Hour 1: Balogun Can Play

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg

Episode: Hour 1: Balogun Can Play
Date: July 6, 2026
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg (with some contributions from Michael Kay and Anthony)
Platform: ESPN New York

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Episode Overview

The episode centers on the anticipation and controversy surrounding the US Men's National Soccer Team's (USMNT) World Cup knockout match against Belgium. The focal point is the reinstatement of star forward Folarin Balogun (pronunciation debated!) following a rescinded red card, the ensuing international whirlwind—political involvement, perceptions of FIFA bias—and how sports at this level invite everyone in, experts and casual viewers alike. The hosts blend passionate fandom with characteristic New York candor, sense of humor, and cultural asides.

Theme:
How unexpected drama, institutional maneuvering, and a rare moment of American soccer relevance unite both die-hard and casual fans—while stirring controversy about fairness and national character in sports.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Weather & Community—Getting Together Off-Air (00:51–02:25)

• Hosts open with a light talk about summer weather, recent team gatherings (“Bar A”), and the rare joy of seeing all the ESPN New York talent under one roof.

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2. The Last-Minute Drama of Sports (02:28–03:45)

• Rosenberg: “Sports is so cool because you just don’t know what kind of turn is going to happen, you know…there’s always different angles. You got to be on your toes.”
  (02:28)
• He remarks on the big US vs Belgium game and how the President of the United States (“Trump”) played a part in ensuring that Balogun, their best player, can play.
• Don: “There is no comp.” (03:34) — emphasizing the unprecedented nature of this political–sports overlap.

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3. Perception vs. Reality—How Will the US Win Be Viewed? (03:46–06:38)

• Rosenberg: “I’m concerned about the perception for Team USA…if they beat Belgium, one nothing in penalty kicks…they move on on a controversial call.” (03:51)
• Alan Hahn and Don argue about how much it would matter if the US actually went on to win the World Cup versus just squeaking by and then losing.
• Hahn: “If they win the whole thing, it won’t matter.” (05:00)
• Discussion of ESPN op-eds and the lack of precedent for FIFA’s decision to allow Balogun to play. Concern over an “asterisk” next to the USMNT’s run.

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4. Politics, Process & National Character—The Balogun Controversy (06:38–11:07)

• Rosenberg: Attempts to downplay politics but notes a uniquely American attitude toward fighting rulings and appealing suspensions, versus Europe’s rule-following.

  “We don’t do that in this country. We appeal, we fight, we protest, we argue...” (07:03)

• The US approach draws both admiration and international suspicion, especially with FIFA’s globally mistrusted reputation.

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5. The Newfound Soccer Craze & Asterisks Galore (08:40–10:57)

• Don: Recognizes how rare it is that American fans are invested in a soccer game like this.

  “Credit to the men’s national team for what they’ve done this far—to make us actually give a rip about tonight’s game, Monday night football….” (08:58)

• Debate about whether any result would have come without some asterisk—either a missing player or a controversial reinstatement.

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6. International Reactions & FIFA Statements (11:07–13:11)

• Hosts quote FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s statement, highlighting the supposed independence of the FIFA judicial process, even as he acknowledges Trump’s involvement.
• Amusing back-and-forth about correct pronunciation of “Balogun.”

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7. Pronunciation & Cultural Adaptation (13:11–16:24)

• On-air debate: Is it “Balogan” or “Balogun”? They play audio of the player introducing himself and wrestle with how names get “Americanized.”
• Larger point about cultural translation—names, expectations, and expertise.

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8. Soccer Snobbery & Embracing Casual Fans (15:04–18:08)

• Hosts admit they’re not soccer experts—“We parachute in every four years”—and push back on soccer elitism (“the snobs are out there”).
• Peter: “We didn’t embarrass ourselves… The only reason we would embarrass ourselves is if we came on, told you, ‘we’re soccer experts…’” (17:35)
• Don: “We are new to this.” (16:19)

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9. FIFA’s Perennial Corruption & Politics (18:32–20:34)

• Alan: Even before this, “FIFA is considered one of the most corrupt organizations in the world.” (18:32)
• Trump’s unusual public involvement only adds to global suspicion (and American self-consciousness).

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10. Perspective on USMNT Success & Historical Cynicism (20:34–24:27)

• Hahn: Despite improvements, “We are still an absolute dog in this tournament.”
• Don and Alan recall years of disappointment for the US in major soccer tournaments.

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11. Victory Songs, Cultural Symbols, and What Unites Fans (31:15–36:09)

• The crew discusses the USMNT’s “victory song” debate: “Country Roads” by John Denver, “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey, and “Seven Nation Army” by the White Stripes.

  Anthony: “FIFA asks all nations for a playlist of songs to play for warm-ups, goals, and wins…and the final list was Living on a Prayer, Sweet Caroline, Country Roads.” (32:46)

• Lively debate about the relatability of each song to a diverse American fanbase.

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12. Enjoying the Ride—Accepting New Fans & Big Moments (23:46–28:04)

• Don: “The World Cup has been successful because it’s drawing you in.” (27:52)
• Everyone deserves to parachute in and enjoy the spectacle; the hosts resent the notion fans need to be “experts” to participate in the fun.
• Alan: “If you flipped by Mexico–England last night and you call yourself a sports fan...If you could turn that off, you’re not a sports fan.” (25:14)

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13. Call-In Highlights—Fan Opinions & More on Balogun (28:10–43:52)

• Calls range from the controversy over the reversed suspension (parallels to Ronaldo’s treatment), to strategic optimism for the US against Belgium.
• Strong consensus: The original red card was suspect, and US fans, conditioned by decades of heartbreak, remain cautiously optimistic.

  Alan: “I am not going to get used to the fact that the US has played this well and as a result expect them to win a game against Belgium tonight.” (41:42)

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14. Big Picture—Why We're All Watching

• The World Cup’s ability to pull in even the most skeptical casual viewers is a sign of its power.
• “We fall in love with sports for the competition, and when you get moments like that, it’s hard not to get caught up in it.” — Don (27:58)

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Most Notable Quotes & Moments

• “There is no comp.” — Don La Greca, on the unprecedented White House–FIFA intervention (03:34)
• “We don’t do that in this country. We appeal, we fight, we protest, we argue.” — Rosenberg on America’s sports mindset (07:03)
• “The only reason we would embarrass ourselves is if we came on, told you, ‘we’re soccer experts...’” — Peter Rosenberg (17:35)
• “The World Cup has been successful because it’s drawing you in.” — Don La Greca (27:52)
• “I am not going to get used to the fact that the US has played this well and as a result expect them to win a game against Belgium tonight.” — Alan Hahn (41:42)
• “I know we won’t, but what if we do?” — Mexican soccer fan motto, quoted by Don (43:52)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:28] – What makes live sports so unpredictable; setting up the US–Belgium match
• [03:35–06:38] – Perception of the USMNT’s potential win amid controversy
• [06:38–11:07] – Cultural attitudes toward rules & legality in US vs Europe; impact on soccer acceptance
• [13:11–16:24] – Balogun name pronunciation debate; cultural translation
• [15:04–18:08] – Pushback against soccer snobbery
• [18:32–20:34] – FIFA corruption and Trump’s World Cup involvement
• [25:14–28:04] – The power of a captivating sports event; Mexico–England match excitement
• [31:15–36:09] – USMNT victory song debate; symbolizing American diversity (and discord)
• [41:42–43:52] – Alan Hahn’s historical caution—why longtime fans can’t take success for granted
• [43:52] – “What if we do?”: Adopting the Mexican fan motto, hopefulness in sports

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Tone & Language

• Conversational and irreverent: Jokes, New York attitude, and open admission of soccer naiveté.
• Candid and inclusive: Emphasize the value of engaging with big moments even if you don’t live and breathe the sport.
• Passionate but self-aware: Wanting success for the USMNT, frustrated by controversy, but determined to enjoy the ride.

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Conclusion

This episode embodies what makes sports media compelling in big moments: anticipation and anxiety, the blending of expertise and casual fandom, and an honest, self-deprecating love for the drama—on and off the field. The Balogun saga, the “asterisk” debate, and the tension between American self-assertion and global skepticism set the stage for a classic World Cup knockout night.

“We fall in love with sports for the competition, and when you get moments like that, it’s hard not to get caught up in it.” — Don La Greca (27:58)

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Transcript

[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Alan Hahn]

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[Alan Hahn]

See terms.

[Peter Rosenberg]

God love with the sex.

[Alan Hahn]

Han Sauce was everywhere. And Rosenberg, if you want to stay up, he's got the energy that matters.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This isn't North Dakota, this is New York.

[Don La Greca]

This is Don, Han and Rosenberg.

[Michael Kay]

The best threesome I've ever heard on

[Alan Hahn]

ESPN New York and streaming live on

[Peter Rosenberg]

YouTube 300 one of the big city. Don Hahn and Rosenberg. On a cool Monday, the rain blew in. Hopefully everybody's okay. I know, man, but I was, I was walking back from Flick, which is the Disney vehicle.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Lunch and nice breeze. Like 70. I was like, this is kind of refreshing after what was a really, really hot weekend. And I want to start by saying thanks to all the people that braved Bar A on Thursday because it was a hot one.

[Alan Hahn]

And our condolences to the families.

[Don La Greca]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

We lost 40 or 50 people.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm not sure how, but you were affected. But it was, it was a lot of fun. It was great seeing everybody. There's so rare an occasion that everybody is under the same roof, you know, because of just the way the shows are. I mean, how often do you get to hang out with Dave and Rick, Right? Because we don't cross paths with them. We see Michael K on occasion. He's in the studio when it's not baseball season. You don't. I don't get to see Bart. Carlin makes an effort. Bart doesn't. That's why I don't get to see Bart all that. But Carlin will hang after his show today. But to have everybody under one roof, and I thought that was an amazing picture. I know Anthony did a great job sending out on social media and Kevin and Jake and all that too. With all of us together on the stage, that was a lot of fun. So it's good to be together and it's good that everybody made it. And just like kind of weather in this area now, it's like Cold and breezy. Just 48 hours after one of the biggest heat waves we've seen in a while. But how's everybody doing? All right. Good.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah. Quick weekend went by fast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There's a reason why I. You love sport. Like, sports is so cool because you just don't know what kind of turn is going to happen, you know, and, and no better example than doing afternoon radio. I moved to Afternoon Drive with Michael in 2005, so for over 20 years, I've been an afternoon drive. You know, morning shows, you kind of go to bed and unless somebody dies or gets treated at 3 o' clock in the morning, you, you know the show, you go into work and you, your show is. Is set. But the great thing about Afternoon Drive is you can sit there and have meetings and all of a sudden something can happen and change everything. There's always different angles. You got to be on your toes. And so, you know, we're going to be talking about the big game tonight in Seattle. The United States trying to make it to the round of eight going against Belgium. And usually people only say that when they're ordering a waffle, but now they're part of the sports vernacular here. And the President of the United States helped get the best player for Team USA to play. Where did that happen? Like, what's the precedent for that? Guys, honestly, that's what's so great about sports, is that you start to think of the comp.

[Don La Greca]

There is no comp.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There is no comp.

[Don La Greca]

There is no comp.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You live for moments where, like, something happens. You're like, well, this is like, no, no, that's not it. Oh, this is kind of like what? No, no, no. Exactly.

[Don La Greca]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So I am not going to get

[Alan Hahn]

political here because you can't try your best.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What I'm going to say is, is that what I hope doesn't happen here. And Alan, you can relate to this. When the Knicks were making their run, where you said, I hope it's the thunder not dispersed, because I don't want people saying the Knicks had the easier path. It's kind of laughable now because the Knicks have won. And nobody's saying that, nobody's saying that, but you live in the moment. And the moment was, I want the best team. Let's, let's take on all comments because you knew the Knicks were that good that they were going to beat no matter who they faced anyway, but you were kind of concerned about the perception, right? I'm concerned about the perception for Team USA because if they beat Belgium, one Nothing in penalty kicks.

[Michael Kay]

All right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Then they move on to the Elite Eight, and then they win on a controversial call that maybe could have went against them but didn't. I don't want this amazing run to be. Well, listen, you know, Trump got involved and you know that FIFA was just trying to make it for us. There's already conversation like that, Peter. Right, the pool they were in, they're the host country.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, no, this is. This is being banned.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So, you know, you know, internationally, and usually we don't care what people think, but all of a sudden you do. I, I just don't want.

[Alan Hahn]

If they win, they win the whole thing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The whole thing.

[Alan Hahn]

It won't matter. It's what matter.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're right.

[Alan Hahn]

What matters is. But they're not gonna win the whole thing. So, look, we have nothing else.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, let's just. I don't. I don't want that to be the good.

[Alan Hahn]

I know, I know, but let's just be. I'm gonna live in reality for a moment.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

The, The. I highly doubt that. If they did, it'd be incredible. And I think if they won the whole thing, I think people would go, all right, well, that was a funny moment. But they went on to win the whole thing, so it is what it is. I think the bigger issue, Alan, where people would sort of be more. More upset about it and it would reflect on them more negatively, is if Balagun were to score tonight, for example, they win one, nothing off of him scoring, and then they go and immediately lose the next game. That's, to me, what would reflect badly on the entire. That's like. Well, they shouldn't have been in that spot. So it's kind of unfair. You know, it's not great. I mean, espn. ESPN has an op ed the front page of the paper till just a few minutes ago when they switched it here for the Spain Portugal was about. The headline was, nobody benefits from FIFA letting Balagun off the hook, not even the US Men's national team, that. No one really thinks this is a win, by the way. I don't care what anyone says, it was not a red card. I firmly believe he should not have received a red card and he should have been playing. The problem is there's barely any precedent people are stretching for a couple of precedents you could look for, but there's really not much precedent for this. And so it just sort of stinks because it's adding an asterisk that I don't want any sort of asterisk next to what They've been doing. They've looked better than they've ever looked before. I don't want it. Even though I wanted him to be playing. Once they made the decision, they made the decision.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And the reason. I'm not even gonna bring up the politics of it, the wheels were in motion before Trump's administration got involved. So there was a very good possibility,

[Alan Hahn]

Is that true, that we just didn't know anything about it?

[Peter Rosenberg]

They were going through it. And then FIFA sent out a statement, and listen, nobody trusts FIFA anyway. But they sent out the statement that this was all independently on them, that they were the ones that made the decision. They weren't influenced by anybody else. Whatever. It just, hey, it benefits us. But what I find really interesting, and there's a couple of articles that I read this morning about this, is that it just shows you how we're different than other countries. Like, the European people will tell you that they're very much the law of the land. Like, hey, that's what the judge said. That's what the ruling is. We'll abide by it. We don't do that in this country. We appeal, we fight, we protest, we argue. And then after we've exhausted every avenue, we'll go, okay, you win. I'll take the L. So that's what's different about us. You know, that that's why the Belgium coach is freaking out. Like, wait a minute, he's got to play. The attitude here would be, and I've heard this analogy a few times, too, that let's say. Let's say Wemby got suspended for Game 6, but there was no Game 6. But let's say he was, and all of a sudden it was rescinded. Mike Brown of the Knicks wouldn't complain. He would be like, all right, we'll beat him anyway. Like, that's our attitude. So I kind of like that in that sense of, hey, at the end of the day, you want all the best players to play, and you want to beat the team when they're at their best. But it just shows you the difference and really would come down fundamentally on why the United States has never really clicked with soccer to begin with. Is that it kind of. We talked about it all last week. Like, their rules aren't kind of like the rules of sport. They. They go about things differently than we do here. And I think this is an example of when we feel we're wrong, we're gonna fight about it. Where other, especially in Europe, they're kind of like, all right, listen, the ruling was the rule. So let's just abide by it and let's move on. And I kind of like that about us. Well, I love that about us.

[Don La Greca]

Well, let's start with the fact that here we are now all engaged in this World cup that's again in our hemisphere, but yet we didn't know how we'd be. Right. So give credit to the men's national team for what they've done this far.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don La Greca]

To make us actually give a rip about tonight's game, Monday Night Football. Like we're into this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, right. Well the numbers I'm sure are going to be, yeah, they're going to make the 30 million.

[Don La Greca]

Right, of course. But it's like, let's start there. Like the fact that people care enough about this that we're all into it. Let's just start there. Now the rest of it is there was always going to be some sort of asterisk on this game going in before there was any change in the red card. There was going to be, you know, one of their top players couldn't play in this game because of a bogus red card that no one agreed with and it was poorly figured out. Right. So you have that part. So if they had lost that game, we had a built in excuse. Well, you know what, that shouldn't have been a red card. We lost one of our top players, it affected our offense and we ended up losing the game that we maybe could have won if we didn't have, if we had our guy in place, if that didn't happen. So that was in your back pocket. The problem is is that now the whole thing's been flipped. Now it's that that little bit of where everybody now can have some sympathy for you. Oh, it's gone now. It's flipped.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Don La Greca]

And now it's gone the other way which is, oh, the big country that gets what it's want. Host country, you know, host country, sure, but, but you know, just swing it for a minute and you get what you want. And now you better win this game because if you don't says a lot about how, you know, you really aren't up to it anyway and you needed to almost you tried the rules, tried

[Alan Hahn]

to bend the rules to try to

[Don La Greca]

win and it didn't work. The this now puts more pressure on the American team. It's unfair, but it's there. So the only thing you can do now is win because you're not going to really not going to win either way, which then brings you to Trying to win a quarterfinal that.

[Alan Hahn]

Against either Portugal or Spain, which it would be incredible to do that anyway.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don La Greca]

Which they haven't done since, what, 2002.

[Peter Rosenberg]

2002 was the last time they were in the.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah. So we're talking about, like, that. That's all that's left is to do. But the problem is, is that it's caused a distraction. But one way or another was going to be an asterisk on this game tonight.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I wanted to mention the. Giannis Infantino, the president of the FIFA, issued a statement and just a couple of highlights. FIFA's judicial bodies are independent. They operate autonomously, applying the FIFA disciplinary code, and decide cases based on the actual regulations and the specific facts before them. Another part. Yes, I regularly discuss matters. This is a quote from Giannis Infantino. Yes, I regularly discuss matters related to FIFA World cup with the president of the United States. And on this matter, I did receive calls from President Trump, just as I received calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives from around the world on any different issue. During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involved FIFA's independent judicial bodies, and that the case would be decided in due course. So, according to FIFA, this would have happened anyway. So. Hey, I know a lot of people don't want to believe FIFA. They believe it's corrupt. Believe what you want to believe. The point is, Baligan's playing, or how Peter pronounced it. I was hearing Baligan. But you gave it.

[Alan Hahn]

There's no way it's Baligan. Listen, I'm. No, no, no, it's fine. I'm not judging you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm not judging you. That's what I was hearing.

[Don La Greca]

There'. Giannis either. That's Antenna Kumpo.

[Alan Hahn]

Right, Right.

[Don La Greca]

It's Yanni.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, but it's spelled the same.

[Alan Hahn]

I just feel I don't want to be tested here. No, I'm not tested.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't tap out anything.

[Don La Greca]

Here's what I want to do. I want to all admit he did most of these games. Most of these names we're going to struggle with. Like, these are not. These are not common names, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. What.

[Michael Kay]

What name? I've heard.

[Anthony]

Am I wrong?

[Alan Hahn]

They're saying Baligan on tv.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm hearing Baligan.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I just come to a consensus.

[Don La Greca]

What do we got?

[Alan Hahn]

I can't imagine that his name is pronounced like Randy Milligan's last name. Okay, so what is it?

[Don La Greca]

What is it?

[Alan Hahn]

I would think his name. His first name is Folarin. Right, Right.

[Don La Greca]

They Call him.

[Alan Hahn]

But they call him.

[Don La Greca]

Of course they do.

[Alan Hahn]

Because I'm not trying with.

[Don La Greca]

You got to call him.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. It's too much. I imagine it's Folarin Balogun.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right. But you're assuming I'm hearing what other people are saying.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm just reading, going how I'm gonna

[Peter Rosenberg]

go with the flow.

[Don La Greca]

Kevin Egan.

[Alan Hahn]

Don't you think Kevin Egan gonna be

[Don La Greca]

able to tell us?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, what are the.

[Alan Hahn]

What are. What. What do they say? What are the. What do people in the world say?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, well, Kevin Egan is going to join us, by the way, at 4:00'. Clock.

[Alan Hahn]

That's right.

[Don La Greca]

Voice of MLS.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes. And just a fan and a friend of mine from my. From his WWE days. Incredibly knowledgeable at soccer. Wonderful, wonderful man.

[Anthony]

So, guys, I'm still seeing Baligan on pronunciation guides.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, well, what. I think Peter's gone wrong. You know what I love about Peter? When he goes rogue, he'll fight it.

[Don La Greca]

He stays on.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm gonna fight it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm just gonna go with the flow with everybody.

[Anthony]

All right. Would you take him saying his own name? All right, let's hear it.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, he doesn't speak national team forward Baligan. And here's some things you should know about me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay, that was him. That was him.

[Don La Greca]

That was him.

[Alan Hahn]

They talked about him.

[Michael Kay]

Third.

[Alan Hahn]

Himself, Third person. Well, he was national team forward Baligan. And here's some things you should know about me.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah. Flo Baligan.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Here's some things you know about me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right?

[Don La Greca]

Like Tommy Halligan.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, well, then I'll get what the American ways guy. I mean, listen. That's what it is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, but it's him. I don't know if it's the American way. His parents way. Maybe his father decided to be that guy. You're right. But his father said, you know what? We're gonna make everybody look like an ass.

[Don La Greca]

Americanize your name.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That happens a lot, Peter. I see it in wacky all the time.

[Alan Hahn]

What do you mean? What do you mean?

[Peter Rosenberg]

There's a guy, his name is pronounced a different way in Sweden, but he's like everybody else says, wants to Americanize him. I had Jesper brat. His parents say, Jesper. I asked him how you went Proud. He says, jesper. I get corrected all the time. I was like. I talked to him. He said, Jasper, what am I supposed to do? The guy told me, yeah, I guess you're right.

[Alan Hahn]

Source. But I guess also you grow up in a certain place, right? Like if he grew up in Nigeria, I'm guessing his name pronunciation would be different than growing up in England or America.

[Don La Greca]

Like anything.

[Alan Hahn]

So everyone calls you Baligan. Your name's Baligan.

[Don La Greca]

But. But again, this just brings me back to once again, like, like, look, look at where we are at this point right now, where we are not only arguing over pronunciations and names and everything else we're learning about this stuff. We're. We're admitting. Like, look, we like to pretend or we like, least put in the work to be experts on sports that talk about things and going on, especially in New York.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right, right.

[Don La Greca]

This is. This is not that for us.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But that doesn't mean we shouldn't talk about.

[Don La Greca]

No, no. And that's my point.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And.

[Don La Greca]

And it's okay. We're. We're caught up in it. We're in it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, that's what's interesting.

[Don La Greca]

I think this. Make this. That's what makes this fun.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But. And listen, we go through it with hockey, Allen and I, is that we should be embraced by the soccer community. Not like disrespected like, oh, you guys don't know you're wrist. But do you want us in around.

[Alan Hahn]

But who's. But who's actually saying, but who's doing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, you do get the snobs, because I just don't. On social media because I didn't participate.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But people like, no, there was that they were defending the red cars. Like, this is just how it is and he's not gonna come back. And then he comes back and like,

[Don La Greca]

listen, I had a friend of mine tell me when we were having fun with the time thing. Yeah, right. Friend of mine who's deep roots in soccer said he was embarrassed for me and our show.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, I understand.

[Don La Greca]

And I'm like, we're having fun with it.

[Michael Kay]

But.

[Don La Greca]

But understand also, we. We are new to this.

[Alan Hahn]

But see, but we're learning new.

[Michael Kay]

Dot.

[Alan Hahn]

Even Don. This is like his sixth World cup on the end. We're not that new.

[Don La Greca]

What does it tell you, though? It's the snobs are out there.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, yes. They say that's why I love it.

[Don La Greca]

If you're going to talk about my sport, if you're not an expert, then

[Alan Hahn]

don't talk about it. Hold on, hold on. There's a middle ground here, though. Real quick. There's a middle ground. Yes, of course it's snobby to say I was embarrassed for you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Blah, blah, blah.

[Alan Hahn]

That's a bit much. However, it. We can all admit it is funny and borderline ridiculous that this is like the third World cup since I've been here. And not like it happens once per World Cup.

[Don La Greca]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

We literally talk about the time every time we discuss.

[Don La Greca]

Hilarious.

[Alan Hahn]

It's hilarious. You have to at least own. It's ridiculous. If not, we should be embarrassed.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But we opened the show goofy. It was just happened because we were in the moment was going on. What was it?

[Alan Hahn]

Norway.

[Don La Greca]

And the extra time last night was like 11 minutes. Did you see that?

[Anthony]

Oh, yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But we got a response. And people call. I mean, people have to realize. The soccer community has to realize as big a deal as this is, the majority of people that are listening are like us.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, that is true.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They parachute in every four years. And I don't want to be told we embarrassed ourselves. We didn't embarrass ourselves. Okay? Nope. We. The only reason we would embarrass ourselves if we came on. Told you. We're soccer experts and this is how we feel. We're admitting we're not. At least me and Alan are not.

[Alan Hahn]

Absolutely not.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Are not soccer experts. And we're just having some fun with something, you know, and it's not. First of all, it's just an opinion anyway. So how do we embarrass. I smack this guy in his head.

[Alan Hahn]

Right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

His head. Don't introduce him to me. Yeah, we embarrassed ourselves. Believe me, I'm embarrassed myself all the way to the bank.

[Don La Greca]

Okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yo, yo. Still cash in a check every two weeks. What are you doing? I hope he's anybody paying to hear your opinion. Good.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, I will say. I mean, listen, Michael, literally cannot discuss this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And before you, I'm not making a lot of money, but I do take it to the bank.

[Michael Kay]

Right?

[Alan Hahn]

Just to be clear, it's not that much. There's no paying. It's better than Moe's. Yeah, no, listen, let's.

[Don La Greca]

I just love that we're talking about it.

[Alan Hahn]

No, it's fun. And that's. That's what makes this controversial. And obviously the phone lines are completely jammed. So let's just hear from the people. But that is the hard part, guys. You are dealing with an organization in FIFA that even prior to this year, everyone considers one of the most corrupt in the world.

[Don La Greca]

Corrupt.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The.

[Alan Hahn]

Before the tournament started. Okay? And guys, I swear to you, I'm listening to all the listeners out there who think they hate me because of my political beliefs. I promise I'm gonna do everything in my power to choke down any political thoughts you think that were gonna come from me today. Cause I really just wanna enjoy the game. But we can all Agree with this part, and it's not overly political. It's what happened. It's in a Trump. President Trump and FIFA have been cozying up for the last couple of years. We've seen it multiple times. He was already. He already presented a trophy at a FIFA tournament a couple of years ago before the World Cup. They made up a FIFA Peace Prize and presented it to him in front of the world. He has announced he will be presenting the World cup trophy. So there has been this burgeoning relationship that you cannot ignore. It is a fact, regardless what your party is. To Don's point, they may have very well already been looking into this. Like, damn, this is stupid. They're going to be missing one of their best players in an important game for a call we got wrong. Totally could be a reasonable conversation, even though it hasn't happened since 1964, where someone's suspension was basically suspended during the World Cup. They thought, we're gonna do it, but once the word gets out and, you know, officially, and now President Trump has commented on it and said, I called. Here's what I said. Once that becomes official, it's just hard. Regardless of your political affiliation. Not like, ah, it's a little funky. There's just no way around it. So, listen, I'm putting it behind me. I'm. The way I choose to look at it, the way Allen did, which is that I don't think it was a red card in the first place. So, listen, we didn't all of a sudden become the favorite in the World cup overnight. We are still an absolute dog in this tournament.

[Don La Greca]

Right?

[Alan Hahn]

So I'm not all of a sudden gonna act like because we have Baligan, that means, oh, that's it. It's in the bag. We were gonna be a dog going into this game with Baligan or without him. If they win somehow, they'll be a superdog against the winner of Portugal and Spain on Friday. So there's no reason to not enjoy, in my opinion, what this team has been doing throughout the tournament, which to me, as an outsider like Don was talking about, who floats in a very passionate way. But I come in every four years, and this has been by far the best they've looked in the 32 years that I've been watching this World cup team. So, damn it, I'm going to enjoy.

[Don La Greca]

You're going to try to. Anyway, before we get to calls, let me give you a ring.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Do it.

[Don La Greca]

You know, I've been telling you about the project. They're still working Michael and his son Zach are there but the doors in I got it from Rings End and it's beautiful and it's why again, if you're going to look for windows and doors or anything else, kitchens, things to update or upgrade your home, check out Rings End. So they are, by the way, not a national chain. They are regional. They're in the Northeast so they know this area. They know exactly what you need for your home. They have eight full service lumber yards in Connecticut and Westchester county and 12 freestanding paint centers as well. Ring's End family owned and operated since 1902. So you know they've been around a long time. And like I said, they're in the Northeast. This is their area. And by the way, if you can't go to any of their locations, you can always shop [e-mail] that's ringsend.com as

[Peter Rosenberg]

you know, managing maintenance, repair and operations is never easy. But for the ones who always rise to the challenge, Grainger has your back. From professional grade products you can count on to fast, dependable delivery, they're there to help you keep things running smoothly. Plus their technical product specialists are here to help answer your toughest questions. And because Grainger knows safety is always a priority, they're committed to being your partner in protecting both your people and your facilities. Call 1-800-GRAINGER clickgranger.com or just stop by.

[Alan Hahn]

MLB TV on ESPN is your home

[Don La Greca]

for every out of market game, live or on demand. Catch your favorite teams and players plus MLB Network and ESPN app features like multi view, syncing your stats, key plays, bets and fantasy all in one place. Sign up now for MLB TV in the ESPN app. Separate subscriptions required. Blackouts and other terms apply. Visit stream.espn.com MLB TV TV for more information. Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don La Greca]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think basically the theme of the first half hour of the show has been let's enjoy a game tonight. Let's get to the sports of it. Let's see if this team can advance to the do you call it the Elite eight? I'm. I'm so used to saying that when

[Alan Hahn]

I don't now that I've ever heard listen, can't you just apply that to any tournament saleed it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know it's a college basketball thing which is eerily similar too. Back to what we're talking about. Like don't talk about College basketball all year. All of a sudden, it's march and people are. Everybody's all in teams to make run.

[Don La Greca]

That's fair.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There's nothing wrong, I think, with the. Because I went through it when the USA won the Olympics, okay. All of a sudden, my sport becomes center stage. So I've got to live with a lot of people parachuting in, right? The fraud. You got to kind of ease up on the whole fraud thing, all right? Do you not want these people. Do you not want us to talk about it? Do you want us. Not that. You got to be a diehard that takes the fun out of you.

[Don La Greca]

Wait a second.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We're all on board. And that means there's going to be some people that are yo. Yos that don't know how to pronounce things. Don't know what red cards are. But you know what? The more the merrier, man.

[Don La Greca]

What are we supposed to. Like, this is. This is a great. It's a big event and we're all into it. We're not making it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And you could be.

[Don La Greca]

Something's going on that none of us are into. Nobody cares about. We're like, hey, you know, Daytona's happening. We're all of a sudden talking about Daytona, right? Like, we're not. That's not what's happening here. I don't know how you feel, Don. Like, we always joke about, if it's in my backyard, would turn a hose on him, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

That kind of thing. I don't feel that way about this. Like, the la.

[Don La Greca]

I watched the last game and I said, that's it. I'm in. Like, I'm in. Like, this is. There's something fun and compelling about this. It's really cool, the atmosphere like that. Like, you guys were talking about it last night. I left my phone on the charger last night, so I wasn't in the group, but I was watching that. That Mexico England game.

[Anthony]

Dude.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, yeah. I didn't know if you were in or out. John and I were guessing whether you were in.

[Don La Greca]

No, the phone was away. I saw it in the morning and I. Sunday night.

[Alan Hahn]

You're enjoying your. Just listen yourself and joke.

[Don La Greca]

We're cuddling. But I'm. But I was like, the game was insane.

[Alan Hahn]

I wrote John and I said, if you're not, like, into this, listen, if you missed it, you missed it. But if you flipped by Mexico England last night and you call yourself a sports fan, I don't care if you know every stat stat about the Yankees

[Don La Greca]

or the Islanders alone.

[Alan Hahn]

If you could turn that off. You're not a sports fan. You could.

[Don La Greca]

You couldn't turn it off if you were channel surfing, which I guess you can't do anymore. But if you were channel surfing, it

[Alan Hahn]

was on my fox. For me, I mean, I'm saying.

[Don La Greca]

No, what I mean by you can't do it anymore because with cable, it's so much slower. Oh, it is sort of the guide.

[Alan Hahn]

It doesn't hit the same.

[Don La Greca]

Like channel surfing back in the day was.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, no. Hit butt. So true.

[Don La Greca]

But if you had that, if you were popping through different things, there's no way just the sound of that stadium. Don. It was. I remember the first time I. The first version of FIFA from EA Sports that came out and I was working for them at the time, and I popped it in and he's like, if you can hook up your SEGA to your stereo, do it. So I did. And it like, they had the crowd. The FIFA game had the crowd and the songs and all that stuff. And I'm like, this is the greatest game I've ever.

[Alan Hahn]

Wait, wait, you. You were able. The first FIFA game and you turned.

[Don La Greca]

Oh, the first FIFA you take, they had a cable that went SEGA to your. Like you could do the. One of those called the RCA jacks. Yeah, rca. And so you plug it in and you just crank it up on the auxiliary. And I mean, the sound of that was similar to that first sound that I heard last night in that building.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, they said it. I mean, the color guy was like, this is the. In the 30 years I've been covering soccer, this is the loudest I've ever heard.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah, I heard him say that. And then the other part of it, to me that was compelling, was in a place that should have been as intimidating a place you could play in 80,000, 7,300ft above sea level. And here's Harry Kane and them boys. Like, yeah, this ain't nothing, right? How cool were they?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, they weren't rattled at all.

[Alan Hahn]

They're the. I was so.

[Don La Greca]

That was impressive.

[Alan Hahn]

I was incredibly impressed by their ability to hold off Mexico, especially when everyone was saying that in the last 25 minutes. It's just. It's going to get at that point, the air is going to get so hard on. On foreign players. And the fact that they literally had to deal with an onslaught the entire last half hour.

[Don La Greca]

And the keeper, I forget his name, was unreal. It was unreal.

[Alan Hahn]

Every. The last 60 minutes of game time of that game was some of the most fun I've had watching Sports.

[Don La Greca]

I completely.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, let's talk to people.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, let's talk to the people.

[Don La Greca]

That's why I'm into it. I just want. That's why I'm drawn in. The World cup has been successful because it's drawing you in.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We fall in love with sports for the competition, and when you get moments like that, it's hard not to get caught up in it.

[Don La Greca]

There you go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's go to Michael and these Rutherford. You get it started on Don Hanna. Rosenberg. What's up, man?

[Michael Kay]

Good afternoon, folks. Happy Monday.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hopefully you guys had a great Fourth of July weekend, right?

[Michael Kay]

God bless America.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes. I just want to touch on something real quick. When it comes to the. The Baligan, you know, red card reversal,

[Michael Kay]

this is something we've seen FIFA do before. They did it for Ronaldo late last

[Peter Rosenberg]

year, where he got a red card for elbowing a player in the face,

[Michael Kay]

and they suspended it for a year.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So this is, you know, I don't

[Michael Kay]

think Trump really, quote, unquote, reversed the decision or his, you know, his call really swayed him in one direction or another. I think just FIFA knows what's good

[Peter Rosenberg]

for them, and what's good for them is having an American. It's not at full strength. You're right. You're right in that sense.

[Don La Greca]

But also making sure Ronaldo can play in the World cup, that's good for them.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I mean, that's why it's not apples to apples, because you're talking about something that happened a while ago, as opposed to this was the last game that us played, and Baligan's not Ronaldo. Okay, but, but, but, but there are similarities. You're right.

[Alan Hahn]

But in terms of the ability for them to get eyeballs at this moment, it's a big deal. It's. It's not yet for sure. It's not Ronaldo, but, like, Ronaldo's not.

[Michael Kay]

Can I just counter that with a quick point, though?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sure. Can I just counter that with a quick point? How bad how would it have looked

[Michael Kay]

if Ronaldo Fisk missed his first World cup game for this tournament?

[Alan Hahn]

Probably wouldn't have looked good for the sport either.

[Michael Kay]

One of the biggest stars on the planet. That red card suspension would have made him miss that first game.

[Anthony]

This.

[Michael Kay]

For this tournament.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right, but. But when we're comparing the two, they. They did reverse the Ronaldo decision, as they did the Baligan. But I think that's where it's not apples to apples because of the two players.

[Don La Greca]

The fact that it happened in the tournament in elimination play.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But Remember, controversy. It's helping us, and it's helping the ratings for the U.S. but this decision, if you're looking for a decision to please the majority, the decision would have been, correct me if I'm wrong, Peter, to leave it alone.

[Alan Hahn]

Correct.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This did not appease the majority of people. It appeased the minority of people. Like, I don't think FIFA is interested in what Fox's numbers are tomorrow. They're worried about the whole world right now. From what I understand, the whole world's ticked off at FIFA.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, and that's the part that makes you think it's fishy and it's specific to the US and they wanted to

[Don La Greca]

please the US which is why what I hate about. About it is that it brings in now an unnecessary level of. Of criticism, but also of skepticism whether or not. Whether you win this game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But my point is the reversal. Ronaldo was the popular decision and helped FIFA. Everybody knew why, because he's one of the biggest names in the sport.

[Alan Hahn]

But do we know. We don't know how other people felt about at the time.

[Don La Greca]

No, we don't.

[Alan Hahn]

Like other. Other. I'm sure. Listen. I'm sure Argentina fans didn't care for it and Brazil fans didn't care for it.

[Don La Greca]

Maybe.

[Alan Hahn]

By the way, did Brazil stink yesterday? Oh, my God. I don't know if I've ever seen them that bad in that big a spot in the 32 years that I've been watching them. That was. Oh, they were putrid.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Juan Carlos is in Tampa. You're on, Don Hanna, Rosenberg.

[Alan Hahn]

Hey, Juan Carlos.

[Michael Kay]

What's up, boys?

[Anthony]

All right, look, I've been a fan

[Michael Kay]

of this sport for over three weeks. I'm pushing for usa. I'm glad we got our boy back,

[Alan Hahn]

but we need to talk about something.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What's that?

[Michael Kay]

Okay, I'm not hating on the West Virginia song. It's classic. I just feel it's a little too slow for our victory song.

[Don La Greca]

Oh, country.

[Michael Kay]

I. Can. I have two songs. Yeah.

[Anthony]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

You have a suggestion?

[Michael Kay]

Yes. Oh, okay.

[Alan Hahn]

It's one thing to complain.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's another.

[Alan Hahn]

Go ahead.

[Michael Kay]

The White Stripes are an American band.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Michael Kay]

Seven Nation army is a chant known globally around the world, in every stadium. Huge fumble there. I feel like the other one. Don't Stop Believing by Journey.

[Alan Hahn]

I will. I would take either of them over Country Road.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What's the origin story behind Country Road?

[Alan Hahn]

I would love to find that. Maybe when we have Kevin Egan on

[Peter Rosenberg]

the show at 4 o'.

[Alan Hahn]

Clock. He knows. I don't know why that's Our.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm sure they weren't thinking about how cool the song was. When the St. Louis Blues won their cup behind Gloria. You know, a 40 year old song that was kind of stale, but that just was their song. But I thought there was an origin story behind it.

[Don La Greca]

I believe it's just the American crowd which started to sing the song.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, if you're gonna choose a song, maybe you chose something better, but this was organic, so that's why.

[Don La Greca]

And you also. It's a crowd can sing it, so it can't be that fast of a song. Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But Don't Stop Believing would work. Don't Stop Believing if it just didn't click. This cluck clicked for some reason. I don't know why.

[Don La Greca]

All right, what do you got? You got some research?

[Alan Hahn]

I'm doing the research.

[Don La Greca]

Or you want to take a call?

[Anthony]

I have something too. Go ahead. So apparently what happened, boys, was that before this tourney starts, FIFA asks all nations for a playlist of songs to play for warm ups, goals and wins. And US consulted with players and people within the organization about what songs to submit. When it came to picking songs for wins, they wanted to pick a song that was both representative of American artists and would be great sing alongs for the crowd. According to the federation, the final list was Living on a Prayer by Jon Bon Jovi, Sweet Caroline by Neil diamond and Take Me Home, Country Roads by John Dent.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know what?

[Anthony]

So out of those three, that's your win.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I got it right?

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because if I gotta hear the Sweet Caroline, I mean, honestly, I remember.

[Alan Hahn]

Listen, I like. By the way, I just want to say I like Country Roads. It's a good song, very singable.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And that's the point.

[Alan Hahn]

It is singable. I. What I liked about White. White Stripes isn't as singable. What I liked about his suggestion there is though. It's more inclusive. White Stripes feels like. It feels like everything. It feels like rock. It feels like just. You're at a game and you hear. Everyone knows it has that song. Whereas Country Roads, everybody knows that too.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Even if you don't like it, you know it.

[Alan Hahn]

How loosely you throw everybody. I'm sorry, a 22 year old. There are people who do not know that song.

[Anthony]

No, but Peter at.

[Don La Greca]

That's a bar song.

[Anthony]

Sporting events. You do? Yeah, because West Virginia, obviously, but that's very popular with the college team. So you hear it a lot.

[Don La Greca]

That's a big bar song.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm not saying, by the way, the

[Anthony]

team is made up of 20 something year olds.

[Michael Kay]

Correct.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So they knew that I'm not. Listen, I'm a fan of the song. I like John Denver, but, like, I can. I just think it's just part of. You hear it all the time. Even if you don't like it. You hear it. You know the words. Not even know why you know the word.

[Alan Hahn]

But they're doing a whole gimmick here with the music, by the way. I. I don't remember this ever being so much of a thing.

[Don La Greca]

It's a thing.

[Alan Hahn]

After England went one yesterday and they play Wonderwall, and the whole team sits there singing. There's like. It literally feels like it has an integration.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But he just told you that they were asking for song.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no, it was a thing. It was clearly a. But a designed, of course, thing.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

I like Country Roads. I just, you know, I think we could have done better, but it's okay. I'll take it. It'll become my favorite song if they keep winning.

[Don La Greca]

Three choices. It was the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Those three.

[Alan Hahn]

Of those three was right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because this week, Carolyn.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no, no, no, no, no. Of those three.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Done with that. I like Neil diamond, but no.

[Alan Hahn]

And also that song's done with it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But Country Roads, I'm done with it. From. I listen, if the song comes on the radio, it's a different story. But all those times in college when I'd be at a club and then they played us on, everybody going up,

[Alan Hahn]

I was like, oh, it's just like.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's like Mony Moany. Yes, Mony Moni is a good song. You go to a club and then they. I can't say with the chant.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm like, stop it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm sick of that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know what I'm talking about?

[Alan Hahn]

100%. I just feel like it's just like for this to be like, this is America. It's such a specific. The words are so specific. The kind of music is so specific. The region it's talking about is so. It's like we're all sitting here in New York in this metropolis.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, I don't really get country road.

[Alan Hahn]

Take Me Home would be like, I don't know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's what's amazing about this country.

[Anthony]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We're too many countries that we've got. Everything's different. Like, what is going to hit for everybody? Because people that live in New York City are completely different than people that live in town.

[Alan Hahn]

It's a fun side conversation.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, how could you find it so universal?

[Don La Greca]

Generic American song.

[Michael Kay]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I Don't Stop Believing might have worked better.

[Don La Greca]

Born and raised in South Detroit. That's again, by the way, at least

[Alan Hahn]

it's the dead middle of the country.

[Don La Greca]

Dead, middle, dead.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's dead. And apparently from what I understand, because they do it at Red Wing games.

[Don La Greca]

There is no South Detroit, but there

[Peter Rosenberg]

is no South Detroit. And it's, it's a guy that like the band from the Bay Area singing about south. They just threw it in there because it worked lyrically. Like they, I don't think they were trying to hit anything.

[Don La Greca]

It's like speedball.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, I'll say this, if the battle ends up becoming Wonderwall versus Country Roads, I think we're in trouble. Wonderwall's I'm taking one.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There might be other trouble. Desert. He's really good.

[Don La Greca]

Watching England tells me that there will not be. It will not be two. And oh, in July.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, it could be tough. There's a lot of. There's, there could be some.

[Don La Greca]

But 250 years later, more calls.

[Peter Rosenberg]

1-800-919-3776. Apple TV's Kevin Egan's going to join us at 4:00'.

[Michael Kay]

Clock.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We're going to recap the weekend coming up at 4:30 as well.

[Alan Hahn]

Not only that, Don, because we're sitting here talking about the biggest stage. How about FanDuel changing the game on the biggest stage? Because sometimes when your player gets subbed off, you saw it last night Late with Harry Kane. But guess what? Your bet will continue. Because the sub comes in, the bet stays on. That's FanDuel Super Sub. So if your player gets subbed out, the bet stays in. That's right. Player leaves the match, bet continues. So if you want to bet Baligan tonight, if he were to somehow come out late, guess what? The bet continues. So you're still in it till the final whistle. Visit FanDuel.com local to get started now. Let there be goals this summer on FanDuel21 physically present New York. For help with the gambling problem, call 877-8-Open Y or text OPENY 467-369.

[Don La Greca]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don La Greca]

Catch this show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's go to Griffin in Connecticut. New York, ESPN New York. What's up, Griffin?

[Michael Kay]

Hey guys. First off, Peter, by the way, we are favorites at Ed's Belljum. Not underdogs.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know I fluctuated, but now they're.

[Alan Hahn]

I understand we landed on a slight Favorite, but if you've been watching this team as long as I have, they ain't a favorite tonight. This is a. This is still very tough sledding.

[Don La Greca]

This is usually a pick them, though.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, this is.

[Alan Hahn]

And it basically is. But this is. This is as far as we ever get. We just happen to have won one more game because they added the round of 32. So, you know, if you.

[Michael Kay]

I feel a lot more confident heading into today, even if we have Baligan or not, because I have not been impressed by Belgium all tournament. This is a Belgium team that by the way, should have lost last. Last week round. They should even been here. They were able to pull out late in the game scoring three goals. They got a penalty in the box that was able to win them in penalty kicks. But this is a Belgium team that looked awful in their group stage.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep.

[Michael Kay]

Iran.

[Alan Hahn]

And forgot who they started off with in their group. And then they were bad against.

[Michael Kay]

They were batted in Senegal. So they have not looked that impressive. And so if the US comes out Russia fighting like they have all tournament, I really feel good that we can win moving forward, though. I don't know if we can do that. But I think if we come out like we have all tournament and we fight, I think we ease, I think we can win. And I. This whole Baligan thing, to me, even if we didn't, shouldn't have even happened in the first place because it wasn't a red card. It was the most silliest thing in the world. Messi did the same thing. They didn't review it at all. But Baligan does it and they got to review it and then they come out with a red card that shouldn't have been in the first place. And we couldn't appeal it at all. So that's why this whole thing happened. If we were allowed to appeal it, none of this would have happened. So this. This whole thing got all screwed up before then.

[Alan Hahn]

I agree.

[Michael Kay]

So. And we already played with a man down for what is up the minute. And we fought and we ended up scoring another goal.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's what makes the whole thing so nuanced is that many people shouldn't have been a red card to begin with.

[Anthony]

I don't like.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So they feel like there's justice here.

[Alan Hahn]

Right. But which, by the way, I do feel that way. It's just the way it happened and how. And how rare this is that that's just what.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's very clunky. But have you seen.

[Alan Hahn]

Have you seen the angle though? Of what? Like not the zoom in on the guy's foot bending, which looks terrible. Like the actual physical collision between them looks terrible when you see their feet tangling. But when you zoom out and see the challenge, the challenge comes from the Bosnian guy. It's not Baligan's challenge. Baligan's approaching the ball and basically it's challenged from behind and then ends up tumbling into him. So the idea that he would get a red card when he didn't initiate the contact, it's, it's, it is a ridiculous thing.

[Don La Greca]

Also to pretend that there was any type of intent there. Which. What type of a superhero would you have to be to be able to control your body enough to put a foot in the back of someone's leg in that situation?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's so interesting. But just like any, anything in sports where there's a suspension or a controversial play, looking at social media, I've seen people that are soccer experts swear that it was a red card. Others say it wasn't. Like, that's sports crazy.

[Alan Hahn]

Griffin was saying one thing though, that I do want to push back on him. On, which is that here's what I'm not going to do. I am not going to. And I'm older than Griffin. I've seen it longer than him. I'm not going to get used to the fact that the US has played this well and as a result expect them to win a game against Belgium tonight. I have watched too many games over the last eight World Cups where they looked like pure horse manure.

[Don La Greca]

I get this.

[Alan Hahn]

So I. While I. While I would love for them to be what they've been, and I think if they are that team that they've been that we've seen so far for like 75% of the time, I think they win pretty easily tonight.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I do.

[Alan Hahn]

But I can't. It's a 32 year period. And I got to look at it, the whole thing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is the reason why Allen gets it.

[Anthony]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because he went. He just lived through it.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don La Greca]

That's what I was going to say. I was literally going to say that he's like, I know exactly how this feels. Because 13 straight playoff games, every single game, like every single game was, you can't lose this one.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Or why would they lose? Look what they just did.

[Don La Greca]

They can't keep winning like this. A loss is coming. They're always going to come. That's the whole thing.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep.

[Don La Greca]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

And that's where I'm at.

[Don La Greca]

And that's. That's where you. You're probably going to be at.

[Alan Hahn]

And so it's hard to. So Griffin is younger, and so to him, it's like, yeah, why not? They've played great. They'll win. And it's like, because I've seen. I sat in a small production studio back at the West End Building in a. In a room with Andrew Gunling and J.J. devaney, watching the U.S. lose to Trinidad and Tobago, lay a complete egg on a game. Don, do you remember that game? The qualifying game? We were trying to. It wasn't even on, like, real tv. It was like, we were in such a bad place. It was on such bad tv.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah. Because I didn't respect them like this. It was sucks.

[Alan Hahn]

And they laid a complete egg and then didn't qualify for the World Cup.

[Don La Greca]

What you're talking about, though, is what I loved about the Mexican team had, like, a huge fall, as we know. Right. But they had this saying that I actually saved it because I loved it. Ecc. Right. And it's basically part of a phrase that they use saying, I know we won't, but what if we do? You know what I mean?

[Alan Hahn]

That's great.

[Don La Greca]

And that's kind of like, we need to adopt that phrase.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I know we won't, but what if we.

[Don La Greca]

What if we do?

[Alan Hahn]

And I did think for a minute, man, Mexico was going to do it. I was. I'll be honest, I was full on rooting for Mexico. I would have loved to have seen them win at home. They.

[Don La Greca]

I was so impressed with England and just how, like, they were stoic in what seemed to be an absolute crucible of a place.

[Alan Hahn]

I know. I know. An insane place to play. But these are both teams that have just not gone very far in a very long time.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah. And a whole city. And it meant so much to them. Right. Everything that country's been through. What did you say also about the England fans? You said something about the England fan. If I'm a fan, it was eight.

[Alan Hahn]

I couldn't believe how many there were. And I'm like, if England wins and I'm leaving Azteca after that game, I'm taking my shirt off and I'm speaking Spanish.

[Anthony]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm not walking out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Walk out dejected.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

After this level of disappointment, they're sopping wet. In the words of Don Lagreca, they're sitting in their own filth for hours. Sopping wet. And you just lost this. And you have to wait four more years. That's the thing that makes the world famous.

[Don La Greca]

Fans were doing outside the England.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, yeah. We should get into that.

[Don La Greca]

It's crazy.

[Alan Hahn]

They were ridiculous.

[Don La Greca]

It was very much like Patriots fans. Anthony around?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Anthony, talk to me.

[Anthony]

Hi, Don.

[Michael Kay]

Hi, Peter.

[Anthony]

Hi, Alan. I'm doing good. How you doing? All right. New York, you need to hear this. This summer, all lines lead the Champs Sports Fan Central Station. A soccer pop up shop open right in the heart of the city at 125 W. 33rd St. This is the soccer destination in New York. Jerseys for every national team you ride with. Usa, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and way more. Maybe get yourself a customized number 27 with the word article on the top of it because that is why Baligan can play tonight all under one roof. If you want to gear up, rep your country and feel the energy of the city Champs Sports fan Central Station, 125 West 33rd Street. That is where you need to be. And for all you Knicks fans, they have championship gear to celebrate your team's first title in 53 years.

[Don La Greca]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't want to know how the

[Don La Greca]

sausage is made, man. I just want to know. It's good. Hear more of Don, Alan and Peter

[Alan Hahn]

weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8

[Anthony]

80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app,

[Don La Greca]

and your smart speakers.