Preview: USA’s opener vs Paraguay & Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina | Morning Cupdate, Presented by The Home Depot

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1:12We are delighted to bring you the Men in Blazers City Guides presented by Visa. A joyously assembled guide to the best places to eat, drink and explore and watch the beautiful game across the country. It's a guide aimed at helping fans experience the city as a local. It's built by you, our listeners, recommending some of the best small businesses in your communities. Like the finest Viet Cajun in Houston. Yes. The best burrito in San Francisco. Yes. Where to savour lemon pepper wet in Atlanta. Yes, yes, yes. A massive shout out to our sponsor Visa, who's made this guide possible. Visa gives local business owners the tools and support to be ready for moments exactly like this one, welcoming you to enjoy the games this summer.

2:01Start planning your journey at meninblazers.com backslash cityguides. Hello, welcome to Santa Monica. I am Betty Glover and this is your morning cup date. Yesterday, Host Nation Mexico got their tournament started in brilliant fashion. But what can the other two host nations do today? It is all about them. The USMNT get underway against Paraguay, Mauricio Pochettino. What is his team made of? And Canada also gets stuck in up in Toronto. This is your ultimate guide to day two of the World Cup.

2:37Yes, hello and welcome to Morning Cup Day, built by the Home Depot on our wonderful bus that is travelling across seven different cities across the whole of the tournament. The Home Depot is your winning assist to host the ultimate watch party. Fast, free delivery to get your backyard match day ready, subject to availability. Oh, also, I've got to say thank you so much to all of the love for our first Morning Cup day and particularly the recommendations of places to eat in some of the cities that we're going to visit, particularly Seattle. Lots of recommendations for Seattle, so thank you very much.

3:10Keep those coming in, guys. Comment on YouTube. Actually, it's making me feel a little bit hungry, actually. Maybe I need to do a food shop like Laminya Mal in Georgia. Day two of the World Cup is set to be a big one. Yes, I'm going to say that every day. But seriously, I think this could be quite special because the wait is over, USMNT fans. The day of destiny is here, everyone. The US men's national team get their tournament underway. So much hype, so much talk. The weight of expectation of a nation. but Camaruzio Pochettino's men deliver the goods. It is a big question. So big in fact, I decided to ask actual Kevin Hart who I genuinely bumped into earlier at Santa Monica Pier.

3:55What do you think the USMNT can achieve at the World Cup? Oh my God. You know, I mean, listen, I don't want to put it out there. I would ultimately, of course, want them to achieve amazing things. What do I personally feel they can get done? Look, it's a tough field. Ah, Kevin Hart firmly sat on that fence, wasn't he? The USMNT faced Paraguay at the Los Angeles Stadium at 9pm Eastern. An estimated 15 million people just in the USA are expected to tune in for that match. Now, there have been many ups and downs ever since the US knew they'd be hosting from the high of winning Dos Ocearo in the final of the CONCACAF Nations League.

4:34USA! USA! USA! We have won the Nations League Cup again. Everything's OK. There's nothing to see here. Dosa Cero. Hello again, my old friend. And then to the low of being embarrassed at a home Copa America. Our boys, our zeagulls, just lost. This just happened 2-1. Honestly, it's like a nightmare to Panama. We've just lost to a Van Halen song. But all of those moments pale into insignificance compared to the magnitude of this. Here's Christian Pulisic speaking to Rog with his message to the USMNT fan base. One that's just going to bring a crazy amount of energy and enthusiasm and just an exciting brand of soccer.

5:18You know, we're going to press, we're going to cause problems to other teams, we're going to fight, just compete our butts off. And I hope that's what they can really see. So it goes without saying that getting out of the group is the minimum requirement from most US fans. We caught up with some earlier out in LA. These are genuine US fans, by the way, not famous Kevin Hart types. Did I mention, by the way, that I met him? Fight your arm up for the quarterfinals. That would be success. Yeah? Yeah. And semis would be amazing. Semis would be amazing. Got to get out of the group, but quarterfinals, baby, quarterfinals.

5:50I would take round of 16, but I'm going to go for quarterfinals. All the way. Got to win it all. You're going to come to LA. LA will swallow you, so you got to win if you want to make an impression. There's always one, isn't there? But I absolutely, you know what? I rate the confidence. I wonder how US soccer legend Klimt Dempsey is feeling. Honestly, I think the round of 16 and then it's whether or not getting over that hump that's kind of been our Achilles heel for the last few World Cups. And look, we know that we can trust legendary coach Mauricio Pochettino to give his team a pretty inspirational team talk.

6:24Probably have a laptop involved as well. And to be honest, we're sure Tyler, Christian, Anthony and co need no extra motivation. But, just in case they do, Rojas LA charges head coach Jim Harbour to give the team a rousing pump-up speech. Keep their wits about them and don't worry. Do you know what? After listening to that, I think I'd probably run through a brick wall for that, man. I love it. With the risk of lowering the mood, though, no-one should underestimate the US's opponents tonight, who, as they know from previous experience, are pretty feisty. Gomez at the centre of it. Things boiling over in stoppage time and punches being thrown down there.

7:03As the Paraguay bench are involved, oddly scenes here in stoppage time. Yep, Paraguay will not just be here to make up the numbers in LA. What you just heard was a fight that broke out between the two sides during a friendly match in November last year. And it is safe to say that stakes are a little bit higher this time. Paraguay are back in the World Cup for the first time since 2010. And the fact that they made it is pretty remarkable, given their disastrous start to qualifying. After mustering just five points from their opening six, they changed manager to Gustavo Alfaro, who you might remember managed Ecuador in Qatar.

7:38Alfaro transformed Paraguay, beating Argentina and Brazil to secure a place at the tournament. Their strategy is what we're going to focus on in today's Drilldown.

7:51It is time for today's Drilldown, brought to you by Makita. and when it comes to Paraguay, their big threat might be familiar to Arsenal fans. Set-piece again, set-piece again, ole, ole! Set-piece again, ole, ole! Set-piece again, again, indeed. Paraguay's style under Alfaro is a gritty backline and goals from set-pieces. Paraguay scored 36 % of their goals in qualifying via free kicks and corners and the highest of all the teams in South America. Meanwhile, for the USMNT, their defending at set pieces isn't great. It's been called into question, especially with the way Germany's Kai Havertz was allowed to score far too easily from a free kick during their warm-up match on Saturday.

8:37But, everybody, one big issue for Paraguay is the fitness of their main set-piece taker, Julio Anciso, formerly of Brighton. He was expected to miss this game with a thigh injury, although local media reports that his recovery has been a little bit quicker than expected. Now, the US isn't the only host nation making their tournament bow today. Canada are in action at 3pm Eastern time against Bosnia and Herzegovina, looking for their first ever win in a World Cup. They've lost all six World Cup games that they've played and I think it's pretty safe to say that Jesse Marsh's men can at least improve on that.

9:17They are on a great run of form coming into this. Lost only one of their last 16. Some pretty tough opponents in there as well. Jesse Marsh's 4-4-2 high-press system has potentially the best name for a tactic that I have ever heard. Maple pressing. Love it. Their match is taking place in Toronto and the city's mayor, Olivia Chow, was very happy about it. Canada tomorrow, we're playing World Cup. I think we need to get World Cup on this buzzer, guys. Woo, World Cup! Bosnia and Herzegovina beat three-time world champions Italy on penalties to qualify for the tournament. Cue pure chaos, passion and emotion in the capital, Sarajevo.

9:59I can't get me to a wedding cup. I can't get me to a wedding cup. I can't get me to a wedding cup. I can't get me to a wedding cup. Oh, yeah, a ticket to their first World Cup since Brazil in 2014. Woo, World Cup!

10:19One man who played in that tournament and will be playing again in this one is 40-year-old Edin Dzeko, who has over 1 ,000 career appearances and over 450 goals. But he's not a veteran, tagging along just for one last ride before retirement. He's scored six goals in qualifying everybody, including a crucial equaliser against Wales in the playoffs. As a Wales fan, I don't want anyone to talk to me about that ever again. Don't forget to get stuck in on the Men In Blazers Discord for the games today. And every day, guys, we want to hear from you. We want to know what you're thinking, no matter where you are.

10:53It's like you're in a digital pub that never closes. You can drop your takes, add some memes, even get a back and forth going with Rog himself because he is literally in there constantly. He is always online. The link to join is in the notes below. But let's enjoy these games together. Woo, World Cup! A word from our friends at 1440. The 2022 World Cup final drew 1.5 billion viewers. It's 11 times this year's Super Bowl. To understand how football became the world's game and what drove it, listen to 1440 Explores with Financial Times journalist Simon Kuiper. It will give you the inside scoop into the depths of the tournament.

11:32Listen to 1440 Explores wherever you get your podcasts. As cruel fate smashed your dreams of football in glory, join this FIFA World Cup? Fear not. You're now a sporting free agent with your choice of squads, the opportunity to pick someone new. The teams were the catcher songs, the country you studied abroad in, the goalkeeper with the magnificent hair. When your team's gone, fun doesn't have to be because on the Lays bandwagon, every match is another excuse to grab a snack and pick a new favourite. There are no wrong answers, only good times and tasty snacks. So jump on and enjoy the rest of the tournament because Leys keeps the party going and the bandwagon has never tasted better.

12:13Leys, official sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2026. And as the world arrives in the United States for the biggest spectacle in sports, we're going coast to coast, host city to host city to meet the world with the Men in Blazers Match Day Live Tour. These are free college game day style live events taking place just before kickoff at some of the biggest games of the summer where we'll be taking the stage with celebrity guests in front of thousands of fans. It's going to be amazing. Come and be with us in person or from afar on YouTube and let's celebrate this some other way. It's meant to be celebrated.

12:49Just head to the events tab on meninblazers.com for all the details. To the football, to more together courage.

13:00Next, let's quickly recap what happened during yesterday's opening pair of games. We'll start with Mexico's chaotic win against South Africa in Mexico City, a game which had more red cards than goals. Eltrie won 2-0 thanks to a clean strike from Julian Quinones and a lovely little header from Raul Jimenez. This was the sound of the Coliseum in LA when that goal went in.

13:28A moment that Raul Jimenez has had to wait a very long time for. Despite being 35 years old, this was his first ever World Cup start after six bench appearances. And it is safe to say that he well and truly earned it. It was a ridiculously emotional moment for him as well. And we're going to talk more about him and his story at the end of the show. But most notable in this match was the fact that there were so many red cards. Red cards, absolutely everywhere. Three in total, two for South Africa. And then Mexico's Cesar Montes was also sent off late on. We only had four red cards during the entirety of the 2022 World Cup, and we're at 75 % of that total after just one game.

14:08Rory and Rog speaking on last night's night cup disagreed on whether Zwanes' red was justified.

14:14Roger Bennett:Not a red. Oh, come on. Sometimes people... Little crabby hand. We haven't yet reached the stage in society, Rog, where we're so digitised that we're not allowed human contact. The way this is going, there is going to be 311 red cards at this tournament. But look, I don't mind this new hardline approach. Personally, I'm thinking of maybe adopting a similar system with some of my producers here on the bus. Any of you? Step out of line. Then I'll be getting this bad boy out. OK? Right! Eyes on you. Meanwhile, over in Guadalajara, South Korea took on Czechia. And we said yesterday that Czechia would be dangerous from set pieces.

14:51And that is how they took the lead, of course, as Wolves Ladislav Krejci scored from a long throw. but South Korea scored two quick-fire goals to take the win 2-1. That means that Mexico and South Korea sit at the top of Group A with three points each. All four teams play again next Thursday.

15:13Tonight, after the USMNT game, make sure you lock in to the night cup as Rod Rory Smith and Kyle Beckerman look back at today's games. They also have an exclusive chat with Jim Harbaugh of the LA Chargers, whose speech earlier is still ringing. around my ears. Anyway, throughout the tournament, I'm going head-to-head with a prediction challenge against one of the Night Cup team. Yesterday, I played against Rog, and he predicted a 2-1 Mexico win, and I said 3-1 to Mexico, so no perfect scores there. Then in the other game, we both predicted South Korea wins. I said 1-0, but Rog correctly predicted a perfect score of 2-1, because he is just so clever, isn't he?

15:52Which annoyingly means that Night Cup takes a 1-0 lead in the series. but it is a very long way to go guys one one day down that is it anyway today i took on the brilliant rory smith rory are you ready to come up against me head to head in our prediction

16:09Roger Bennett:challenge probably not i'm probably going to be quite quite bad at this i've got a bad record okay lovely that's that's the kind of confidence that i like because set the bar low set the bar low it's important okay right usa against paraguay what are you saying i think paraguay can't store goals and they've got a really slow defense so i'm going to say two nil to the u.s okay i'm going to go to one to the u.s i think it's going to be the same as when they last met canada bosnia so i think canada are quite good i think they might they might kind of surprise people i think they'll win bosnia will be tough they've got the two winners are really good neither of whose names i can pronounce and obviously got Edin Dzeko at 195 years old so I'm going to say 3-2 Canada.

16:58Oh thriller.

16:59Roger Bennett:Yeah I think so yeah but today's games I'm quite enthused by today's games like the second one was really good the Czechia against South Korea delivered and if that can deliver any game can deliver so let's go 3-2. 3-2 how many red cards? Not enough. Okay I'm going to say 2-0 to Canada. I think Canada they're going to get their first win of the World Cup ever and they're going to do it. Good day for the hosts. Good start for the hosts. It's what we need.

17:28We've only had one day of the tournament so far and already we have had a beautifully heart-rending moment that is going to be hard to top. We've got to talk more about Mexican striker Raul Jimenez. He scored his first ever World Cup goal in front of a packed Mexico City Stadium in the opening game of a home tournament. At 35 years of age, it is undoubtedly the biggest of his career and a memory that will live with him forever, obvious by the tears that streamed down his face during an emotionally charged celebration dedicated to his late father who passed away in March. You could also feel the love in the stadium as well because six years ago, he very nearly died on the football pitch.

18:07A frightful clash of heads there as David David Luiz collided in to Raul Jimenez. In November 2020, Raul was one of the best strikers in the Premier League. But after a horrific clash of heads, he fractured his skull and was left fighting for his life. Amazingly, against all of the odds, Raul made a recovery and he was playing for Wolves just a year later. Jimenez, it's the penaltier, coming back in, it's Raul Jimenez! Finally, there's a goal for the Mexican sensation! It was clearly really difficult for him, though. He struggled for form and was dropped from the Wolves' first team before leaving Molyneux for Fulham.

18:47However, his move to Craven Cottage sparked a rejuvenation in form. 31 goals in three years, and that set him up for a World Cup on home soil and leading to today's goal. He's admitted that he is lucky to be alive. It was really a miracle for me to be here with you. We'll leave you with these wise words from Raoul, speaking to the Athletic about his injury. It helps you to stop and think about things you've never thought about before. And maybe, although I always do, to enjoy more what you do. Live life in the moment at 100%. Vamos! That is it for Morning Cup Date today, brought to you by The Home Depot.

19:32The Home Depot is your winning assist to host the ultimate watch party with fast free delivery to get your backyard match day ready, subject to availability. The first stop on the Match Day Live Tour is kicking off in a few hours, everybody, and you've still got time to RSVP for free at the link in the notes below. Rog and Rory will be joined on stage at the Santa Monica Pier by actor Rob Mack, NBA star Larry Nance Jr., and former USMNT player Kyle Beckman to roll up the crowd for the very first USA match of the tournament. How exciting, everybody. Be there if you can. It is going to be both a tailgate and a party to remember.

20:11We'll be back tomorrow, but until then, enjoy Day 2 of the World Cup. We'll see you later.