USMNT 0-2 South Korea Friendly: The Deuce Live 09/06/25

27:36And it's U.S. soccer. What kind of players are you developing? And why aren't we better than what we were in the past or significantly better or having more depth and more options of players that we can bring in and really kind of change things up? Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, I agree. I will say, listening to Michael Bradley interviewed before the game, where he quite articulately talks about how he wants to see these players know that what they're about to go through is an incredible privilege to represent the United States on home turf in a World Cup where this spotlight is on them. This is the nature of the moment.

28:16There's the feeling that this is the most incredible moment and the fact that we're heading towards it in just such a savagely self-destructive way. that's what's making this agony feel like double. We've got to touch upon, because I want to get to these questions. They're all lining up. We've got to touch upon the crowd. You mentioned it already, Clint. We lived a Gold Cup in which the stadia were either filled with empty seats for the United States games or sold out by Guatemalan fans or Mexico fans. Tonight, again, felt like another away game on home. So South Korean fans, a number of people there from the media said it was 80 % South Korean packing it in.

28:56Proch talked this week about how he wants to be, he feels, quote, jealous of college football atmospheres. You know, you've lived. I mean, I remember 2014 again. The US fans bought the second most tickets after the Brazil home fans. Tens of thousands of them followed you around Brazil. I mean, this is where we are now. The fans just given up that the chaos has been so overwhelming for the supporters. Well, I just think if you build it, they will come. You know, like the field of dreams. You know what I'm saying? There's another reference for you. I mean, you got to put the fans in the seats and you got to give them a reason to be excited and pump their chest out and be able to talk trash about, like, my team's going to whoop your butt today.

29:38Like, have a little bit of confidence and belief. And, you know, it's just not what we're seeing right now. I still think there's time to get things right, right? Get everybody back on track, get some confidence going, and get this team clicking. But we're running out of time. We are running out of time, baby. We are running out of time. Quotes coming in from Mauricio Pochettino postgame via the great Tom Booger on Twitter. Are you ready for this one, Clint? Raise yourself. This is Poch's quote postgame. I think we were better than South Korea, but if you're not clinical, it's difficult.

30:18Ooh, I mean, I don't know about that. I would say that the game was there to be won because the – I didn't think that they were that organized defensively, South Korea, in my opinion early on. But once we conceded the goals in which we did, conceding that second goal, I mean, it was a wrap. And it was almost like South Korea took their foot off the gas in the second half, right? They knew they kind of had the game won and then it was ours to try to go get. It was too much of a mountain to climb after we conceded that second goal. But to say that we were the better team, how can you say that when we lost 2-0?

31:01Also, South Korean manager Hyeong Myung-bo via translator said it was like a home match. I appreciate the fans. That's twisting the knife there. Do Sassero in Harrison. E. Day. Young, I think is how you say it. My career is pretty bloody terrible, but I do love your career. You are an incredible, your joy, your footballing nation on the rise is, it's magical to witness. Okay. To your questions, remind how this works here on YouTube live. Just scan the QR code or click the pinned comment in the chat, take you into zoom with the great Tony, our producer who will get you on. We'll take as many as we can before we have to go because Clinton and I have got to get on a flight to Columbus.

31:44David Lewis from Columbus, Ohio. Is that right, David? Come on up, baby. You can be the first because you are from where we're headed. Are you truly there in the land of Frankie Haydick? Raj, how are you doing, man? I'm on my 50th Michelob because of this game. Just 50. But real quick, Raj, first of all, I want to say I read your book. I love you, man. and Clint, I have your Fulham jersey. I'm sick. I want to know what you guys think about Pochettino's system. I couldn't tell you. Fill in the blank. Pochettino's system is, is it pressing? I don't know what it is out there. They look confused. Can you let me know what's the identity?

32:27Go back to Perl. Are you in Columbus? Yes, I am. Yes, I am. We're going to get you into the show on Monday night, baby. I already brought a ticket. can I get a refund Raj I'll see you at Kemba we're going to have a point with you come and give us a hug after the show we're going to have a point with you man I cannot wait you're a beautiful human being man it's going to be good but I need it but what is finish this sentence Potch's system is what Clint tell me it's something that's not really setting the world alight what we've seen so far I mean we struggle building out of the back when teams are pressing us we don't have a clear cut way in which we attack we're not creative enough we don't create enough chances I mean you know what I'm saying I don't know what to tell you what I'd say is I love Potch I'm very fond of that man I've seen him at his best.

33:38I've seen what he can build. I've seen him operate. I've seen him create a culture of positivity, youth, belief, hard work, all of these things. I've seen it. The thing that's frustrating to me is that Potch is not, we don't know, and Potch is not telling us. In these press conferences, in these comms moments, these communication moments, he could be telling us life truths. You know, he could be saying where we are, what challenges he's experiencing and how he, you know, I said this before the game, he can articulate the method to his madness, but without that articulation of the method, it just seems like madness to us.

34:24And we're all a bit lost. I'd love it. I don't understand that, Clint. Why he's not talking and saying, Because he can speak really on the nose and tell us where we are, what he's trying to do, the barriers, the process. But without that, we're just like, what is going on? No one knows what's going on. Yeah, I mean, we talked about it. You don't know where your keeper is. You're still trying to find your best centre-back pairing. Your best left-back hasn't been in for a while, being a huge miss. We talked about how the midfield is going to look, talking about finding the number nine. So is it a lack of players or the quality of players to like implement the system of play that he has?

35:05Or, you know what I'm saying? Like you said, he's not talking about, you know, the things he's trying to implement and why it's not working. I mean, but I but to his defense, it looks like there's not much to work with. Wow. I mean, I will say we look lost. We really do look lost. And somebody needs to speak up and tell us where we are exactly. GPS us. Give us a sense of where, you know, if this is a process, where are we in this process? And give us a sense of where we should met. I think it's just the sense of the lack of an articulation is what's making us all feel panicked, filled with chaos, never mind the results, which are pretty bloody terrible.

35:54The whole feeling, the lack of fan base. I mean, the fact that they've shattered even those that care about this team and the turnouts. This is not who we are. This is not where we should be. Enrique, come on up. Tell us where you are and what's your question for the Mighty Mighty Clint? I'm San Diego. Thanks for taking my call, Raj and Deuce. Pleasure to meet you. It's great to be with you. What an incredible football city your town's become, Enrique. Yes. That's the FC, baby. Now, my question to you, fellas, is with the lack of it looks like there's a lack of passion, a lack of fire being played with a few exceptions.

36:33Do you feel like having not having to qualify and having those competitive matches is a detriment to the form that we're going to be going into to the World Cup? Yes, I do. I think it's hurt us. I think you have to put your back against the wall during qualifying and come together as a team and put all the BS aside and figure out who's all in and who's not. And going back to the first question that was on, I mean, when you talk about the coach, the two things that bother me is not always bringing in your best players and then not starting your best players when they're in. so but yeah what does that do Clint what does that do within a squad culture when you you have that where you know the players who are clearly better than the ones on the field are sitting there on the bench or sitting at home watching on or not watching on what what does that sow in there because the players are given these moments they're not by the way I don't agree there's no passion that there's no they don't care all that they seem fearful and you said it before Clint almost none of them are stepping up with confidence, verb, swagger and saying I'm going to play like you will never be able to drop me again that's what I don't understand it's almost like they don't have a plan they've not been given a plan so they don't know what they're meant to be doing and it's all kind of in pieces there but what does that do to a team when there is that kind of chaos when you know that the best players are either on the bench or sitting at home well I just think it's important to have chemistry right It's important to have your leaders and your main team and how you're going to play and then make a few changes.

38:17Sprinkle in a few players in positions, one or two, at the most three, to see how you add depth to this team. But because of our lack of depth and our lack of fighting that best 11, it's just too much going on. It's just too many unknowns. The chemistry is off. People are trying to figure out where they sit into the team or don't and how they're going to play together. And everybody's coming from different clubs and different styles. But if you had a main group that has played with each other more consistently, it's easier to make a few changes and not lose that rhythm. But, I mean, my perfect example is you look in World Cup qualifying.

39:00You look – no, sorry. Look during the World Cup in the group stage. and you look at those third games when teams are already through. Most of the times when those teams make three or four changes, they end up losing that game. And I just feel like that's the kind of situation we're in. We're just making too many changes and not having enough consistency to get the job done. Yeah, he's trying to build this, rebuild the culture. As a result, we have no chemistry. The culture rebuild is preventing any chemistry from emerging at all. There's nothing like my American Express Platinum card. I love that I can earn hotel credits when I travel.

39:36I can also earn resi credits, so you know I'm hitting the restaurants everyone's talking about. Plus, with the digital entertainment credit, I'm even more excited to catch my favorite shows. All in all, I can access over$3 ,500 in annual value with benefits and eligible purchases across travel, entertainment, and more. Learn more at AmericanExpress.com slash explore dash platinum. Enrollment requirements, monthly, and other limits in terms apply. Brace yourself for this one, Clint, via Doug McIntyre on Twitter. Again, South Korean coach Hong Wung Bo was asked, this is Doug's tweet, about, quote, the ease with which his team scored its two goals against the US today.

40:17His response was, we utilised our speed. Get ready for this line. The opponent wasn't prepared for this, maybe. Clint, we are even getting bodied in the post-game press conference. I know. What's crazy is before the game, you said the exact way that they were going to score. I mean, we got to get you as the coach, bro. You called it. You said, we're not going to be able to deal with their pace. They give our problems to our back line. They were going to exploit that. And what did they do? I was very worried. I mean, I tried to be positive and say, Our centre-backs are going to have to be very focused and disciplined tonight, was what I said.

41:00Narrator's voice, they were not. Let's take the next call from Doctors Mix a lot. Come on up, you beautiful human being. Tell us where you are. I want your question for Mighty Mighty Clint. Gentlemen, how are we? First off, shout out Nacogdoches from Frisco, Texas. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. So I've recently become a content creator in soccer. In the first half, I was streaming live today. I watched along. I had a couple hundred people watching me. And somehow or another, the conversation stopped talking about the sport and started talking about food. Until there's some sort of excitement in this team, there's no reason for any of us to be excited.

41:41So, Clint, give me five players to center this team around. Yeah, that's a great question. And I was talking with Raj about that earlier. If you think about the guys that are like for sure lock-ins on this team, I would say Chris Richards. I would say Tyler Adams. I would say Christian Pulisic. And I'd say Anthony Robinson. And the fifth one is a tough one, right? The fifth one is a tough one to find. Dest. I mean that would be the five players that I would say for sure would start I mean maybe would you put McKinney in the mix but you don't know about the relationship with him and Pochettino there and then you know we're looking for the number nine we're looking for the goalie like who's going to be the main main guy there I mean what would you say Raj yeah the only difference my first one would be Tony Miola probably have Gooch in there Carlos Bocanegra but there'd be a Clint, I'd Clint twice, two Clint's.

42:53That would be my five-a-side US team. I mean, you know, I love Tyler Adams. Like, you know, Dest, watching him go forward, I adored today. I mean, I agree with the others to be candid, so there's no point in dealing with it. I mean, we do have a core. There is a core right there. I mean, you just named it, you know, give or take. Missing two of the spine, right? You're missing a for sure goalkeeper, and you're missing a for sure number nine. Yeah. By the way, I take that. We had that with Greg Berhalter going into 2022, that exact same problem. We had a spine, but we had no goalkeeper yet. You know, there was that goalkeeper battle.

43:28We didn't know who our strikers would be. Look, I totally agree with you. That's one of the crazy things, Dr. Mix-a-Lot, that there is a core right there. But, you know, in trying to, again, trying to rebuild the culture or remold it to his liking, that core has been smothered or buried. I want to get to these questions, but Dr. Mixalot, you're a mad bastard. You just explained why there weren't American fans at the game tonight. It's because they're all on your live stream, my man. We're going to take two more questions before we end tonight, but I want to just read a quote from Paul Kennedy, a legendary editor of Soccer America on Twitter, who writes, Pochettino described the performance as, quote, a massive improvement.

44:16The result will come soon. My God, that's good news. The results are coming soon, people. Take these two more tonight. We're going to have Peter come on up, you beautiful human. From the great, I think, the great winning, glorious city of Seattle. Is that right, Peter? League Cup champs, babe. Baby, baby, baby. Your team is amazing. Your team is amazing. I bet, man. I bet. I bet. Raise a glass to you tonight. That was American football joy of wonder. Feels like months ago after that game tonight, though, Peter. What's your question for the mighty Clint? Yeah. So I'm not sure that firing the manager is the magic wand fix for this team, as I think it's a combination of things that have us in the situation we're in.

45:05But let's say hypothetically that it was all on him and firing him was the best thing for the team before the World Cup. When would be the last possible moment that could happen in this World Cup cycle that could allow us to find a replacement and give that person enough time to work with the team? I guess to put it another way, are we at the point where we just stick with Pochettino because time has run out for any alternatives? well I mean I'll just say I don't think um I think Pochettino is going to go all the way unless Pochettino decides that he just does not like this American thing at all um I think we're going to go all the way I think you could make the case from his perspective um that the only three games that matter that he was hired to manage were the three group stage games and that they're going to just be like judge me on those those are the ones that matter give me this run that's what he signed up for mid-cycle I think right now speaking to people within US soccer their mindset is dudes came in halfway through of course we're behind um you know he's not had a full cycle he I mean that's where we are and so I I would be I I don't I've not come across anyone internally.

46:22I think the ball is so completely the leverage, the power, the everything. I mean, just financially, the notion of firing him on that contract is just an enormous financial blow. So I cannot imagine that anything is going to happen and S Pochettino's like, you know what, sod this. And he is a proud man. And he is a gentleman that is a singular-minded human being. So I would not discount that in any way, shape or form. But I mean, Clint, you've lived a manager fraying with the players, burning out the connection, losing that way of football. I remember the last days of Jürgen. I mean, he was so positive in the same way as the results were cut.

47:11But even to the end, his last game, right after his last game, he went off to Germany and did a press conference with Angela Merkel and Barack Obama where they just held up US shirts. And he was like, great, we're going to be great. And then he came back and was fired almost, I think, within three days of his return from Germany. So you've lived these moments. I mean, it has not crossed my mind that this is going to occur. I don't know if it has yours. I mean, for the last two games that we lost, I was out with an injury and wasn't able to be a part of that. I would like to think I maybe could have helped in that situation of those two World Cup qualifying games because that was the case in times before, whether it was Copa America or the World Cup qualifying as we got towards qualifying for Brazil.

48:05So, but I mean, I think this coach is a fire. He's going to fight to the end. No one's going to walk away from a job. I think this team has struggled with some injuries that has not helped the situation. And also players have struggled with decisions they've made in terms of club teams they've gone to and they haven't panned out how they wanted to as well. But the fact remains is we're still in the situation that we are and you got to kind of right the ship and get things on track. So the only way you're going to do that is the next game. And like you said, Japan is going to be a good test and see how these guys bounce back from this loss.

48:50My God, I will say you just terrified me. Thinking about Japan who are, I mean, so clinical, so organized, so tactically minded. the idea of Matouma running at this back line is terrifying. And with a back line, this is what makes me panic. Once the back line is uncertain, the whole team starts getting sucked backwards. That midfield start, the uncertainty plays, they all start being sucked backwards. So let's put Japan out of mind. And we're going to go, there's so many questions, but we're going to take one last one. Come back, be with us Tuesday night. I'll actually be in Atlanta, but we will be live after the game.

49:33Please God, after a joyous, shocking, wonderful US performance of glory, Clint and I will be back. So come and be with us on YouTube again and come and ask your question. But we're going to give the last question to an old friend, a man of wonder. If I ever needed a hug and to hear his made for late night radio voice, it's now, it's Reece Gulchin. Remind us where you are and what's your question for King King? roger roger and clint two fine americans why it's my absolute pleasure to join you reese colchin davidson north carolina long time long time uh let's end on a high note shall we lads let's do it and let's end on a high note i saw fig fit in the uh in the chat they're saying as an argentino he uh he's lived through the downswings and u.s men's team just seems to be on a downswing okay let's say we take let's say we take all these beatings right japan will have their way with us might they yes that could happen yes but in the immortal words of the great harvey milk you gotta give them hope you gotta give them hope so maybe we learn from all of this maybe the gaffer figures something out to find the cohesion that we need clint you tell me have you learned more from beatings like this and been able to turn it around and these lads take the experience of these terrible losses and turn it around before they take the pitch in the red white and blue next year can they turn it around based on these tough experiences that we're having watching them go through right now no i mean i i would agree with that 100 when you think about like part of your development growing up, you know, it's learning from those moments.

51:22And if you don't learn from them, then you're never going to make it. So it's important to have that kind of stuff stick with you. And as long as you're able to learn from it and bounce back and it makes you a better player for the long run, then that's what it's all about. So, but it just seems like we've been learning a lot lately. We've been learning a lot. hey i mean come on now it's time for us to just chill out for a little bit this is like that meme this is like that meme just tapping the side of the head this is we're thinking differently if you do learn the most paint the most important lessons in defeat then we're in for a good game in a moment because we've been storing them up i can i just thank you reese goldson for turning that frown upside down um i will say harvey milk quotes, Eeyore name drops.

52:14This Do It Live has had it all. RandomHuman19 in the chat bumming me out again. Pops in there. US Men's National Team currently plus 5 ,000 to win the World Cup. I'm going to put all my crypto on that. Clint, I've got to say I'll leave tonight with a heavy heart, but really I've enjoyed every single question. It's like raised I think for both of us, our energy, our spirit, the joy that we're taking out of this awful night, but we are headed to Columbus. As I said at the top, a city, I wear this sweatshirt proudly, the 6-1-4, which has always had the United States back when we needed it. Boy, how we need it one more time.

52:53I honestly can't wait to see you there. Raise a pint, have a Schmitz house of sausage. But can you finish the night? Japan are good. They're very good. We've got some mountains to climb. Just give us a message to finish tonight of what you would say if you were in that locker room in training tomorrow. Not tonight, because I know you wouldn't say a lot, but tomorrow when you're going to go again, what would you say tomorrow to those boys? I'm not necessarily talking about what I'd say to them. I mean, it's great to be on here talking with you again, Raj. I really always look forward to these moments and chatting with these fans because it gives you a true sense of the culture and how everyone's feeling.

53:31I just think it's one of those things, the rain can't last forever. Eventually the sun's going to have to come out. So it's always your next game. it's always your next goal it's it's just that's that's how i always looked at my career don't get too high don't get too low it's a roller coaster and uh you know you're just a goal away from getting back on that wave so let's get to surfing the rain can't last forever honestly number one i love that number two you've clearly never lived in liverpool but you did live in seattle man you did live in seattle talk about let's get surfing my god frankie haydook is going to be with us oh, we're going to start with Frankie.

54:08Yeah, start with Frankie. He's going to have espresso in one hand and a beer in the other. Oh my God, ate espressos before he used to kill on the game. That guy, for reals. I mean, crazy. We got Wilford Nancy, who is probably pound for pound the smartest coach that the United States is currently carrying on the men's side at the moment. We got the great Herc Gomez. We're going to do the live Monday night on stage at Kemba Live. Dave, I think your name was from Columbus. come and be with us and make sure you raise that point. It'll be a night of football. It'll be a night of joy. It'll be a night of communion before the U.S.

54:44takes on Japan. Tickets available in the link we're posting in the chat. Other than that, I'll just say thank you, Clint Dempsey. You are a great American. And I know I'm not alone in the chat. Stuart Zekman says, thank you, Clint, for all you've done for U.S. soccer. Lizzie Kitten18 says, love Clint. He's an incredible host. God, you lift all of our hearts, man. Thank you all, man. It's always good to be on here and trying to right the ship. Come on, Captain. Come on, Captain. Trying to bail the water out, man. Get these buckets of water out, man. I'm bailing. I'm bailing. I'm bailing. Big, big love, America.

55:20It's a better day to head. Courage.