USMNT 4-1 Peru Reactions With Clint Dempsey: The Deuce Live 09/26/26

0:00The one question I get most after all that football memory making we experienced across America this summer is, how do I keep the magic going? I'd start by saying, articulate what you love the most and then build on it. First step, find the team that will most probably break your heart and then add all the supporting necessities to build your weekend tradition. The key to so many of mine, it's Walmart, the place that has it all, the snacks, the coffee, the pies. You can also get the TV at Walmart, the hoodie to wear on your couch. Get the couch if you need it and wait, it gets better. Because their express delivery can get it right to your door so you're all set for kickoff.

0:40Whatever your matchday needs are, you can find them at walmart.com slash soccer. Delivery timing varies by order size, traffic, weather and demand. Subject to availability, fees and terms apply. You're listening to the Men in Blazers Media Network, Suboptimal Radio.

1:02the american road to world cup 2030 begins with a 4-1 win over well big in peru's peru feel good palate cleanser after that world cup disappointment as chris voss said in our discord you're getting balled by the eagles eight teenagers made the debut we smell like teen spirit now Most hyped, the Kavan Sullivan era has begun. Only one same conclusion you can draw from tonight, Clint Dempsey. We're going to win the 2030 World Cup, yeah? Yeah, man. That's how it goes, man. I got to hype them up. It's amazing how the mood can just completely flip from Hello Darkness, my old friend, to we're doing it all.

1:46Let's start with the big story. Kavan Sullivan got his debut, 16 years, 363 days old, became the youngest player for the squad since, oh, Freddie, you do got to whisper that in 2006. Honestly, Clint, how shocked were you when you saw Pochettino was throwing him right into the starting lineup? I just think it's exciting, honestly, that he's given a lot of these young players an opportunity to get their debut. You think about where you were at 16. I mean, I was in high school playing for the Varsity Nacogdoches Dragons, you know what I'm saying? Yo, what are the dragons? Yeah, man. I just think it's cool to see the talent that we have, to mix that with some of the experienced players.

2:28And that's what a cycle is about, is figuring out new talents that's going to come in and push these experienced players and create a stronger lineup for us. So I'm excited. I'm not going to lie. I thought it was a surprise to give him the start. as thrilled as we are by everything he's doing in MLS. Talent is young, 16-year-old. They're kids. I mean, you have to ease them in. You've got to protect them. A little bit like Arsenal have done with Max Dowman. But you've been in this squad. You've been in the beginning of a new cycle. What do you think Mauricio Pochettino was trying to say? And he was trying to say something to start, Kavan, and almost say, whole new world.

3:09You know, what was is not what will be. and all you big names who've been squad members by right, we're going to change everything. Yeah, I think he is protecting the players by playing them in friendlies. I mean, that's where you take risk and that's where you can be creative. And it's not in a must-win situation. Obviously, it's different if you're playing in Nations League, Gold Cup or Copa America or World Cup qualifying and stuff like that. So this is where you take, make risks. This is where you give people that experience to go out and try stuff. And I like it. I like shaking things up with this roster and seeing what potential stars are going to be the next big thing for the U.S.

3:52You, Major W, do you know how old you were, by the way? Do you even remember these Clint Dempsey bios? Yes, sir. I was 21, and I think it was in November, in Columbus versus Jamaica. Yes. Yes, it was. I started late, man. I didn't go pro until I was 20. Somebody's working on their biography. It's happening. By the way, I would read a Clint Dempsey biography. I really would. Not saying Landon Donovan was not a great page-turner, but you've got to get on that. Can you describe the pressure? You were 21. He's 16. Just put into words for us the pressure that you feel pulling on that U.S. jersey for the first time.

4:31I mean, as a kid, being a young player, I didn't really feel that pressure. I was it was more just excitement than pressure. It was like I'm getting an opportunity to live my dream, to represent my country. Like we talked many times is what I prayed about as a kid, wanting to represent my country. And then a lot to me. And I just think that when you're young, you don't know what to fear. And you get to see people like go out and take risk and play brave and and try stuff. I mean, that's what it's all about. I think too many times people play safe, you get into a good position, and then you just play the ball back or sideways.

5:05I like when people are taking players on and playing forward. And, look, I would rather you have 80%, 70%, 80 % possession, pass completion and play forward than be 95 % pass completion, and then you're playing sideways and backwards. You know what I'm saying? I think you've got to have that mix, right? But, no, you don't know what to fear. So you go out there and you get, you know, some of these players raw emotion and it makes things happen. I'm going to say, you talked about how you prayed to represent your nation. I still pray to represent the nation at age 87 years old. I did feel tonight with like every team pretty well getting a start that I'm getting further and further down the depth chart.

5:49But really what Clint is saying, pressure is having to perform in front of Duke the Dragon at Nacogdoches High School, right on the varsity. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. I mean, look, pressure really is playing World Cup qualifying games and, you know, playing in World Cups and stuff like that and big competitions for your country. I mean, playing in friendlies and being able to get your feet wet, it's not it's not there so much. But I mean, I just think it's exciting. I love you. You can feel the difference in the stadium in those big games. You've been there though, man. You know the hype around this kid, man.

6:31That's the difference though. It wasn't, there were a lot of teams that made their start tonight. Eight of them. But the hype around, if I'm flinging them in now, it means like, will he start there? The hype train is going to now be at an 11 around this kid. Whereas if he'd been one of the second half substitutes, you know, it would have been more, just a more blended start. Do you not think like every year, There's seven other teams tonight that we can and will be. The U.S. soccer fan bubble will be Kavan, Kavan, Kavan. We're in the Kavanosphere now. I just think we – look, a lot of cultures do the same thing.

7:07They really hype up the young talent and, you know, make it almost unrealistic the expectations that you put on them, right? So all you can do as a player in that position is be excited about the opportunity, control what you can control and go out there and keep doing what's got you in this position. I think the worst thing that can happen is you believe in the hype and you don't stay focused and grinded and stay hungry. And that will always kind of see you through in tough situations that have more of that type of mentality. So as long as he keeps his feet on the ground, stays hungry, the rest with all those other, you know, team players that made a big difference tonight.

7:48Just keep that mentality, stay focused, enjoy the opportunity to be living your dream and representing your country, and keep improving. Keep adding more and doing more in the games that you get because you've got to be trying to push other players out to make the roster for the big games that matter. When you have the top 18 players that come into camp, it's going to be a different story of who's going to be on that roster. For those of us joining on YouTube, Get your comments in the chat. Finn in Queen says, I didn't know whether to cheer for Kavan or just yell at him to get off my lawn. Serious question.

8:23If Jurgen Klinsmann had dropped a 16-year-old kid into the first game of, say, the 2018 cycle, how would you have felt? What would it have said to all of you who just played 2014? I mean, it's a situation where it's friendly, so it's not that big of a deal in terms of taking risk and experimenting and throwing new players into the mix. I remember when they put Christian in the mix, and then because of giving him those opportunities, he was able to do his thing, get his confidence, and get on a wave and really do well during that World Cup qualifying, even though we didn't qualify in 2018, is one of the best players that we had because of giving him those opportunities so that he could get his feet wet and get his confidence going.

9:10So that's what it's all about. I mean, you can control what you control if you're a veteran player. If you still want to make an impact, you still have to perform in those games to keep getting called in. But I think it's good to mix things up and have that mix of experience in you. It freshens things up so it doesn't get too stale. God, that is a very interesting comp. Ultimately, Cavandio starting, Christian starting incredibly young in terms of his and making his impact, making the team very much alongside you when you returned, really making it his. The other big decision, Richo Pochettino finally gave Tyler Adams, the US men's national team captain's armband, unbelievably, for the first time.

9:59Argent was captain during the 2022 World Cup. Pochettino took that away from him. Let's be honest, Clint. And Tyler was always the captain. Yeah, I mean, I don't know what the situation is within that team. But yeah, he was the captain for the team in 2022. And for some reason, you know, just because you don't wear the captain armband doesn't mean you're not one of the captains on the team. I remember when I was a captain, I had guys like Michael Bradley and Tim Howard around me that were also, you know, leaders in the team. And just because you wear the armband doesn't make you, you know, more important than the next guy, right?

10:38It just shows that the coach has faith in you, wants you to be the voice of the team and talk with the media, and feels that you're someone that can best lead them to be successful. So I think there's multiple leaders in the team, and it's not right for me to say who's the main captain or who's not, but, hey, shout out to him for being in the mix and continuing to lead the way, and he will continue to be a leader for this team. If you're just joining us, you're watching Juice Live with Clint Dempsey. If you've got a question for Clint, scan the QR code top left of your screen or click the link in the pinned comment.

11:14Come on and ask the questions later in the broadcast. We'd love to hear how you felt about all of this tonight. Get in the chat too. We'll read out your best comments. But Clint to the game, the good news. We're playing a bit against a pretty poor, deeply aging Peru side. Best jersey in world football. I've always believed it, but man, 51st in the world, came second to bottom of World Cup qualifying. Good news is the only team worse in South America was Chile, who we play on Tuesday. Bring it on. England have had just two wins in the last 16 games going back to 2024. Scouting report, everyone I read said the following, Peru tend to concede early goals by making too many mistakes and lacking concentration.

12:00so behold four minutes simple execution off a free kick Gio Reyna called a pinpoint ball onto the meaty Floridian forehead of 19 year old Justin Ellis um he's Anton Griezmann's sparring partner a kid who joined Orlando over the summer local hero rose up that was some flick almost Griezmann-esque in his hometown stadium to boot must have felt amazing for the kid Clint yeah I mean he did a Great job of getting across the defender. And what you do in those positions is to make sure that you flick it back post. And it's kind of like hitting a free kick towards the back post. If it bounces, as long as it's on target, it has a chance of going in.

12:41But, yeah, I thought it was a great finish, a good ball in from Gio. And what a great start for Ellis getting a goal on his debut. And I think it's only going to make him get more confident. and it looks like it's a big spot up for grabs between him, Julian Hall, and some other strikers as we move forward. You still got Balligan in the mix and Pepe. So I look forward to seeing all these attacking players who gets the starting position. The one question I get most after all that football memory-making we experienced across America this summer is, how do I keep the magic going? I'd start by saying articulate what you love the most and then build on it.

13:23First step, find the team that will most probably break your heart. And then add all the supporting necessities to build your weekend tradition. The key to so many of mine is Walmart. The place that has it all. The snacks, the coffee, the pies. You can also get the TV at Walmart. The hoodie to wear on your couch. Get the couch if you need it. And wait, it gets better. Because their express delivery can get it right to your door. So you're all set for kickoff. Whatever your match day needs are, you can find them at walmart.com slash soccer. Delivery timing varies by order size, traffic, weather and demand.

13:58Subject to availability, fees and terms apply. Alex from Brooklyn in the chat says, Griezmann taught him that in exchange for his NFL Sunday ticket login. In the moment, I've got to be honest, Clint, I think I texted you and said, oh my God, this Peru team are terrible. This could be a tennis score. Don't like to quote myself, but it was a text which preceded a terrible moment. Like the 15th, US slow to react to a quick Peruvian restart. Caught in transition, diagonal ball from Yotun. Matt Fries rooted to his line. And teenage debutant, 18-year-old New England rev, Peyton Miller, flat-footed, mercilessly dunked on by 36-year-old journeyman striker, Gianluca Lapadula.

14:46you know him as the club universitario de deporte finisher actually fine looping header um this is a moment where you kind of live by the teen raw player the goal scorer die by the teen raw player yeah i mean it's one of those situations where when you make a lot of changes it's going to be tough to to be compact in the back with maybe not having that experience of playing with each other but still we're dealing with the same situation that we can see too many goals. It would be nice to start seeing some more clean sheets there because as we built into the World Cup and through our play during the World Cup, it's kind of difficult to go far in competitions when you're leaking goals.

15:30So, look, it's understandable with a lot of changes, but the good news is we got the victory tonight. We got the goals that we wanted to see. We got some young players that are capped. We had some experienced players come in and do their thing as well. So all in all, I thought it was a great result tonight for the U.S. team. Negatives that you would say is, you know, conceding too many goals. I would say also the crowd. You pointed it out when we were texting. Most of the crowd was for it seemed like in terms of the energy and the chance was for Peru than the U.S. I would have thought after, you know, the U.S.

16:09doing well in the last World Cup. good, not great, but that that would have had some more momentum there in terms of feeling the stadium. So hopefully we'll see something a little bit different in these next games. We'll get to that in a moment. That was one of the darker moments of what was quite a joyous day. By the way, Lapidula's 36. It was like it's just a bit younger than you are, Clint. Just a bit. Just a bit, right? Yeah, I was like, hmm, interesting. Maybe I should come back. little five-minute action. Yeah, I mean, God, if they can do it at the LA Rams, they can do it for the USMNT. But anyway, we're going to talk about Kavan.

16:46What did you think of him? 60 minutes, had that collision with the goalkeeper, got a yellow card, he was actually pushed into him. I love the way he swaggered around, played the ball into dangerous areas, wanted it back, didn't always get it, didn't really lay a glove in the final third. But Jürgen Klinsmann always used to say, on the team you were on, you say about DeAndre Yedlin, who was brought out of nowhere to become a starter in 2014. He always used to shout into every interview, sometimes you are so young, you don't know you're meant to be afraid. And that's what I thought of, that slightly eerie, bad Jurgen Klinsmann impression when I watched Kavan play.

17:23What did you see? I mean, I like the fact that he takes risk. I like the fact that he wants to play forward. I think sometimes you need to mix it up a little bit more and maybe be a little bit more tidy at times, especially if you try something and it doesn't work and then you lose another ball. Maybe keep it simple, keep some possession going, kind of build up that leeway again from connecting passes and then try some more stuff again. But I like that he's creative and he's brave and he takes risks. And you can see that he's confident, especially from the play that he's had with Philadelphia.

18:00and now that can translate to the national team, that will really kind of get things going for him. But you could see him on the bench when Tyler Adams came off that he was still, you know, hungry, right? Wasn't really excited about his performance. He knew that there were some other – I think he probably felt like it was a missed opportunity. I don't want to put words in his mouth, but you look at players like Julian Hall. You look at players like Ellis. You look at players like Matisse. these are people that came in and contributed towards the goal, right? Matisse drawing the penalty, Julian Hall getting the goal, Ellis getting the goal.

18:36So he's seeing these other younger guys, you know, around his age doing their thing. So I'm sure he would have think, dang, that's a missed opportunity. I could have came in here and made a statement. So I just think there's a lot of hungry players there, and I'm looking forward to seeing how things shape out. He definitely could. I agree with you, man. I liked his hunger. That's the motif I take from this game. He's definitely brash. He was definitely stewing on the bench. I said up top, I wish we hadn't started him. It would have been so much better to ease him in, ramp up the minutes, let him build, show himself in starts without having that starting pressure.

19:14In any normal nation, I will say that would be the case, but we're not a normal footballing nation. We do put players, young players, like Freddy Addo, Juan Agredelo. You played with a lot of these, Clint. Brett Shea. I mean, God, on a pedestal. Kavan is a man child. You know, many people in their, you know, 30s will have seen, you know, late 30s will have seen lacrosse players, 16, playing on varsity teams who have that kind of attitude. He's playing for the US. Football is a team game. This rebuild, make no mistake, is a massive project. Kavan can be part of it. I hope he is. I hope tonight was the first of 100 caps for that guy.

19:54But he can't be the sum of our hopes, our dreams. Why do we constantly crave a single savior, Clint? I just think that's everybody, right? You want someone that's going to come and save the day, who's going to be that superhero, right? I think the good thing for Kevin in this situation is he has other young, hungry, talented players that are around him that are in the mix that can maybe take some of that pressure off him in the sense that you have a chance for other people to shine, right? You're not just looking at one person. You're looking at the whole like youth movement that you're kind of starting to see, right, coming into the national team and players that are getting a chance and making a difference.

20:34Right. So it's one of those things you're just going to have to wait and see. Right. Let's let's let's keep our heads cool. Let's don't get too high. Don't get too low, just like we do with with anything and and see how this thing plays out. But I am going to say I'm excited about what I'm looking forward to, right? Because we remember being in a position where we're doing some of the friendlies leading up to the World Cup. And it was not looking too great, right? You get on so grim after we've just been absolutely shellacked by Turkey or Switzerland. And you were like, we've got to do this. Come on, let's do this.

21:09Yes, sir. So the energy, the positivity, the feeling of newness. I mean, first off, Peru did soak it up. They sprang forward in moments in our Discord at one of the rest wrote, Peru's game plan is lots of parking the bus and then straight conca-caffing. The US had a lot of creative instigators on the field. There was Gio Reyna, Eunice Moussa, Kavan Tillman. Not in a focal point, we couldn't find a way really to shoot the ball. It did look like a team of what it is, a team that has not really played together at all, which is the truth. Play was largely broken. And in those moments, you always say to me, Clint, in games like this, you want to see one player individually just decide to step up and take over the game, make their name known.

21:55And I couldn't believe Tillman and Reina weren't being that player. But there was that frustrating feeling when no one really seemed to be the one to say, I got this. Yeah, I mean, there were moments, right? You got Gio with the assist. You had Tillman with the first chance and the half that the keeper made a save that he should have done better with. But then in the second half, you saw some of the experienced players take advantage, kind of be able to break down Peru. The pass for Anthony Robinson to Matisse did a great job of getting on that side of the defender and drawing the penalty. And once we got the penalty, you started seeing more players start to put their chest out a little bit more.

22:33Players like Sebastian Berhalter and Julian Hall. And, yeah, that's what it's all about. Goals change games and open things up. And the second half was a lot more fun to watch than the first. And I look forward to this next friendly to see if there's going to be some more moments. But like I said, I'm excited about this youth movement, these young players coming in and are hungry and are looking to make a difference. And I thought they did a good job of still having experienced players around them to show them the ropes. And in these games, these friendly games, right? because pretty soon it's going to get serious.

23:09It's going to be Nations League. It's going to be back to Gold Cup and Copa America and World Cup qualifying. Four years ago, Bob, before you know it. You know, I thought that it was pretty fascinating watching the second half play out. You say goals change games. It was a change. Diego Cotchen came on in goal. 20-year-old Floridian, Barcelona Academy graduate, now playing, I think, in Denmark. He's at Ingby, a terrific kid. I spent time with him this time last year at Barcelona. He moved there when he was 13. This moment must have felt magnificent for a local Floridian to take the field here.

23:45Second half, largely US possession, blunt possession. But again, the debut 61-minute, 17-year-old Matisse Albert came on from Dortmund's second team. First run, he charged up the flank, cut inside. You say goals chain games. He tangled with Patelli, went down. um a little like slightly heavy feeling of gravity and maybe the foul happened outside the area but god bless home cooking clint we needed things yeah i mean sometimes you you need a little bit of luck on your side right he did a great job of getting on that side of the defender and hey uh it looked like his leg caught the the defender which made him get trip and go down and to your point it's one of those close ones but hey we got the rub of the green in this situation Tillman steps up, cool comp collected, puts it in the back of the net, and then there we start to go in the second half and start to put our foot down on the gas a little bit more.

24:40Tillman, first player to score in three straight games for the US since who, Clint?

24:48Christian, me, who? Clint Dempsey. There we go. There we go. That's what's up. Did you know that? No, I'm just guessing, but hey, that's what's up. I love that. That's the second guess. And it is right. How does that make you feel to hear it, man? Anything? Or does it feel like a different time, a different person? No, no. I mean, look, man, I'm proud of what I did with the national team. I gave it everything that I had. And like we always talk about, I emptied the clip out there, man. I tried my best to get as many goals that I could and help us win as many games. So it's good to be one of the players that kind of sets marks.

25:24And it's good for other players to come and take it to another level. So I'm glad I had a parts play in our history. I look forward to records, more records being broke and, and, and then, you know, giving me and my family, my kids more to cheer about when we watch these games. Yeah. You got to Aaron Donald it. You got to we back it. We need this. Lots of debuts. Gozo. Debut Julian Hall, debut 18 year old Red Bull within minutes. Sebastian Berhalter. We're possibly the most delicious moment of the game whipped in just a viciously dangerous cross. and it was Hall who was alert to stab home. I mean, that was a stunning moment.