 100 percent. I think you need a healthy mix, you know, and you can just not say we just go now with the young ones and they will just, you know, do it.

36:32At the end, you need a good mix. I think you have still experienced players and veterans. They will help the younger ones to get to the next stage. and I think at one time, and that's how football is, at one time everybody has to put their shoes away and then it's the time of the new generation. But I think Pochettino is smart enough to look at it and go, who can I use from the older generation? Who is the veterans? Who gives that little bit what we need to take the younger ones? Because it's always, and Chaka knows that, the locker room is controlled by the older ones, I would say in a positive way.

37:09So the younger ones need older ones too, and the older ones need the younger ones. And I think at the end, you have to see, and I think the younger ones have to, if I would be the coach, if I would push it, I would tell the young ones, push. If you guys want to play and you're better than the older ones, at the end, it's a hard business. It goes about who's better on the field. And if you have younger ones who push and are better at the time, if you decide to go to the World Cup and there's no space for the older guys, then that's it. But it can be the opposite too, right? That some of the older experienced players that you still go and say, he's older now for the World Cup, but we still need him because he's so good and he's bringing so much to the team.

37:53I love when JJ was referring to the older guys in the locker room. He mentioned you, Shaq. I'm just... Hold on. I will say, though, when we're talking about this U.S. team when you're talking about older guys. I know, they're like 26, 27. Dest and Bear Halter are 25 years old. Chris Richards is still 26, 27. Exactly. Raina is 23 years old. Yeah, yeah. You know, so now we're talking about experiencing older players. Those guys will be in the prime of their time, so to speak, in four years' time. And I think that's one of the benefits of this U.S. team. And Jermaine is absolutely right. Players, and I know we'll get to this later on in the show, players will continue playing until the walls fall off.

38:33until he wheels fall off, until those younger players, the Xavier Gozos, etc., really make that statement for themselves. So it's for those younger players coming through to back up some of the statements that they have made kind of coming into this international break with those performances and be consistent with it if they are to feature as strongly as, well, certainly their talent certainly deserves, but talent alone doesn't get to there. Alright, well I guess it's all good in the hood so far for the US men's national team. Of course they have Mexico next so we're going to see exactly what kind of test awaits them and if they do pass it but JJ while we have you we have to talk about Germany because I don't think they've been passing any test and of course everyone thought or many thought that Jurgen Klopp's arrival would have turned things around but it doesn't seem to be going as planned.

39:29I know it's just the first two games but what's the reaction been like in germany after what we've seen from them in these two games you know um it's it's it splits you know do you have the people who say give them time it will come you know even jrgen klopp says it give us time and it will come um but it was confused you know because the first game against niederland then the second game against kreece he brought two teams you know he he created a big roster and then he split it in two teams in when you watch special the second game against Greece it was something something missing in you everybody was like maybe we hope still too much that Jurgen Klopp can bring us but maybe it's not just Jurgen Klopp it has to be a lot of other stuff too what has to change because the similar like what Pusicino did he brought a lot of young players he brings a lot of guys who maybe had just played in Bundesliga and now they're playing for the national team so it's it's the balance that people go like is that the the right direction what we're doing or is it not and you guys all know if you don't win games people will come and say is it the right is he doing this stuff is it smart if it's good and at the end we will see and i think the difference between the US and Germany, Germany has a lot more pressure on themselves that they have to win, especially games against this.

41:01Even when they played against the Netherlands, they go into these games and say, we want to win it. So if you don't come home or you're losing at home, people will go against you. Yes, indeed. We know the pressure is on for Jurgen Klopp and Germany, but time and patience is something that doesn't really exist in football. JJ, thank you so much for hanging out with us. When you come in to visit us, I promise I'll get you more matcha in New York on Shaka's dime. Yeah. I will. I will. I hope soon I will be back. All right. JJ, thank you so much for joining us. We'll catch up with you again soon. Well, there's plenty more talk about the U.S.

41:37men's national team on the latest edition of Football Americas. Shaka was burning the midnight oil last night. I was. That was way past my bedtime. With Herc and Mauricio. So please make them happy make it worth it for them and check out the latest episode

41:54well i'm pretty sure there'll be plenty more talk about the women's champions league on the next football w make sure to check it out

42:05all right well you know we love to have fun on extra time where we answer your questions we get some workouts and push-ups in. And as you know, it is the end of September, so let's check out the best of the month.

42:23Happy birthday, Kate. Thank you, Shaka. What's this? Have you ever had a burr cake? Well, I'm sure nobody else. Well, you're about to.

42:40Ha ha ha! Stop John McGinn! Troy Parrott is from Northern Ireland. Okay. If you tell a Nolan Irishman he's from his era, then he won't be happy. Right. McElroy? Okay. Troy Parrott was born in Dublin, but you know. Sorry? He was born in Dublin. Who? Troy Parrott. He plays for Northern Ireland. Are you sure Troy Parrott played for Northern Ireland? Yeah. You sure? Why did your eyes do that? Did they? Don't make it. He's out of time! I'm gonna have to go, I've got to pick the dog up. That is Stevie's new dog, sat on a table in the rain. That dog takes Mickey at me. Blanking me completely. I had breakfast with Mike Ditka in the Doubletree down the road once.

43:22I don't believe my Ditka is with us. I'm addicted at the moment to chat GPT. Right. I was so sure I was 100 % right. Ditka's still alive! Breaking news! Ditka's still alive! Holy plug. Fingers! I'd say that! And I'll take it! Are we going to eat this, Craig? I'm thinking about headbutt. He's trying to headbutt it here. Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god. He's having it. He's taking me gold. Get this, mate. Go on.

43:57We were smoking cigarettes, and I was smoking cigarettes with Fabien Barthez all the time. You stole my gold! Stevie, I'm 22 years old. I'm looking for where is Frank. I see Frank standing. Hey, what's up? Hey, how are you? How can this be my role model? How many press-ups can you do? Proper ones. Proper press-ups on your feet. Five. Let's see you do five right now. I don't think I can. Come on. Come on. One. Two. No, two.

44:33Wait for the shot, you.

44:38That's a yoga position! The four! The four! That's how I feel about United! That is not four! What is that? That is not four! We're not counting that! We're not counting that! Should we put this to rest then? Can anyone do a push-up better than Stevie? We cannot!

45:03Oh, baby! Oh, man! Oh, man! Oh, boy! Oh, boy! Oh, boy! Pop my shoulder.

45:22It's the worst Santa ever. The guns have gone. Now you know what you can build on? Any last words? Yeah, sure, no.

45:33Oh, man. Shaq, what was your favorite moment? Stevie's push-ups. Mine was Ale's push-ups because he killed them. Anyway, that's it for ESPN FC. But you see, we have fun in Extra Time and it's coming up next, so don't go anywhere.

45:48Oh, welcome into Extra Time. We've just had a great laugh because we always have a laugh over Extra Time. I don't know how we're going to top some of those moments now. We can't. We can't top Stevie's push-ups. I don't know. We can't top Stevie's push-ups. That is at all times. We need to get Frank and Gab in studio and see how everyone can do push-ups across the board. No, we can't. It's what I wanted to go. I will come in January. It's planned that I'm coming in January. So, first, I'm pretty sure I'm going to do better than Stevie. But can you ask Ali to go down, really down when he do the press-ups?

46:21Oh. That would be nice, you know? Oh. Yeah, yeah. All right, Sheldon's fine. This will all be settled in January. Keep this clip. This will all be settled in January. This will be settled in January, and we're going to have them both side by side doing push-ups. But that's why we had Natum on, and I thought Natum was the fittest of us all, so I had Natum judge Ale Moreno's form because Stevie had his knees on the floor, and he was just kind of doing like a roll-up. Those were a roll-up. That's a really low bar. Stevie's push-ups, that's a really low bar for us to get over. Yeah, that's... That's, yeah.

46:57All right, well, you heard it. The push-up showdown. January. Frank Leboeuf, Ale Moreno, France versus Venezuela. It goes down right here on ESPN FC. Oh, baby. Oh, yes. Book your tickets. All right, let's get some questions, shall we? First one for Gab. Gab, will any specific individuals receive separate punishments from the 115 charges separately from what punishment Manchester City receives as a club. I'm not 100 % on this, but yes, I believe that it is among the power of the commission to punish individuals. And I think also if they're found guilty, they could be facing punishments from from UEFA and by extension from FIFA as well.

47:46We're talking at executive level and we've seen executives ban before. We've often wondered kind of what does it mean because you know, you're a guy in a suit, well it's not like they take your phone away. But yeah, I think it's pretty obvious that we're not gonna see certain individuals again if Citi are found guilty on appeal. Chuck, that satisfy you? Yeah, I'm very satisfied. across the board punishments across the board once again i believe it when i see it yeah that's true we're in for a long one next question is there a case for the internationals to be moved after the domestic season is done player injuries hamper a club season for example alexander isaac gato havertz for example this would mean the premier league for example would get done by april and And then they have May and part of June for internationals.

48:41Gab? Oh, so this proposal goes back. I think I wrote a column about how this was a really clever idea 25 years ago. It is. I think it would be it would definitely be helpful if and it's a big if we had the same weather everywhere else, everywhere in the world. Right. Arsene Wenger tried to introduce this. He said, like, we'll have a break in October and then another one in May and June. The problem is, in some parts of the world, you simply cannot play football because it's the rainy season, because it's too hot, because it's too cold, because there's hurricanes, there's tornadoes. And it is a global game, and there's players from all over the world.

49:25So the thinking has always been it wouldn't be fair to those parts of the world. And by the way, with regards to injuries, you know, it works both ways, right? You can also play a club season and then your star player gets injured just before the World Cup, like Rafinha for example. So that cuts both ways. Frank, you like that idea? Yeah, but of course not. I mean the world is different and the sun doesn't get out in the morning for everybody at the same time. So you have season in, for example, the MLS starting in April, finishing in November, something like that. so it doesn't work it doesn't work for anybody and you have american player playing in european soil so it's impossible like mexico like brazil like argentina so it's impossible to uh schedule something like that so um no there is no good solution there always be players getting injured during a national uh team games and that it is what it is and people have to stop complaining I've seen that for like 30, 40 years.

50:30You hire players, I'm talking about clubs, because they are international, because they are top of their country. So you have to take responsibilities for your buyings and that's what it is. And somehow, because it's a human sport, players can get injured. Accept it, stop complaining and stop trying to call coaches like we saw with Stu Hull, you know, not willing to answer to anybody. The sun doesn't rise for everybody at the same time. That was the absolute bar. Frank, that is a line. That is a line and a half. Let me tell you, by the way. Oh, I tell you, man. You truly are a poet, Frank. I don't know how to follow that.

51:14I concur with both Gabrielle and Frank. All right. With the sun not rising for everyone. And all that. All right. I love that one. Well, Gab, you're a popular man because the next question is for you. But you'll be happy. It's about Italian football. Gab, based on what we've seen so far, which of these clubs do you see as the most capable of giving Inter a run for their money for the league title this season? Milan, Roma or Como? I'm going to say Roma simply because of the depth and experience. But I'm very excited to see how Como's season is going to play out. And that's it. Concise. We can all go stay in Gab's chateau on Lake Como.

51:56Oh, Gab, Manchester United play Como. I was wondering if you had any real estate there. Yes, yes, it does. Preferably on the wall. Yes, it does. So we can all go up. Yes, we can go to Gab's place and lay Como. Gab, are you Airbnb-ing it? Just leave the key underneath the front door, Matt. We'll figure it out. Como is nice and all, but as somebody who has a home very close to the Italian lakes, it is not the nicest of the Italian lakes and it's a little bit overrated and by the way, before when you talked about Italy, since I had to come on the show and be humiliated after the humiliation of Italy's big defeat to Belgium, I just want to mention, convincing away win against Turkey, 4-1 France up next on Friday Well done.

52:53Well done. Well done. You're right. The Marcotti Le Bois Classico. Can I wait for that? Oh, yeah. No, no, no. I loved it. I loved it. Big reaction. Pride. Ego. Perfect. I love that. I love that. I love that. Can I just say, do you know how bougie you have to be to say that Lake Como, a waterfront area there, is just not really the best it has to offer? George Clooney slummin' it. Slummin' it! Who wants it? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh my dick. He's... Oh boy. Maybe Shaq and more like... Done it, sure, done it, sure, Gav. Done it, sure. Give me some super dangerous. Look, Alexis, Alexis, you know what I mean.

53:37As lakes go, Lake Como is nicer than Lake Compounds. Okay? Oh no! But that's it. Why Lake Compounds? We should have a family day out at Lake Como. We should do that. And put Stevie on one of the... Lake Compounds, who anybody doesn't know, is an amusement park here in Crystal, Connecticut. Lake Como have four roller coasters. That's the question, Gab. I wonder if we can move the ESPN picnic to Lake Como instead of Lake Compounds. I like your thinking, Alexis. I really do. Next question. Manu Kone said that he was shocked by Zidane's ability in training. Were Frank or Shaka ever surprised by their coaches' abilities?

54:26Frank? Well, you know, two of my coaches were Gulit and Viali. So I guess you can be surprised a lot of time, you know, every morning. So, yeah, yeah, of course. And I'm not surprised that Kone was surprised by Zizou. Zizou has a natural talent and he's in his jeans and he doesn't go away. It's like a bicycle, you know. You get the ball and you know what to do with it. And yeah, I had the chance to be trained by two fantastic players and every day I say, well, those players shouldn't give up and should be still playing with us. Jack? I'm the same. And even though, so probably the best player come coach I worked under was Kevin Keegan, even though he was a little older at that time, they just look so comfortable in football.

55:19They really do. Even at that stage, even at that age, they just look so comfortable on the ball. I also played with Avery John, a national team, who played with the New England Revolution, and he always spoke about Paul Mariner. They departed Paul Mariner. And that in terms of executions and drills, Mariner was the best at the team. Barros! He would do the demo and the demo would be the best execution. Nobody could match him. Again, at that stage of his career. It doesn't surprise me at all that Zidane is still doing Zidane things. I have a nice story about one of my first calls with the national team, the B team.

56:06We went to Senegal to play a game against Senegal. and Bernard Lama was in goal. And I remember Platini came and he was already retired, just retired. I think he was in 91. So I think he retired around 86, something like that. And the guy came and shot three kicks, like 10 three kicks. I think he put the ball nine times in the top corner. And Bernard Lama left because he was so upset. He couldn't be close to the ball. Insane. Insane. Casual, casual. Right, that's it for extra time. Hey, that's it. No push-ups. Let's go home. Remember, Craig Gurley and the boys will be back tomorrow. Xhaka, you're back as well.

56:48I'm back here tomorrow as well. They will be on ESPN FC reacting to whatever we see from Portugal's game against Denmark. Don't miss it.