USA vs Türkiye post-match reactions, featuring Big Cat and PFT: Night Cup 06/25/26

Summary

Men in Blazers: USA vs Türkiye Post-Match Reactions (Night Cup 06/25/26)

Airdate: June 26, 2026 | Guests: Big Cat and PFT Commentator (Pardon My Take), Kyle Beckerman | Hosts: Roger Bennett & Michael Davies

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Episode Overview

This episode captures post-match reflections and wide-ranging discussion following the USA’s 3-2 loss to Türkiye in the Men's World Cup Group Stage. Despite fielding a heavily rotated side with group qualification already secure, the USMNT’s defeat to a resurgent Turkish team triggers debate about momentum, rotation, team chemistry, and the broader implications for American soccer’s identity and culture. Guests include former USMNT player Kyle Beckerman and comedic sports personalities Big Cat and PFT Commentator from Pardon My Take.

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Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. USMNT vs. Türkiye: The Fallout of Heavy Rotation

• Lineup & rotation:

  • US fielded nine new starters, including resting key stars like Christian Pulisic and all players on a yellow.
  • Coaches debated the balance between momentum and resting, with comparisons to NFL "rest-your-starters" scenarios (06:15, 41:04).
  • Many saw the result as pointing to the importance of chemistry, as the makeshift lineup failed to gel, especially defensively.
  • Quote: “All of them together, they look genuinely like they've never played football together before. And that is the risk you take.” — Michael Davies (07:36)

• Match summary:

  • USA started well: Austin Trusty scored in the opening minutes (08:00).
  • Defensive miscommunication and the lack of chemistry led to lapses that Türkiye capitalized on.
  • Turkey, motivated by pride and tactical lineup changes, countered fiercely, exposing the U.S. second string.
  • Pulisic's return in the second half was a positive, but the game ended with a Turkish winner in stoppage time (19:13, 19:33).

• Does the loss matter?

  • Panelists debated whether the game’s outcome affects tournament momentum or national morale. Most agreed the manner—conceding so late—was deflating (22:24).
  • Quote: “It's the manner of the defeat that hurts...that is such a hammer blow to your confidence.” — Michael Davies (21:53)

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2. Tactical & Psychological Insights

• Chemistry & leadership:
  • Lack of established leaders in the rotated side was noted.
  • Quote: “When you rotate that much...there’s a void in there.” — Kyle Beckerman (16:37)
  • Absence of a “dog”—the American concept that someone steps up in tough moments—was missing in this game (16:49).
• US advantages:
  • Kyle Beckerman emphasized the benefit of the U.S. playing in familiar, non-humid venues, suggesting this will pay off as other teams tire out due to climate and travel (26:32).
  • Quote: “We haven't even touched any humidity...these first games, being in the places they are, could help us in the long run.” — Kyle Beckerman (26:32)

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3. Broader Tournament & Cultural Reflections

• Comparing tournament approaches:
  • The danger of over-rotating before knockouts was debated, referencing the 2014 World Cup as comparison (25:23).
• Fan experience & American soccer identity:
  • Big Cat and PFT Commentator highlighted how US broadcast culture focuses excessively on celebrities in the stands, missing the authentic, raw emotion of global fandom (44:00).
  • Quote: “The World Cup is about fat, sunburnt English dudes with belly tattoos, old men crying...we’re getting none of that because they want to show us Brad Pitt.” — Big Cat (43:21)
  • Discussions on what makes American supporters unique vs. attempts to mimic European traditions; calls for authentic American elements like marching bands, “fourth quarter” signs, and rock anthems (50:39).
  • Quote: “We can't keep trying to copy...we have our own culture. Play some Metallica. Everyone wear black and let's try to scare everyone.” — Big Cat (50:39)
• Messi’s presence & universal greatness:
  • Messi's transcendent impact on fans and players is celebrated, noting how greatness is recognized across sports (59:36–61:32):
    • “Even if you're not a soccer fan and you watch Messi...it's like watching Steph Curry—you're watching something special.” — Big Cat (59:47)

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4. Other World Cup Results & Talking Points

• Group Stage wrap-up:
  • Brief but colorful recaps of other matches: Paraguay–Australia (27:59), Ecuador–Germany (29:59), Curacao–Ivory Coast, Japan–Sweden, Netherlands–Tunisia.
  • Scottish and Dutch supporter culture lauded; coverage of underdog stories (Curacao, Cape Verde).
• Uniforms & Branding:
  • Grievances aired about teams abandoning traditional kits for marketing reasons (“Why is Germany dressed like the Miami Dolphins?” — Big Cat, 52:25).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the loss and its significance

• “Of course it [matters]. That momentum is going to drop a little... you’re gonna have to pick that back up and create it again.” — Kyle Beckerman (20:49)
• “It’s not just that we’re winning games, we’re doing it in a style that’s entertaining.” — PFT Commentator (39:59)

On American soccer culture

• “Stop trying to copy European soccer culture. We have our own culture!” — Big Cat (50:39)
• “We need a thing. I don’t know what that thing is.” — Roger Bennett (51:27)

On USMNT’s depth

• “It’s clear that we don’t have the depth a lot of teams have...when we have to go to our bench, it’s not pretty.” — PFT Commentator (40:39)

On Lionel Messi

• “The first word that comes to mind: just Goat. He’s undeniable, unstoppable... a wizard.” — PFT Commentator (59:36)
• “No one is ever more alive than Lionel Messi, 30 yards out from goal with the ball at his feet.” — Michael Davies (60:35)

On supporters’ traditions

• “Let’s get a marching band out there. Let’s do the Penn State whiteout.” — Big Cat (52:13)
• “There will be a song that can kind of get America; that everyone knows the words to... that’s really important.” — Michael Davies (50:58)

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Important Timestamps

• [06:15] – Debate on rotation vs. continuity for USMNT
• [08:00] – Austin Trusty scores for USA
• [16:37] – The leadership/void issue with heavy squad rotation
• [19:13] – Pulisic comes on and nearly turns the tide
• [21:53] – “The manner of defeat” and its psychological impact
• [26:32] – Climate/travel advantage for the US team
• [44:00] – Extended riff on American sports culture, broadcast choices
• [50:39] – Debate about American fan traditions/identity
• [59:36] – Messi as global greatness and US star power

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Flow & Tone

• The episode is lively, self-deprecating, with plenty of dark humor typical of Men in Blazers and irreverence from Big Cat and PFT.
• There’s an engaging mix of humor and sharp tactical/psychological analysis—plenty of banter, but real insight on squad management and the unique American soccer journey.
• The hosts' and guests' emotional investment is clear—joking through pain, poking fun at American quirks, and earnestly searching for authentic expressions of fandom.

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Conclusion

This episode embodies the highs and lows of the evolving American soccer experience: tactical introspection after a gutting group-stage loss, candid culture critiques, and unfiltered love (and roasting) of the beautiful game—with calls for the US to cultivate authentic traditions. There’s optimism for the knockout phase, and recognition of how much this World Cup means for soccer’s broader growth in America.

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For more, visit meninblazers.com and catch future episodes for daily reactions, laughter, and a uniquely American take on global football.

Transcript

[Roger Bennett]

For nearly two decades, almost as long as Tim Ream has been in the U.S. men's National Team, All State has bat the growth of this game in every corner of this great footballing nation, from grassroots pitches to the biggest stages, they've been here believing in it, protecting its future. Because supporting soccer, it's not just about match days. And that's why All State offers affordable coverage at personalised rates, so you can spend less time worrying and and more time watching. Check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds. Visit allstate.com or call a local agent today. Allstate. You're in good hands. Potential savings vary subject to terms and availability. Allstate North America Insurance Company and Affiliates, Northbrook, Illinois. We are delighted to bring you the Men in Blazers City Guides presented by Visa, a joyously assembled guide to the best places to eat, drink and explore and watch the beautiful game across the country enjoyed. Aimed at helping fans experience the city as a local. It's built by you, our listeners, recommending some of the best small businesses in your communities, like the finest Fiat Cajun in Houston. Yes. The best burrito in San Francisco. Yes. Where to save a lemon pepper wet in Atlanta. Yes. Yes. Yes. A massive shout out to our sponsor Visa, who's made this guide possible. Visa gives local business owners the tools and support to be ready for moments exactly like this one. Welcoming you to enjoy the games this summer. Start planning your [e-mail] CityGuides A word from our friends at 14:40. The 2022 World Cup Final drew 1.5 billion viewers. It's 11 times this year's Super Bowl. To understand how football became the world's game and what drove it, listen to 1440 explores with financial Times journalist Simon Kuiper, who will give you the inside scoop into the depths of the tournament. Listen to 1440 explores wherever you get your podcasts. You're listening to the Men in Blazers Media Network, Suboptimal Radio. It didn't mean anything. Yeah, didn't mean anything. We didn't care about that, did we?

[Michael Davies]

No, it's fine.

[Roger Bennett]

It's not a big deal, is it? Felt like nothing. Felt like everything. Day 15 of the Cooper Das Kopas. Oh, another six pack of a game. Day 1 for each of Mo Salah's abs. The United States went second string against those air transplant merchants of Turkey. We paid the ultimate price for a punch in the down belows late a 3, 2 loss. What does it mean? We'll find out when we play two teams Bosnia and to Gavinia we'll get into that Ecuador shock. Germany showed football's a simple game 22 men chase a ball and the Ecuadorians always win. Netherlands looking like a Tronia man shaft growing into this tournament with menace. We also said farewell to pugnacious tiny little new friend Curacao. Oh, but we're going u S heavy tonight. Group stage ended. We've got big cap and pft a part of my take poise to join us. Oh, get your questions in now but we're here to go over all the action from sofi and around the nation where we are bus parked in LA we're with my friend the coach poacher words it's Mr. Rory Smith.

[Michael Davies]

How you doing, Roger? How you holding up?

[Roger Bennett]

Terrible. Great.

[Michael Davies]

Good stuff.

[Roger Bennett]

Normally care when my teams I love concede because I'm so used to it Everton but that one hurt alongside him. Oh, calm in the storm. One of my favorite to ever pull on a US jersey 58 caps, one incredible World cup two appearances on the bus now it's Mr. Kyle Beckerman.

[Kyle Beckerman]

Good to be back.

[Roger Bennett]

Oh, Kyle, I wish you were always on the bus. When I said that to Kyle, you had a face that. Yeah, I'm kind of glad I'm only on it occasion.

[Kyle Beckerman]

No, anytime, anytime.

[Roger Bennett]

Kyle has signed Maryland if you are observant which means he's leaving us tonight. I'm sad. Also joining us all of you in the chat@Nash Wave 29 Imagine two weeks ago. Imagine feeling frustrated after we win the group and don't win the third grain. Yeah, that's a bit of a dose of realism at Joel Fram says. Some ways I think I lost the best thing that could have happened for us. I like this one. Little taste of blood in our mouth in going into the knockouts will keep us on our toes. And mtos5 it literally doesn't matter. Kids like keep telling yourself that, right?

[Kyle Beckerman]

That's right. Keep telling.

[Roger Bennett]

Why it hurt so much that I

[Kyle Beckerman]

know it does, huh? I I think we just had so much momentum going that it just took a little air out.

[Roger Bennett]

I can't feel my legs. How does it look?

[Unidentified Female Speaker]

The wound?

[Roger Bennett]

Oh, let's get into it. US International Team 2 Turkey 3 to SoFi. Oh, there transplant boys. We came to try and make history tonight. We wanted to win three out of three for the first time in our existence to be perfect at Ronda Sanctimonious. Earlier in the chat we did our matchday live says why does it feel like November Turkey's on the menu Still Makes me laugh. But at the same time rare. Nothing to play for game for the United States raw. I'm not saying. I'm just saying since you stepped for in the United States, our men have been unstoppable. But we had lost nine straight to European teams going into this one. It is incredible. It's like mentally. Yeah. It's like proving ourselves to ourselves was really what we had the opportunity to do tonight.

[Michael Davies]

Yeah. And I think it was easy to look at what happened to Turkey in this tournament and think, well, it means nothing for them as well. They kind of lost both their games to two teams they should really be beating and assume that this was kind of a. A dysfunctional team that would not roll over but wouldn't be too much resistance. But I think almost the opposite happened. That Turkey playing for pride, probably playing to kind of diffuse the situation when they get back home because that will not be a happy country. This has been a disappointing World cup. This. They felt like quite dangerous opponents and they went strong. They went with a team that a lot of people in Turkey have wanted Montella to play throughout the tournament. That's a tr. It is a tricky situation. I'm going to try and be positive.

[Roger Bennett]

Yeah, I love the way I felt like you me and patronizing me on the bald head. We got to the lineups Kylo all week we'd wondered we locked up first place. Where would Potch strike the balance between continuity, momentum and resting up the first string. Yeah, we knew the four yellow car boys were sitting out but then you saw Christian Pulisic wasn't starting and he gone completely changed city. Nine new faces to the team that started last week. A bit like an NFL coach in week 17 being like, you know what, I'm going to save my QB1 for the playoffs. Nice to see Gio Rain and Sebastian Borjalta together in that midfield. Football like nature is healing. But were you surprised that there was not more of the heart of the first team, at least for the 60 minutes of the opening?

[Kyle Beckerman]

Yeah, I mean I think when we saw the lineup, we all were kind of thinking, okay, this is a chance for these guys to get on the field, keep the momentum going. And now you. You got a whole group that's super confident that got games. Now that the result went the way it did, you're thinking maybe it was a little too much. And that's maybe what we looked like is we played hard, we fought, but it was a team that probably is the first time they played together in a.

[Michael Davies]

First in a Game, that's a massive thing. You see it a lot, you know, in, in domestic cup games where you'll put Premier League managers, will put kind of the, the, the second string out and they're all good players. They're all, they all belong. If you put each.

[Roger Bennett]

Nice looking lads.

[Michael Davies]

Nice looking lads. Lovely fellas.

[Roger Bennett]

Just a lovely bunch of fellas. Do a lot of work for Char.

[Michael Davies]

All three of them into the first team, they look great, but all of them together, they look genuinely like they've never played football together before. And that is the risk you take when you make that many changes.

[Roger Bennett]

Yeah.

[Kyle Beckerman]

And we were talking about how well they were playing and part of that was they played together a lot and they started to get in that second nature stuff, knowing where guys are and now all of a sudden it's brand new.

[Roger Bennett]

They were swazzy.

[Unidentified Female Speaker]

They were.

[Roger Bennett]

I'm old enough to remember when we were Nutmeg City driving, driving in your car. Speed so fast. Felt like, oh, but it started so well. Misdirection. Three minutes in. Oh, we just scoot wide from a corner. When Burhalter went from the other side. Ball skidded through to Austin. Trust the back post. He had enough time to bring it ball down, send a test message to his loved ones. Hey, guys, I'm about to score in the World Cup. And then slap it past the keeper. Second fastest goal in American World cup history. Clint did it better you on the field that day, weren't you?

[Kyle Beckerman]

That's right.

[Roger Bennett]

God bless that man. Trustee. I love this moment. He ran off wagging his finger into the sky. This face, just a mask of absolute ecstasy. This man who had dreamt and then failed. Been out the national team squad for over a year. Injuries, lack of form. Crashed back in in November 2025. I think he thought he was on the outside. He'd come on our show a bunch. He's a really brilliant guy. That his World cup dream was over. What joy this must have felt then to be just running towards the bench, Potch looking on, beaming like a proud grandpapa. Everything popped off. The fans, we're screwing off. And it felt in that moment like, oh my God, we're good at football now. We didn't know, did we?

[Kyle Beckerman]

Credit to Turkey, I mean, they easily could have rolled over when we scored that first one. And I think maybe if we go a little longer, you know, that we could have taken back and kept that momentum. And just when they scored pretty, you know, quick after, it got them back into this.

[Roger Bennett]

How was he sending them out though? Because the first 10 minutes we were like berserkers.

[Michael Davies]

Well, presumably if you're. If you're in that situation, I don't know if you were like, your job there as an individual is to. To win your place in the next game, to play so well that.

[Roger Bennett]

This is what I don't understand, that

[Michael Davies]

Coachie Pochi has no choice except to put. Or at least to think about it. Like you're there to put pressure on.

[Roger Bennett]

He says, show me. Show me that you cannot be dropped.

[Kyle Beckerman]

Yep. Yeah, exactly. That's what the opportunity was for guys to step up in the pecking order and ultimately make it a hard decision for Poch.

[Michael Davies]

He's Coach Poach. We have to call him.

[Roger Bennett]

That's what the local news stations call late at night. They're like Coach Poach has said. I mean, I think we thought we'd won in that moment. At least the broadcasters did. They unleashed every shot of every celebrity. We had Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, two Tyler Durdens in one box. Colin Farrell also in the building, probably also on Potch's hair inspiration Pinterest board. It all felt magic. Start was perfect. But the very first time the Turks had the ball, they charged forward. And we'd had gnawing defensive concerns going into this tournament. And they all just reared into our realities in our darkest cortex. Mackenzie and Miles Robinson. Kind of communication you have with. Yeah. Players we've not really played together with that much. Kyle and it was Guler ran in Matt Turner slow off his line. But that whole. You saw everything that was just like people popping off who'd not played before. No chemistry, no hope.

[Kyle Beckerman]

Yeah, it was. Yeah. One of those goals that seemed like. Yeah, a bit. We were just off. We just didn't know.

[Michael Davies]

Central defense is all about relationships more than anything. Right. That's. That's the.

[Roger Bennett]

The one bit relationship comms chemistry.

[Michael Davies]

Yeah. Where you need people who understand instinctively, without talking, without thinking where the other one's going to be. And that. That's the key thing, more than. More than like, ability is how well do you pair together.

[Kyle Beckerman]

Yeah, for sure. And so, you know, I don't know how many times they played together, but on that goal, it seemed like a little bit of.

[Roger Bennett]

I think we pod it together more. We got more chem chemistry on the bus.

[Michael Davies]

I trust the three of us to go zonal.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Michael Davies]

Not. Not man to man, but zonal. Yeah.

[Roger Bennett]

Can I ask, when you see the US Concede, does it ache a little bit still?

[Kyle Beckerman]

Of course.

[Roger Bennett]

Are you like, I could have run back.

[Kyle Beckerman]

No, no, no, no, I could have lost it.

[Roger Bennett]

No, you got nothing cooler. Nothing.

[Michael Davies]

Do you see when with it all like that, lots of individual kind of. Not mistakes, but like bad positionings. Do you in the moment as it's happening, can you see the kind of play develop?

[Kyle Beckerman]

It just seemed like there was at the end of there. It was some sort of, you know, it was weird. The ball was just kind of there. Nobody. They all kind of felt like, you're got it, I got it, you got it.

[Roger Bennett]

Let's all not get it.

[PFT Commentator]

All of it.

[Michael Davies]

Communication. It's all about communication.

[Roger Bennett]

Oh, God bless. Marc McCann. The goal scratch off for offside. I'm only bringing it up because I can't imagine how agonizing that is to think you've scored in a World cup forever and then just. Nope. Offside. And then within two minutes we're made to pay. Sloppy possession, naive turnover. And Turkey just carved open the back line like a buzzsaw. It was hard to watch defenders all over the place. Joe Scally undone by a basic overlap and. And coach who dropped a foot. It was like a hammer that he just chopped down on the ball, blasted it into the net. It felt like a real. I mean, like we just taken one on the jewel.

[Michael Davies]

But this was Turkey, as Kyle says, like, they got that goal. It would have all fallen apart for them after the U. S stored so early, they get the goal and you saw immediately them think, hang on, we can change like the narrative of our World cup if we. They're out anyway. But if we don't beat the hosts, if we kind of put a statement out, then it does. They'll be thinking about what happens when they get back to 30s. If you think the English media is bad, Hurriet are not gonna be nice to the Turkish national team getting knocked out in the group stages of the World cup. That's not a thing that's going to happen. That win was important to them. And that's what's great about the World cup is that the States matter, even if the points are kind of done.

[Roger Bennett]

There's two things I'd ask in that moment as we hit halftime. One side of the question, where is this Turkey in the first two games?

[Michael Davies]

I think it's partly tactical that, as I say, Montella had made. He went to about three. He'd made the changes that a lot of Turks have kind of been asked in for. So you had Yieldees? Yeah, absolutely. Further forwards. And Barry Shilmaz, who I really like, he plays with down Sasra. He's a really energetic kind of figure playing leading the line and then Kochi playing in midfield. But the other thing is, if you looked at Turkey's and this is America, so let's talk about sport. Not through poetry, Rog, but through cold, hard numbers.

[Roger Bennett]

Yeah.

[Michael Davies]

If you look at their, their shot numbers, you know this off by heart. How many shots they had in the first 62 shots in two games. Yeah. That's a lot of shots.

[Roger Bennett]

Yeah. XG 3.47, 3.53. Oh, my XG.

[Michael Davies]

So they should have scored between three and four if you look at the XG per shot.

[Roger Bennett]

Yeah.

[Michael Davies]

Right, let's get deep into them.

[Roger Bennett]

Yeah.

[Michael Davies]

0.057.

[Roger Bennett]

Yeah.

[Michael Davies]

Which means they're taking bad chances. They're creating lots of little chances like tapas. It's tapas chances.

[Roger Bennett]

Oh, I hate tapas.

[Michael Davies]

It's not a full meal.

[Roger Bennett]

Yeah. Not interested in your little. Teensy little.

[Michael Davies]

Today they created a starter, a main and sadly a dessert.

[Roger Bennett]

Welcome.

[Michael Davies]

I quite like that. It's quite good.

[Roger Bennett]

Well, you like that? I felt like I'm going for the Aries football show. Look, the other question I want to ask is for you, Kylie, it's for me. Uspov. We talked in the wake of the Australia win. There was a little nagging fear. Yeah, we'd won. Yeah, we've been swaggy. Yeah, we dominated. Yes. Champagne football. But, you know, these were not very good football teams or they didn't ask much of us. They were pedestrian in, in possession, you know, they low blocked, you know, they kind of let us be. We did wonder what would happen if we played a team who were comfortable on the, on the ball. And we also worried what would we do if we prioritize rotation over chemistry. I kept hearing Clint Dempsey that whole first half. I texted him a half time. He'd always say, why was no one stepping up and just balling out and making themselves irresistible.

[Kyle Beckerman]

Right.

[Roger Bennett]

Why?

[Kyle Beckerman]

Yeah, I don't know. I mean, I think obviously it was a great start. So they came out with the energy, they got the fans in it. But then, you know, the most important, you know that five, ten minutes after you score is huge and you got to keep that momentum. But, you know, I think this is one of those, let's take it as Saudi Arabia, Argentina, first game. You know, it could be a wake up call.

[Roger Bennett]

We're still going to win it all. You mean? Yeah, with our tiny little messy esque.

[Kyle Beckerman]

We're rested now.

[Roger Bennett]

Oh, I like this. Yeah.

[Michael Davies]

The other thing I wonder is that you do have a couple players in that Turkish team who are like, Arda Dula is more than capable of being like, I'm just gonna. I'll deal with this now. Like he's that sort of player. Yield is to an extent as well. Kochu too. Ben Feeder, like, they're used to. To being like central figures.

[Roger Bennett]

This is your hero. I'll nutmeg you a hero.

[Michael Davies]

Well, may Maybe in that US team as much apart from McKenney, maybe there isn't a player there who's used to taking that kind of responsibility. Maybe that's one of the things that. And I'm kind of spitballing, but maybe that's one of the things that for sure is when you, when you rotate

[Kyle Beckerman]

that much, for sure there's a. There's a, you know, there's pecking orders and there's guys that have been, you know, leading this team for a while now. And so when you get rid of that, you know, there's going to be a void in there.

[Roger Bennett]

Yeah, but this is like Clint's point is in, in. In these moments, the Americans have this concept. We've got a dog in it. You know, the dog in him that someone's going to step up, announce themselves. And it was very flat. Tim Wayer, you know, struggled. Giorina struggled. I mean, it's hard to watch at times these guys. It was something very limiting. And we wondered the whole tournament what would happen when we were punched in the mouth and, you know, no changes at half time. And it was delicious. It was if Potch in the locker room somehow had set us back on default factory settings. Because two minutes, three seconds later, scramble, scrap ball to the edge of the box. Bodies everywhere. Sebastian Burholzer. Just unleash what our producer Charlie called a worm burner.

[Michael Davies]

Worm burner.

[Roger Bennett]

I really like that you don't like piss, but. Yeah, what was it?

[Michael Davies]

Boiling your piss? In England, we call that a daisy cutter.

[Roger Bennett]

Yeah.

[Michael Davies]

But there's something that, I think that. That tells you the difference between Britain and America. So in Britain, it's all kind of tweed and rustic. Arcadian daisy cutter.

[Roger Bennett]

Yeah.

[Michael Davies]

In America, it's a worm burner.

[Unidentified Female Speaker]

Yeah.

[Roger Bennett]

Piss boiler off the turf, two limbs into the net. Must have felt great for him. Son of his dad written off as not athletic enough at the top level. Man, just. American soccer's biblical lineage is undefeated, man. Yeah, it is. I can't wait for the next Beckerman, is all I'm telling you. We needed him today. 58th minute, our Lord and savior, Christian Pulisic, came on and man, Was hungry. Two minutes in snatch shot which he mishit a lob forcing a fine save parried against the post by Kakea. With Aarons and missing follow up. Turkey actually started the double team him, he was causing so much problems but he kept going. I mean he was so hungry. He's watched all the big players announce themselves. Messi and Bape, Harland, Flo, Baligan. You could tell he was so hungry. Turkey though kept coming back on the counter. It was wide open man that when Pulisic stung that one just past the post, you just felt how much he wanted to be it to be it could have been, should have been his night, right?

[Kyle Beckerman]

Yeah. I mean it's good to see him back out there and when he's, when he's on like he was in that Australia game and when he's so direct and he, he's, you know, he's a problem for other teams. So all in all we got him back on the pitch, he's healthy, we can move on.

[Michael Davies]

That is genuine. As much as the result is disappointing, that is a genuine positive. To have just 30 minutes in his legs right is that's significant amount of time. That is him kind of working through any lingering doubts and stuff. Presumably that's him knowing he's ready.

[Kyle Beckerman]

Yeah. This will give him a bunch of confidence. I'm sure he'll train tomorrow and keep building that, you know, form again for the next game.

[Roger Bennett]

Louisiana Bob in the chat says this game is a mix of Pooley can never not play and get him off the field right now and protect him which I just love. God bless. 76 minutes Pochettino. I didn't understand this through on all of his gems, Raina, Aaron and Scaliao. Up came Alex Freeman. Sergino Dest is alive. Alex and Deas got his debut. Tillman soon followed. You know that said this was no international friendly. Suddenly this was not a meaningless game. It clearly meant a lot to Pochettino. If he's going to fling those guys on, have them go through their, through their warm ups and warm downs. Too late though. And in 99th minute we paid the iron price. Turkish break in which both Pulisic was nutmegged by Guler and then Matt Turner was nutmegged coming out the other way by using and just defenders scattered bereft and I am poked home glory at the death for the bad guys and the agony was it was all self inflicted on so many levels. Here's a question for you. Us have already won the group. Does any of this matter Be honest. Don't just tell me nice things at once.

[Kyle Beckerman]

Of course it does. I think like we said, that momentum is going to drop a little. You know, we're gonna have to pick that back up and create it again. So I think we all, everybody came, everybody was watching. We wanted to see him win. And I think we would have gone home okay with a tie. And I think getting scored on late, that kind of hurt. And I think it's gonna be, you know, it's not that energy in the trainings this week. Getting ready for that game is going to be different than coming after two wins.

[Roger Bennett]

What will it feel like in the locker room? What will they say? Will it feel. What would you have said if you went into that locker room?

[Michael Davies]

It would.

[Kyle Beckerman]

I'm sure it's quiet. I'm sure it's really quiet. Maybe, you know, you just, you gotta take it, you know, go back, watch, see where you did bad, see what you did good, and then get back to work, try and improve.

[Roger Bennett]

Well, we've seen a lot of football documentaries at this point. We know people walk in silently and throw their boots on the floo and someone shouts.

[Michael Davies]

And I think what you need in this situation is Declan Rice just mouthing, it's not over. Again and again and again and again. No.

[Roger Bennett]

Why did no one do that? Drop to their haunches, it's not over. Joe Scally says Kyle might be able

[Michael Davies]

to tell me that this is complete nonsense. Yeah, I think the manner of defeats really matter. So if you're, if that, if that finish 2:1 to Turkey, if the US don't score that equalizer and the game are trying to peter down and Poch had thrown on players very obviously to be like, here's 10 minutes of running around. I think by the end it would have felt like such a non event that the result wouldn't, wouldn't really have mattered because they lost in the 99th minute after the seven minutes of injury time were up. That is such. That's instinctively like a hammer blow to your confidence, isn't it? And I think it's that rather than the result. I think it's the manner of the defeat that hurts.

[Roger Bennett]

I, I think it does matter. It really does. I think optics and tactics. I mean, I don't expect the United States to win every World cup game. That's like hilariously simple to say at least the men. But the love affair that's built between this team and the widest possible audience. We've seen it, you know, across America, Hartford, San Jose, you Know, just America exploding. It's been put on pause, you know, we can't take that for granted. You know, instead, a dose of reality has descended upon. It's muted tonight. I mean, we're here in downtown LA. I see that there was 10,000 people at this watch party. It was silent when we came out to get on the. The king of buses. You got to keep the widest possible audience entertained, just like on TikTok. You've got to keep them hooked and then the switches in personnel. I want to ask you, Kyle, we broke our rhythm. Is rhythm just something you can just get back? You flick a switch. Okay, with starting it again. Does momentum and rhythm, is it just. Is it an at will thing in a tournament?

[Kyle Beckerman]

You got to earn it. You got to earn it. So they're going to have to get back, you know, work hard, but nothing's going to be guaranteed. You know, you got to go do it in that next game, in that round of 32. We can get it back.

[Michael Davies]

There isn't. There is merit to the blood in the mouth argument. That is a legitimate thing in football, that if. If a team is stung, they have something to prove and narratives are what you make them. So there's every chance that, look, it's possible. The. At the end of this World cup, there's like a big postmortem and we all say, look, it was when Coach Poach made all of those changes that the US Kind of fell apart and it cost them the momentum. It burst the bubble. That was a mistake. It's also possible, we say, what was the score against Turkey again? That's all that is also possible because they don't beat Bosnia. No one cares about this.

[Roger Bennett]

Hope you're right. We now play Bosnia 108pm Eastern Wednesday, July 1, in Santa Clara. Big game. Tease up bigger games. Please God, to come. Carl, just very quickly, because I want you to pull this together. How a World cup knockout round game is mentally different to the group games that we've experienced.

[Kyle Beckerman]

Yeah, I mean, I think especially with this game when we're already qualified, we got the first place and they. They don't. They have to play for pride or they're not going home. I think there's, you know, the game is such small margins of wins and losses, and if that meant the mentality is just a little off, you know, that's the difference. And I think that might have been the difference tonight. Now, when we're going into the round 32, you know, there's nothing. Everything's on the Line. So everybody's gonna be super focused. You know, it definitely, you know, the nerves and those type of things, because if you lose, you're out and everybody wants to go on and you want to keep enjoying this ride. So. But like you said, the blood in the mouth is something. They're going to have a reset. You're going to get back to, you know, really focusing in. You're not going to be thinking how great we are when you're winning all these games. So I think it's a great reset for us. And now we just got to go get that momentum back.

[Michael Davies]

Before that Belgium game to take your mind back 2014, in 2014, like, obviously the last group game would have. You had something riding on it. So that was, in effect, Germany.

[Roger Bennett]

We lost.

[Kyle Beckerman]

Yeah.

[Michael Davies]

Before Belgium, it was that noticeably different within the kind of. Within the camp. Could you tell does that World cup knockout game is such a big thing?

[Kyle Beckerman]

Yeah, I mean, it is for sure. But when we're sitting in there with Ghana, Portugal and Germany, every game was knockout, you know, so I think in a way it prepared us for that to be mentally ready. So there wasn't that much of a difference. But, yeah, you know, this, this World Cup's just a little different in that sense.

[Roger Bennett]

You know, Rabbi Hyman Christopsy in the chat says we charge forward like Teddy Roosevelt's ref. Riders. Carl, last question for you. We're going to let you have the last word on this game. You made a beautiful point to us tonight about a United States advantage that I wasn't thinking about when you said it. Just leave it with us. Because I think ultimately it's the thing that makes me possibly understand why Potch did what he did today and how it's going to play in for what is clearly in his mind more than just the short journey ahead.

[Kyle Beckerman]

Yeah, I mean, you know, when the. When they decided where we're going to play and pick in la, Seattle and back here in la. Now you got another game in Santa Clara, you're talking. We haven't even touched any humidity. We haven't touched hot, hot weather. We haven't been to altitude. And we're going to come up to teams. Obviously, Bosnia was. They were up there in Canada, which is hot and humid. So, you know, I think these first games, being in the places they are, could help us in the long run.

[Roger Bennett]

Amen. I mean, you said, you said that we're going to come across some teams that are better than us, but they're just done and dusted because of the exhaustion. The travel, the heat, the climate. They played in and we played in. Who would have thought we were the host? We played in really short hops. Perfect climate. Please God, we have preserved dry powder for all that is to come. Kyle, I just want to thank you for being with us throughout the group stage. You are an icon of mine, which I think you know. I adore you. To have you on this bus, it's been the true joy of the World cup so far.

[Kyle Beckerman]

It's been such a pleasure of mine. It's been awesome hanging with you guys.

[Roger Bennett]

You're an amazing.

[Kyle Beckerman]

Appreciate you guys.

[Roger Bennett]

Huge, huge love.

[Kyle Beckerman]

Go usa.

[Roger Bennett]

God bless. There you go. There for Kyler. And now his watch is done. I love that man. Thank you, baby. Let's quickly blow through the rest of the action. The lesser action at the time, same time. Paraguay nil. Australia nil.

[Michael Davies]

Boom.

[Roger Bennett]

Slugfest. In the worst way between two of the most goal shy teams in the tournament. Paraguay. Alma on us. After the hand covering mouth gate. Both teams tried to counter. It was choppy, it was combative. Australia happy to do the biting into tackles thing. Paraguay very happy to do the full on the ground thing. Soccer dominated possession, but neither team could score. Oh, go. Paraguay would not be beating Australia by the four goal margin that could mathematically secure Scotland's path to the knockouts. But it was goalless. Australia are through. Paraguay will probably, probably, probably. And that Groovy Thing 206 says hi to the next guy next to me on the light rail. Assuming that two people are watching this crap in the same light rail car is very, very sad. I love you both. It's probably my mum on that light rail earlier this morning. Ecuador 2 Germany. Oh my God. 1 what we were told Ecuador with dark horses before this began. God, that is a curse of death. Second in qualifying, their dreams are shattered. The late lost Ivory Coast. The Curacao limp draw which felt like death warmed up. We know the players are good. Pacho, one of two champions leagues in Capier, bared his buttocks in the name of Premier league glory. Moses Caicedo, a total clench fist, needed to win to survive. They hope Germany would go second string. Germany didn't. Germany didn't. And they scored him in two minutes. A Sunday drive that felt a little like it should have been vard off for a high foot in the build up. But it felt like game over. Ecuador limp. But then they fired back. Aggressive high press. One possession, really beautiful goal. Nielsen Angulu cut inside, open up his body. And with Ecuador's 40, a shot at a World Cup 40th time. Lucky, really disguised low curler. It was brilliantly delivered to the legs of Pavlovich. Ecuador threw everything forward as if they kind of thought undav with score so they'd need to. The way they were playing, their press was ferocious. You couldn't tell if Germany was just kind of mailing it in a bit. And Ecuador ratcheted up the pressure wide open. And the winner, Platter had just slapped off the post after a rudigeranoia. That goalkeeping giant, he's looked very human. Foreshadowing corner, wicked curl. Rodriguez flicked on. You had Nalia coming out to claim it like granddad. And Platter just stretched his leg, flicked it like a pinball flipper. 55, 000 Ecuadorians in MetLife went ballistic.

[Michael Davies]

Yeah, that goal was a bit of a dagger blow for Scotland and that is. I won't lie to you, Ross, that is how I'm watching. We're gonna get those James. But the Ecuadorian fans, God, deserve to be in this tournament. And I loved the scenes and I can't say his. His name properly. The coach in the middle there.

[Roger Bennett]

Oh, I can.

[Michael Davies]

Sebastian better cecce.

[Roger Bennett]

Becca Seisay better say.

[Michael Davies]

Say the conmebol Cobain.

[Roger Bennett]

That's amazing. Did you come up with that?

[Michael Davies]

No, it's from a friend of a friend.

[Roger Bennett]

That's amazing.

[Michael Davies]

I'm taking credit, Rogers. I'm the first person to say it publicly.

[Roger Bennett]

I love it. He ran around like a wild man trying to grab another person who looked just like him in the ground. Like who they say opposite to tracked. He's like in love with himself.

[Kyle Beckerman]

Yeah.

[Michael Davies]

No, but it was. But him like clambering up like the grandstand of that life was amazing.

[Roger Bennett]

To find another natural bond.

[Michael Davies]

Ecuador. Yeah, the draw with Chura was bad.

[Roger Bennett]

Yeah.

[Michael Davies]

Ecuador are good. They qualified really well in South America. They have been one of the form teams in common ball for a long time. Yeah, they've got quality everywhere except up front. Goals are a problem. They go to Mexico. I think it's definite now to play Mexico City. They go to Mexico City to wait

[Roger Bennett]

on other results before they book a flight, I think.

[Michael Davies]

But that I think is the light might be just the likeliest. That is a really tough draw for Mexico.

[Roger Bennett]

Couldn't agree. I couldn't agree. They could be the sleeper hit of the round of 32. Germany and Boston face a third place team. Paraguay looking most likely to follow Australia and Sweden. Somebody wrote on blue sky. I've never seen Germany wear blue before. To which Mary Murphy wrote honoring Scotland while euthanizing them. I feel that's poetry. Curacao nil. Ivory Coast 2 curacao. Tiny curacao. Reveling in the experience amongst the big dogs. It was very moving watching their fans belt out the national anthem. Marching through Philadelphia. Oh, this was stunning. Before the game. I love this. Just singing the Hymno de Corso, the national anthem. You know, savoring every second. Aware that it was going to be a short journey, but one that they will remember their whole lives. Tears again from the manager, 78 year old Dick Advocate. Tears of a different kind. Six minutes in when Ivory coast cracked the defense open. Yeah. Yandy man pouncing on the atrocious attempt to play out the back. Pepe ultimately scored twice. Ellie room the hero beaten twice before he made a save. Ivory coast Qualify tied on six points with Germany. Their reward round the 32 meeting with Norway or France Tough. Japan won. Sweden won. Sweden entered needing a win to guarantee Japan only needed a draw. If could match or better the Netherlands result, they'd win the group narrator's voice. They would not. Second half goals. This came to life. Beautiful. Beautiful. You're not seeing the Japanese. A kaleidoscopic team move. 56 minute with Ritsu Duan. Geometrically perfect pass. Borderline. Honestly, Pythagorian, I wouldn't know what that means to dies in my order. Buried his chance. But then Anthony Elanga picked up the ball in the Arlington suburbs and just monstered it home. Sweden. Alanga is an unstoppable force. New Castle.

[Michael Davies]

Yeah. Do you know what, Roger? I thought that was one of the weirdest stories of the Premier League season. A bit of a kind of low key one that he made so much sense as a signing and he was. He was awful. No, not awful really. Just really disappointing for Newcastle.

[Roger Bennett]

He's really marriage.

[Michael Davies]

They've got. They've got. They're not. Not great Sweden. Their manager has a cowboy hat.

[Roger Bennett]

Yeah. No, it's a bad move.

[Michael Davies]

It's too much.

[Roger Bennett]

Didn't win the savvy.

[Michael Davies]

No, it's too much.

[Roger Bennett]

Yeah.

[Michael Davies]

Your culture is not his costume.

[Roger Bennett]

Yeah. The put on the cod piece. Then we'll be like okay, you're trying

[Michael Davies]

wear your assless chaps.

[Roger Bennett]

Come on.

[Michael Davies]

The they do have a cutting edge Sweden. They're not a particularly good team.

[Roger Bennett]

Yeah.

[Michael Davies]

But in Alanga Birdval Iari who's been brilliant this tournament, Isaac and Jocherez. They will cause teams problems. I think.

[Roger Bennett]

Yes. Sweden's exponent could be one of France, Norway, Germany, Mexico or Switzerland. Japan go to Houston to face Brazil.

[Unidentified Female Speaker]

Yeah.

[Michael Davies]

Bad referee.

[Roger Bennett]

A lot of Japanese in Brazil. That's going to be quite a cultural battle of human wonder. Netherlands 3 Tunisia 1 Tunisia side. They've had, I think twice as many managers during this tournament and they've had goals pulled up to Kansas scenes in Kansas City. God, can we just celebrate this? This is America, man. Overwhelming to anyone with allergy to high vis fabric. Just an invasion of orange. Of orange love. Just remarkable, these images. The match was about goal difference consolidation. Could put themselves at top of the group for comfy winning margins. I love Zlatan's new bespoke segment the Jungle. He called Tunisia a wounded team playing for pride. Get it? Like a lion. He loves predatory animal metaphors. They didn't get at it like a lion. Netherlands just. I mean what's the point of talking about it?

[Michael Davies]

Tunisia set a record.

[Roger Bennett]

Rog, Come on. What is it?

[Michael Davies]

They have been behind for the most minutes a team has ever been behind in a World Cup.

[Roger Bennett]

Is that. That's pretty good of a Renault. Who's you seized every moment of stuff screen time to stare pensively through the rain. He was so erotic today. I love him. Netherlands. God bless. Getting it done. No drama. Big orange train now headed to Monterey. Oh, to take on Morocco on Monday. That is a tasty game.

[Michael Davies]

The game of the round of 32. And what's really impressive is the Dutch managed to win despite Virgil van Dijk having to talk to James Crawdon last night.

[Roger Bennett]

So did Verge go on court?

[Michael Davies]

I believe so, yeah. I, I won't lie to you. I didn't stop to watch but apparently he, he, he was exposed to TV and has survived.

[Roger Bennett]

It's must see TV is all I'm going to tell you. And as the world arrives in the United States for the biggest spectacle in sports, we're going coast to coast, host city to host city to meet the world with the men in blazers. Matchday Live tour. These are free college gameday style live events taking place just before kickoff at some of the biggest games of the summer where we'll be taking the stage with celebrity guests in front of thousands of fans. It's going to be amazing. Come and be with us in person or From Afar on YouTube. And let's celebrate this some other way. It's meant to be celebrated. Head to the events tab on meninblazers.com for all the details. To the football to more together courage.

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[Kyle Beckerman]

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[Roger Bennett]

is our ability to run the business

[Kyle Beckerman]

as essentially non technical people. We're able to admin everything on the back end, front end and sell things online easily. If Shopify were a bike accessory, I think it would actually be the bicycle.

[Roger Bennett]

It's the thing that you do the thing on.

[Kyle Beckerman]

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[Roger Bennett]

okay talking about must see TV. It's time for our guest on the day Turkey can tell their children forever that they played the 2026 World cup champion and beat them, the only team to do so in that historic United States march to victory. It's amazing to bring in two gents from soccer has been a bit like the overseas sitcom that comes on TV after your favorite drama's over. And it's incredible to bring them on as a pair of great Americans. I'm still feeling bullish on this US Team and they are the greatest double act in sports since Latan and Lalas from Pardon my take. Oh, it's Big Cam. PFT commentator.

[Big Cat]

What's up boys? Are we allowed to swear on this?

[Roger Bennett]

We gotta tell us. Yeah, there you go. How are we feeling about America opening wide for some soccer tonight?

[PFT Commentator]

I thought that the team looked like absolute dog tonight the first half.

[Big Cat]

It's pretty clear how big the gap

[PFT Commentator]

between our starters and our backups, especially along the defensive side. I thought it was fine. You know what? It was a we could look at this as a tune up as a preseason game. Nothing to be worried about. We're on to Bosnia. But we looked like in that first half.

[Big Cat]

I want to congratulate Turkey on winning the Reliaquest Bowl. I'm sure they got a nice pair of sandals and you know, a gift card to target for this. Listen, Rog, you know, you know us pretty well. When we lose, we only have one option. That ref was terrible. He was absolute garbage.

[Roger Bennett]

And I told anyone. Yeah, yeah. I mean, it's just the only two. What are the talking points? Are they man?

[Big Cat]

Exactly. If he calls a fair game, we probably win that 4 nil.

[PFT Commentator]

It was also too late. They started the game way too.

[Big Cat]

It was too late.

[PFT Commentator]

Circadian rhythms were all thrown off too late.

[Michael Davies]

Yeah, it is. The circadian rhythms were all that. You could see that from, from the, from minute one.

[Roger Bennett]

Yeah. Very. POTS is very, very attuned to the circadian rhythms before this game. What's it been like for you to watch this? Well, this, the US Men cook, really. It's something I, I've not seen in, since 1950.

[PFT Commentator]

Yeah, I think it's, it's not just that we're winning games. It's that we were doing it in a style of soccer that's entertaining and that is, is exceptionally entertaining to watch and requires a lot of skill. Like, we're not doing the old school stuff where we're, you know, willing the ball over the goal line, scrape together a 11 draw against a vastly superior opponent. We were, we were clearly the best team out there for those two games, for the entire game. And that's something that we don't really see that much as, as fans of U.S. soccer. So the team does feel different. I'm not worried. I'm actually not worried about what happened tonight because that lineup is, is very different from what we're carrying forward. It's clear that we don't have the depth that a lot of teams have.

[Big Cat]

I'll give you that.

[PFT Commentator]

Like when, when we have to go to our bench, it's not pretty when it happens. And we've got, we had some guys starting, like Gio Reyna. He's great off the bench and I think that he's a impact guy that you can bring in. I don't know when the last time that he ran for 90 minutes straight was it. He probably has never done it in his life. That was tough to watch with some of these guys, but overall, I'm still not worried. We got Bosnian Herzegovina.

[Roger Bennett]

It's like week 17 in the NFL when you're saving your boys for the playoffs. Is that how you guys are analyzing exactly explaining it? Wait.

[Big Cat]

It basically was going into this game, if we win the game, we're the greatest country and the greatest soccer country that's ever been created. And if we lose the game, we blame the refs and we say we weren't even trying. It's a win, win. You know, these games happen.

[Unidentified Female Speaker]

You know that.

[PFT Commentator]

That ref stunk, though.

[Big Cat]

He did.

[PFT Commentator]

He was, he was very one sided. Also. We might be too tough. That might be our problem because.

[Big Cat]

Well, except Tim Way. Tim Way. Maybe not.

[PFT Commentator]

Yeah, get your weight up. Yeah. I think that Zendaya's getting hit in the testicles and then Bouncing up immediately to prove how tough. You just stay down, dude. Like, that's the most direct nutshot that I've ever seen in my life. And Turkey felt emboldened by that. They attempted, like, four more nutmegs afterwards. Just stay down and listen. We stay. We live to fight another day. That's God telling you, like, take a break, young man. Hit the locker room. Ice up.

[Roger Bennett]

We had Chris Richards on the show two days ago, and he said he wanted everyone wants the team to be, quote, overly American. And I didn't understand what that meant until you've just described what happened to Zendayas's testicles. That's overly American is what you're saying. That is the. That's the pride that we. That's something we can be proud of.

[PFT Commentator]

That was a direction. That ball contacted a brace of testicles, just like, boom. Both of them swollen up immediately.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

You.

[PFT Commentator]

You stay down. You listen, we're not as. As tough as we act as Americans. I will say that. Like. Like, it still hurts when you kick us in the nuts. And it's okay to admit that.

[Michael Davies]

Yeah, there's certain biological things that are just. That transcend nationality, you know? Yeah.

[Roger Bennett]

You know what? I don't. I don't, don't. Do not know if that is true about the Russians. But I need to ask you, I think I says, how has the World cup been experienced by your audience? Because I know it's always a love hate thing. I'm thinking it's a little more love every single World cup cycle. Like, there's been a lot to love about this tournament in the United States. I don't know what has surprised you about it.

[Big Cat]

Well, our audience is. I mean, we're sports fans at the end of the day, like, whatever. If there's a ball on a field, we're going to watch it, especially if we can bet on it. We were actually talking, though.

[Michael Davies]

We.

[Big Cat]

We did find the one thing that we have done wrong as a country in this World cup, and it was on full display tonight. It's the fact that we don't care about seeing all these celebrities. I don't care about Leo. I don't care about Ashton Kutcher. The World cup is about, excuse me, to both of you, fat, sunburnt English dudes with belly tattoos, old men crying, and extremely attractive women that we are from, from foreign countries. And we're getting absolutely none of that because they want to show us Brad Pitt hanging out with Edward Norton. I don't want that. So we have screwed that up. We need to fix it.

[PFT Commentator]

It is how most Americans learn geography. Right. That's how I found out where Croatia was last World Cup.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Michael Davies]

It's. Do you know, as an Englishman, it is. It is weird how many celebrities are shot during U. S. Games like that. That does not happen normally. Is. It's like a really noticeable thing. Like, oh, look, Edward Norton.

[Roger Bennett]

It's something you. You guys do it though, man. You. That's the Knicks. It's like.

[Unidentified Female Speaker]

Yeah.

[Roger Bennett]

You notice it. You know, you notice that like in English football, when something happens, good or bad, the cameras cut to the largest looking man.

[PFT Commentator]

Yes.

[Roger Bennett]

With the most offensive chest tattoo around his nipples. Like, that's the shot we want. We want misery. We want some. We want to feel better about ourselves by looking at the sadness that's flung on the screen in America. The next. It's like. Like an incredible moment. Josh Hart doing whatever Josh Hart's doing. And we get Chalamet. Cut to Kardashian.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Right.

[Roger Bennett]

Cut to Jerry Seinfeld. Cut to. And like, there's no human emotion left in American sports. We've got to look at. I hate to look at.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, it's terrible because that. That is one of the beautiful things about the World cup is that you get all these, you know, stories in Norway and everyone rowing and. Who are you talking about? Who's standing still? The guy from Congo.

[PFT Commentator]

From Congo, yeah, yeah.

[Big Cat]

Like, these are. These are want. This is what gives, like the fabric to, you know, and the color to. To the World Cup. And instead we're just seeing all these celebrities, like, get them off our screen. So we apologize for that. We're too obsessed with celebrities. If we were controlling the cameras, you'd see nothing but fat, gross Americans and really nice rats.

[Roger Bennett]

Why we watch.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, exactly.

[Roger Bennett]

I mean, is your point, though, that this World cup, it's more than about the football and it's what has made Americans really fall in love. You could make the case that the tartan army have done more to grow football in America than David Beckham and Lionel Messi.

[Michael Davies]

I think you don't need to like football to, like, the World Cup. There's so. Especially now, there's so much of it is consumed on tick tock and Instagram and stuff that you can engage with that stuff just as, like, cultural moments like you. You don't need to know anything about, like the offside law to think it looks cool when the Scots annex Boston and turn it into straws at suits. Like, that's. That's something we can all enjoy unless you're English. Yeah. It's the same with like the. Yeah. With like the Brazilians dancing on south beach or you know, the Ecuadorians on the, on the rocky steps. Like those are the moments. FIFA won't tell you this, but you don't need to spend a thousand dollars to enjoy the World Cup. You can do it for free, right?

[PFT Commentator]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Right. And it's, it's, it's what I liken it to the World cup is, is most similar to our March Madness. And, and what makes March Madness so great is like the indelible moments that are seared in your brain is you know, a Villanova flutist crying her eyes out as Villanova loses a game. A kid like screaming in horror. A guy, a man dressed as a Colorado State Ram. Like sad as could be. I don't. That's what, that's what the sport is about. It's the real fans. So we need more of that. And that's, that's what this World Cup I think has brought out nicely in the off camera stuff like the Tartan army and all these in the Norway fans taking over Times Square and I, I can't, I just want to party with, with the entire country of Netherlands because those guys, everywhere they go, they're just listening to EDM and just you know, taking down 10 pints at a time.

[PFT Commentator]

Is it the same song? All I've seen from, from the fans from the Netherlands, they listen to the same song over and over again all day, every day and they love it.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Michael Davies]

That. Is that not the entire business model of edm.

[Unidentified Female Speaker]

Yeah.

[Michael Davies]

It's just the same song.

[Big Cat]

Yes.

[PFT Commentator]

No, but Big Cat's right like that, that is a big mistake that we're making broadcasting these games. It, it's a little bit much like people that do not care about the teams. Celebrities that maybe you haven't heard of in 15 years. We don't need to see them on the screen. The one guy, you know, Big Cat was talking about, the guy in March Madness dressed up as the sad Ram. I think back to that one, that sad Brazilian fella.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commentator]

Gripping on to the, the World cup

[Roger Bennett]

trophy in the seven month.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commentator]

In the seven one defeat. Which also like maybe Curacao's not that bad. Right. Because 71 might be a mark of a good team. He was holding on to it and he was just weeping. Just, just crying and you could tell

[Roger Bennett]

that real human emotion. Human.

[PFT Commentator]

An ex moment. That's what we want to see.

[Roger Bennett]

You knew man, when I saw you 100 days out from the World cup in Chicago. You turned around to me, said, you know what, I'm gonna. This was you pft. You said, I'm gonna spend time with the Scottish fans. You told me then you, you thought they were going to win the World Cup. You were right. I do think they've won the. When this World cup is remembered in like 40 years time, as all World Cups are, people remember like Messi what he did. People remember like Ronaldo what he didn't do. They'll remember like, you know, whatever American storyline happened and they'll say, and it was the World cup of the Scottish fans. What have you seen in them? Because there is something really beautiful. Really beautiful.

[PFT Commentator]

Yeah, I think, I think just their organization has been fantastic. That's. That's what impresses me the most sometimes it's like, how organized.

[Roger Bennett]

Yeah.

[PFT Commentator]

The logistics that they map out on different places to get drunk. And it's, it's impressive because they like, they must have a phone tree or something where it's like, okay, I'll call this person, you call the next guy. And then everyone. Mark, if you're going to be RSVP yes, no or maybe. And it seems like they've got a headcount everywhere, they call ahead to like the pubs that they're going to go to. Hey, just wondering if you have room for 70 drunken Scots. You do. Okay, great, we'll go there. Like, they do seem to plan everything out. And, and seeing them at 11 down in Miami, that was something special too.

[Michael Davies]

Yeah.

[PFT Commentator]

The guys in the kilts climbing up and down the poles. Yeah.

[Big Cat]

This is pretty awesome. This is great. This is exactly what the World cup should be.

[Michael Davies]

I'll say.

[PFT Commentator]

This is exactly what the world needs.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commentator]

Like overall, we need more of this. Because the more turns out, the more you hang out with people from other parts of the world, the more you like them and the more you enjoy the rest of the world. We need more of this.

[Big Cat]

And we had this discussion on, pardon my take as well, because I think with, with the World cup being in our country, we see this come up a lot. Like US Men's national team and the fans of the US Men's national team. We have to have chance and we have to have all this. We got to stop trying to copy, like European soccer culture. We have our own culture. We need to do the things that we do. We have SEC football. Like, we have these things that we are so good at and yet we're trying to rhyme, you know, all of our players names with a song from the 80s. Like they do in England. Just perfectly off the top of their head. No, play. Play some. Play some Metallica. Let's. Let's just like, you know, everyone, everyone wear black and let's just try to scare everyone.

[Michael Davies]

I'm, I, I think that's absolutely right and wouldn't necessarily go as far as Metallica, but I think the one thing that, that means that those chants work. And when you see like a European or South American stadium singing, it is genuinely like hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

[Big Cat]

Right.

[Michael Davies]

But it's just, it's just, it's authentic.

[Unidentified Female Speaker]

Right.

[Michael Davies]

Because that music means something in that context.

[PFT Commentator]

Yes.

[Michael Davies]

The US still has to find its thing. We've said this before about it might be country roads, it might not be. There will be a song that can kind of get America, that everyone in America knows the words too. That's really important.

[Roger Bennett]

I think it's going to be Hootie and the Bluefish. Please don't. Let's find the Bluefish. But on a serious note, everybody else has got their thing. Scott's got like their bagpipes. No, he's got the rope. I mean, by the way, with the SEC schools, there will be Norway Rose. Been done in some. You'll work, you'll know.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Roger Bennett]

I mean, the Netherlands, the Orange bounce into the match. We do need something to announce ourselves pre match. We need a thing. I don't know what that thing is.

[Big Cat]

It's. I don't know if you guys are familiar with LSU football, but it's. It's the best experience. You know, a Saturday night in Death Valley and they play a song called Neck. And the song basically just goes, oh. And then you say, suck that tiger dick. That's what we need. That's America. Can I. Can I give you guys another gripe? I'll give you another gripe while we're in the grape.

[PFT Commentator]

Suck that Pula sick kick.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, there we go.

[Michael Davies]

There you go. It's a PG13 version.

[Roger Bennett]

Yeah, yeah, there you go. You're gonna get a lot of royalties for that one.

[Big Cat]

Give us a marching band. Let's get a marching band out there. Let's do the Pen State whiteout. But here's another gripe for you guys. I know this. This is now turning into the gripe zone from us. It's an incredible World cup, but we.

[Roger Bennett]

So you're solving problems.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, we see, we see a sport and we're like, oh, we could fix this. And it's not the actual on field play, but what the hell was Germany Wearing today, that should be illegal. Why is Germany dressed like the Miami Dolphins? Alternate jerseys? They should. You can't do that. They do this in the NBA and we gripe about this, where you turn on a game and you're like, am I watching the Pacers or the Heat? The city connect.

[Roger Bennett]

Yeah, they're in the city. Germany were wearing their city connection.

[Big Cat]

What are we doing?

[PFT Commentator]

The NBA Cup. It was a World Cup Cup.

[Roger Bennett]

Yeah. Unfortunately, the city was Dresden. Yeah.

[Unidentified Female Speaker]

Like.

[Big Cat]

Like, when I turn on the World Cup, I want to see the traditional colors of your country.

[PFT Commentator]

That is a good spin zone for us. Because if you look at. We look back at this game against Turkey tonight, it was our B team, and we were wearing, like, some blue bullshit uniform that we're never going to wear again. I. We can forget. This is a really easy game for us to just kind of wipe away and move on from. I think that this kit, the. The red and white stripes, that needs to be the United States. Like, when you look at a TV and you see the red and white stripes, that's the United States.

[Roger Bennett]

That needs to be like a traditional, traditional color. Stonewashed denim, though, guys. Yeah. I actually think we should only wear seersucker. Like, not even the high performance fabric. It should just be like the seersucker. But you move into, like, the Americanness of things. Things you guys just had. Tim Ream on suggested he start throwing up four fingers after the water break. By the way, the commentator is now unironically being like. And in the third quarter, I'm like, what is going on? I mean, we're like TV timeouts. Two more shot clocks. I believe we are possibly just four years away from being so American that Chris Collinsworth is commentating on the World Cup.

[PFT Commentator]

Yeah, I get Tony Romo in there trying to figure out if somebody's off sides or not. Yeah, listen, the. The fourth quarter thing, that's. That's something that. It's very important part of American culture. If you played high school football, if you weren't very good, your main job was to be like, the first guy. Hey, it's fourth quarter, and you know what that means. Everyone know. You know what that means.

[Big Cat]

Let everyone know.

[PFT Commentator]

And then. And then the other team, it was. It was a race because if they beat you to the Fords and you felt like they're more prepared for the fourth quarter than we are, and that was usually a nightmare scenario.

[Unidentified Female Speaker]

There's a.

[PFT Commentator]

There's a lot that we can lean into when it comes to American sports. I think inner Sandman would be a great song to run out to, I think. I. I think, yeah, having. Having a marching band that is part of the game, I think that's a good thing. I mean, we let South Africa hand out French horns to everybody that walked into the stadium. We can have a. A small section devoted to a marching band.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, we get cowbells. We could do it all.

[PFT Commentator]

Free Bird as the whole song. We need more Freebird.

[Big Cat]

That's.

[PFT Commentator]

That's my fix for everything.

[Big Cat]

But Tim Ream was. Was great on the show and he agreed. The quarters thing, the hydration break is ridiculous, I think we can all agree. And the fact that they don't stop the clock and we just sit there and it's like three and a half. I know it's added back on, but it's just. It's so absurd that this has become a thing. And they'll be like, oh, yeah, it's, you know, 72 degrees in LA tonight. We're indoors. Hydration break. Okay.

[Michael Davies]

Someone's going to sell those adverts. It's important to be honest after 22 minutes. I've been watching football for 40 years. After 22 minutes of football, I've always thought I'd like to see something. Someone tell me about Powerade.

[Roger Bennett]

I'd like to see some of Christian Pulisic's acting jobs, enjoy his work on Wells Fargo. And mentally, they.

[Michael Davies]

They played Enter Sandman in Seattle just before they came on.

[Roger Bennett]

They listen to your show, man, Just wait till Johnny Infantino hears about the turducker. I do think FIFA will be. FIFA going to be changed over. I want to ask you a couple quick ones to come back out through the US team. I mean, I've got to say, I feel a little bit better just listening to you than I did the final whistle. Your audience, like, have they got. Have you felt like they've gone from, like, not caring about football whatsoever to now blazing group chats with heated opinions about the risk of sitting Tyler Adams in the third game.

[Unidentified Female Speaker]

Game.

[Roger Bennett]

You know, how they can show. Is it. Is a vernacular? Is it starting to filter through, or is there still work to be done?

[PFT Commentator]

I mean, there's definitely some work to be done, but I. I definitely think that a good amount of our audience is excited about the World cup and. And most of that stems from the fact that we had two great games to start out with. Like, if the US look, you know, came out first game, lost, second game, draw, it would be more of the same, like we've seen in the past. But I think a lot of people are interested because the US has been playing well. So right off the bat, I do think. And the fact that it's in the United States too, we're seeing like a lot more people that are, are following everything that's going on than we have in the, in the World Cups in the past. So. Yeah. And then the talking about, like, Pulisic today, like everybody was wondering, like, should you start him? Should you, should you put him in? Should he be a sub? And I was, I was telling everybody, no, under no circumstances, do not let this man onto the field tonight. And then I realized that it was my, my deep seated hurt that I have stored deep in my subconscious from Robert Griffin III that was telling me, like, you don't want this guy to play. I, I think actually having him play was probably the smart call.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commentator]

And getting him back in the room. But yeah, it's your original question. I do think that it's, it's transcended a little bit. Yeah.

[Big Cat]

We're having a moment and we also are getting the benefit of. There's nothing that we love more than having a good old fashioned who's the goat debate. And Messi Ronaldo is. And it's not really a debate anymore because it's, it's Messi, so clearly. But it is great to have that debate and have two entrenched sides knowing that, hey, my side's not going to move, your side's not going to move. Messi could score 100 goals in this World cup and Ronaldo could, you know, run around and do nothing. And there still will be Ronaldo fans out there. So that's fun. We're having fun with that.

[Michael Davies]

Yeah. Messi's def. Like being in the US for the last two and a half weeks. Like, Messi has won that by a mile. You see so many Messi jerseys everywhere.

[Roger Bennett]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

MLS star.

[Roger Bennett]

He's messy commercials. Messi, like Ronaldo is not selling you chips now. There's not sending you beers. Ronaldo is not selling you credit cards. Yeah. I mean, yeah.

[Big Cat]

Roger, did you ever think that an MLS player would be leading the Golden Boot halfway through the group stage? Because that's what's happening.

[Roger Bennett]

And I saw his name would be Alexi Lalas, so that was just my mistake, man. I always, I always hope he lasts. I didn't want to say what Messi we've had. We had Marshawn lynch on the show the other day and he just was going off with great poetry about Messi, like, with wonder and reverence. And it's almost like people who don't even like football. Marshawn does. But, like, people who don't even like football just adore Lynn. They look at him and they're like, they. They revere his almost tiny man. Massive biblical scale achievement. What. What do you see when you see this little dude? He looks like he's wandered out of super cuts. And then he's just my God, doing, like, biblical savagery.

[PFT Commentator]

Well, I do want to push back on one thing, that. That Ronaldo is not selling any products. I. When I see Ronaldo, I do get it. I get a hankering for some of that sweet Aramco oil. I gotta. I gotta go fill up on some of that. I gotta empty out my gas tank and get some of the good stuff in there. But with Messi, when we watch him play, I mean, the first word that comes to mind. Just goat.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Goat.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commentator]

He's just a goat. He's undeniable. He's unstoppable. He's created. He's thinking five steps ahead of everybody else at all times, eyes in the back of his head like he's a wizard.

[Big Cat]

It's. It's. It's watching something. Even if you're not a soccer fan and you watch Messi, it's like that test of, you could sit anyone down and be like, hey, watch this game, and then tell me who the best player is. It's like. It's like watching Steph Curry where you just know you're watching something special. And, yeah, he might be walking around for half the game, but I. I mean, you guys can tell me if I'm wrong. I don't know soccer, like the two of you. But, like, he. The way he's looking at the game, thinking about the game, almost downloading how the game is going, and then boom. It's like a burst out of nowhere. It's like he's got the angles. He's figured it out. All those. All that walking around, you see that is him doing nothing. He's doing a lot. And it's like a mini computer that he's processing. Okay, here's how I'm going to attack. And then it happens in a flash. You're like, what. What just happened? How did that. How did that happen? And it's. It's unbelievable to watch.

[Michael Davies]

No one is ever more alive. We said this before. No one's ever more alive than Lionel Messi, 30 yards out from goal with the ball at his feet.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Michael Davies]

That is when he. You see those moments and you can see him just totally right. Like he does walk around. Like he. He's kind of not really in the play quite a lot of the time. He's. He's figuring stuff out. He's kind of working out where everything is going to. To how it's all going to end up. He sees how it plays out and then the ball comes to him. Invariably comes to him 30 yards out. And it is as though he's 19 again. I watched him play when he was 19. It's the same movement, it's the same speed. It's the same kind of. Just this sense of someone who is completely alive. And it is. It's amazing to watch. And I think with the NFL players who all love Messi, greatness recognizes greatness. That's what it is. They might not like, I don't know if Marshawn lynch is the greatest tactical kind of understand the understander of football, but he recognizes Messi is so draw just perfect at what he does. And someone who's played sports to level my Sean has understands what that takes.

[Roger Bennett]

He said he saw Barry Sanders in it, is what he said. Yeah, it's just really, really beautiful, man. Really.

[Big Cat]

And it's the entry. It really is the entry point to a lot of sports where if you don't understand the sport but you can recognize it, just jumping off the screen of like, that's special. That's different.

[PFT Commentator]

Yeah, that's.

[Big Cat]

It's a beautiful thing to watch.

[PFT Commentator]

I always thought it would be. There'd be a lot of pressure to be Messi's teammate. Not because you want to make sure that, you know, he accomplishes as much as. As he's able to in his career, but it's almost like he's going to put the ball in the right place. Are you going to be making that run at the right time to receive the ball where you should be? Because Messi's going to put it there. You know, like, you almost have to level up how smart you are as a player to try to think like Messi.

[Roger Bennett]

It's so funny. They all love him, man. He's not a shouter. They all love him and they all, like, want to lift him up. There are other people who I'm not going to name who are shouters and do kind of embarrass their teammates. What you've just described is also true for Caleb Williams. I've got two quick ones. I'm going to let you go because you've been beautiful and you made me feel so much better about Life. Football. The future of the United States in this World Cup. I'm going to say some words. Just shout out the first thing that comes to your mind when I say these things. We're going to run through them very quickly. You ready for this? Here we go. US Men's National Team.

[PFT Commentator]

When I see the US mnt, I just said US Mutant Ninja Turtles.

[Unidentified Female Speaker]

US.

[PFT Commentator]

Do you guys see that? When you see the mnt, I can't stop seeing it.

[Roger Bennett]

I don't know how they lose so much then if that's the case. Hydration breaks

[PFT Commentator]

money.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Roger Bennett]

Commercial money, Tami.

[Big Cat]

The best. The absolute best. Like, I want to die and become a member of tartan army when I. When I become reincarnated. It's a Scottish guy. It's a Scottish guy getting his scalp burned in Miami.

[Roger Bennett]

Scene. We've seen the afterlife. Freddie LA7.

[PFT Commentator]

Oh, Freddie LA7.

[Big Cat]

Oh, I gotta take about it.

[PFT Commentator]

Complicated.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. All right, so I. I have a take about Freddie LA7 because we live in such a terrible, cynical world and this guy pops on the scene and, and the first couple of days, everyone's like, this is such a great story. And then it turns into, oh, he's a psyop and he's, you know, government funded and everyone's trying to find a way to make this a bad story. Let the guy just enjoy it. Let's, like, it's okay. Like, let him have fun. If he wants to go and say that Eastern Ohio is beautiful, God love him. So I. I think we people are too cynical and they always try to find the worst part of everything. Just let him have.

[Roger Bennett]

It's a. It's a psyop, but it's a good sign, right?

[Michael Davies]

Roger's really cynical about it. I'm. I agree completely. I think the best thing about. About Freddie, about Freddie LA7 is that he's not revealed his face. Yeah, he wants to. He wants to go to the games. It's nice.

[Big Cat]

Let him enjoy.

[Roger Bennett]

I am now. I am. You've been.

[PFT Commentator]

Been told when you first saw him you liked him, right?

[Roger Bennett]

Yeah. Yeah. Did Waffle House smother covered? I'm like, man, Yes, I did like him.

[PFT Commentator]

So. So you've just evolved, Freddy. LA7 hasn't changed. It's about you.

[Big Cat]

Why? Did you forget what it was like to walk into a chili to have them hand you bottomless chips for the first time?

[Roger Bennett]

Oh, my God, the summary, right? You're so vain about me. That's what you're saying.

[PFT Commentator]

What it's like to sit down at a Waffle House counter and have J.J. watt make you an omelet family.

[Roger Bennett]

Yeah, exactly. This is simple pleasures, Zlatan.

[Big Cat]

Oh, man. Yeah, that's.

[PFT Commentator]

Yeah, that's it. I'll tell you what, he's got a lot of nerve. He's got a lot of nerve talking to Alexi Lawless like he's better at soccer than he is.

[Big Cat]

Can I just say something about Zlatan? And this is how. This is how this dynamic has worked. And, like, I'm not the biggest Alexi Lawless fan, but the way they were treating him got me so, like, riled up that Zlatan has not scored a World cup goal. Can someone point that out? Alexi Law should drop that in his face, be like, hey, man, you were awesome. How many goals you score in the World Cup? Oh, is that zero? Because it was zero.

[PFT Commentator]

Just be like, same. Yeah, yeah, we're not so different.

[Roger Bennett]

Hey, you know what?

[Big Cat]

I've scored as many world Cups.

[PFT Commentator]

The worst thing that ever happened, by the way, is. Is for people to find out Alexi Lawless's politics. Because I hated him before. Like, yeah, this has nothing to do with politics. We should all agree to. To hate the man's commentary, regardless of how he votes.

[Big Cat]

Right. Don't let it touch.

[Michael Davies]

He is not for what he thinks.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, right. Exactly.

[PFT Commentator]

Yes, exactly.

[Big Cat]

Let's not make this political.

[Roger Bennett]

Yeah, I'm still.

[Unidentified Female Speaker]

We've got.

[Roger Bennett]

Yeah, you bending my brain on Friday, La Salle 7. I mean, my last one. My last one was Lalas, but I feel like you've. You've done it already, pretty much.

[PFT Commentator]

And I should say, for the record, my. My exceeded hatred of Alexi Lala stems from George Mason University. In the year 1997, when I was a ball boy for the U. S. Men's national team for a week of training. And I asked him because I. I saw that he had a guitar. I was like, what kind of guitar? What kind of amp do you have? I. I just got a guitar, too. And he said, I. I have a Crate crate, and it's really good and you should buy a crate. I went out and bought a crate. It's the worst amplifier that you could have possibly purchased. And he told me with a straight face. I come to find out years later, he had. He had a sponsorship deal with Crate. He was trying to make money. They were paying him off that I bought the worst piece of equipment I've ever bought. I didn't have the money to do that. Alexi, you had. You had money to buy whatever you wanted, and you told a little 12 year old PFT buy this terrible amplifier and it set me back, frankly, five years on my plan.

[Roger Bennett]

Good job. You didn't, you don't carry grudges, but you did say this to his face, didn't you? Recently?

[PFT Commentator]

I did. On, on the Wake Up Barstool show. Yeah, we, we hashed it out pretty good. We agreed to disagree. We move forward.

[Roger Bennett]

Look at that.

[Michael Davies]

Does he still have a deal with Crate?

[PFT Commentator]

I.

[Unidentified Female Speaker]

Not anymore.

[PFT Commentator]

Not the way that I made him talk about it.

[Roger Bennett]

The, the chat is going mad at high desert 945 in the chat is one of many saying, oh no, not a crate. Yeah, I think, yeah, I think there were many victims. Last question for you, you incredible human beings. 1994 World cup in America until today, actually, it's just changed from today. Today beat it. But it was still the most well attended World cup, but it was like a circus that came and went. How do we know for sure this will be different? And how big do you think football will be in 30 years time?

[Big Cat]

Sport of the future, are you saying American football? Because that's, that's gonna keep getting bigger and bigger.

[Roger Bennett]

The soccer.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, it's, it's, it's baby steps. I mean this has been an awesome tournament. It's so much fun to watch and the storylines are incredible and I hope that it builds momentum. But knowing this country, listen, when, when week one NFL comes around that, you know, listen, that, that's, that's king.

[PFT Commentator]

That's the best thing, that's the best thing that the World cup, cup could possibly do is make sure that you'd stay out of the way of the real sports.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Last, last World cup, when they played it in the middle of our football season, it's like, what are you doing?

[PFT Commentator]

It gets our undivided attention.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commentator]

And, and we love it. But I mean, the real answer is, I think 1994, that's when I fell in love with international soccer. As, as a young boy in the United States, that World cup made me interested in international soccer. So I think that in, you know, 30 years, you're going to have a lot of other really dumb young kids that grew up to root for the U.S. men's National Team, giving their uninformed opinions wildly on whatever broadcast they have at the time. So we're going to see that it's going to grow exponentially in that circumstance. We will have a, you know, and the US making out of the, the group and hopefully winning some knockout games. It'll increase soccer's profile in America for sure. So we're moving forward.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Keep pickleball down. We're happy because pickleball is the worst sport of all time. We can all agree on that.

[Roger Bennett]

I don't co sign. I will say in 20 years, in 30 years time, in that America that you've talked about, it will be beautiful. And Tim Ream will still be playing. Yeah. Still be chugging along, leading this team to almost glory. I want to thank you both. You've met Rory, who's the best of us. It's a joy to hear your voices. I want to thank you for inserting football for a couple of minutes on occasion throughout this World Cup. It's more meaningful than you'll ever know. Huge, huge love to you both. And that Caleb Williams interview with.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, it's coming tomorrow. We got a new one coming tomorrow. Caleb Williams coming tomorrow. Yeah.

[Roger Bennett]

Pull it. Surprise.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. And. And by the way, 30 years from now, you'll be hating on Freddie LA's children, so good job, Roger. Cynical, cynical jerk.

[Roger Bennett]

At least, at least I'm consistent. Okay. Used to be a virtue. And big, big love, guys. Thank you, thank you, thank you. What a pair of proper, proper gents. Raw.

[Michael Davies]

They are absolutely right about Freddie LA7 though. You need to kind of. You need to kind of allow the positivity back into your heart.

[Roger Bennett]

I need to open my heart.

[Michael Davies]

Yeah.

[Roger Bennett]

It's dead, man. It's dead. And Turkey killed it tonight. But football, don't sleep.

[Unidentified Female Speaker]

Raw.

[Roger Bennett]

Tomorrow you and I are flying to Philadelphia for a Saturday match day live. You know what time we're waking up right, tonight.

[Michael Davies]

Please don't tell me.

[Roger Bennett]

3:45.

[Michael Davies]

No, Rod, we're not. We're leaving at 3:45.

[Roger Bennett]

Are we really?

[Michael Davies]

Yeah.

[Unidentified Female Speaker]

Oh, my God.

[Michael Davies]

And I do not intend to do it in my pajamas.

[Roger Bennett]

Early bird catches the six game World cup days or whatever it is. So let's get into it. Pair of group eye matches, start the day tomorrow. Headliner and leaning forward. Norway, France. I'm interested. Proper heavyweight battle. Erling, Harlan Killian, Mbappe, Ali Fraser, Godzilla, Mothra, maybe even Lord Byron, John Keats or.

[Michael Davies]

Absolutely. That's what early and Killing will be talking about.

[Roger Bennett]

Yeah. Oh, to a Nightingale or gtfo and then both get sent off. It's pretty. It's an epic rumble.

[Michael Davies]

Yeah, it's one of those where there's not. They're both qualified. It matters where you finish, obviously, in terms of your pathways. But also they'll both want to make a little bit of a statement against the team that certainly France obviously are a contender. I think Norway could go really deep.

[Unidentified Female Speaker]

Deep.

[Michael Davies]

So it means something to both.

[Roger Bennett]

When a reporter asked Harlem for his thoughts, he said, they're probably gonna win against us. They're probably gonna win the whole tournament. Stay humble. I think he was bluffing. Didn't you? I thought it was.

[Michael Davies]

Yeah. That's not how early in Holland operates.

[Roger Bennett]

He's early.

[Michael Davies]

Holland does not think that. That France are going to beat Norway. No.

[Roger Bennett]

Yeah. That was totally hard.

[Michael Davies]

And thinks Norway don't. To win the World Cup. 100.

[Roger Bennett]

Yeah. This match on side who tops the group. Both have won the first two games and Holland and Mape tied on four so far. But this is going to be the best opposition by some stretch that they have faced and probably will face for a moment. Also our thoughts are with France man Didier Deschamps, whose mother passed away earlier this week. He's flown back to France to attend a funeral. Until he returns, Le Blue will be coached by his assistant Guy Stefan. Kicking off at the same time. Senegal, Iraq. Some line online. Valencia. The Lions of Taranga against the Lions of Meso to Tomia. Winner gets the trademark. Expectations are high for Senegal coming into this. They'd won the afcon. On the field, not so much in the courtroom, but I'm on the verge of elimination. Back to back losses for the first time we've endured off field chaos. Players unpaid bonuses. Coach Papa Chow's contract dispute from protests even over the number of tickets are allotted on the field. It's not been better. Kula by he said every ball I touched went wrong. Which is just such a beautiful piece of poetry. It's haunting.

[Michael Davies]

It is. They've been unlucky in terms of the group. Just France and Norway both very good. But as you say, it's been a chaotic campaign. I think they will beat Iraq and I think they will get through.

[Roger Bennett]

In group H for don't get humped. Uruguay, Spain, whose coach, Louis de la Fuente said, it's crazy to question this team. I think after 4 nil slice and dice to Saudi Arabia, only Virginia is questioning them anymore. Uruguay, two disappointing draws. Not a bad result. We're about to see truly the saddest album cover headshot of Marcelo Bielsa. A loss in Uruguay. Done a draw and he might squeak through possibly to face England in the knockouts. Nothing a sprinkler newness madness can't fix. He's tightening his braids as we speak. Then we're on to everyone's favorite team for eternity, aka the past 10 days. The mighty Cape Verde who face Saudi Arabia. Interesting.

[Michael Davies]

Yeah. And a real. A real chance. It is ridiculous as the Cape Verde store has already been Rog. There's a pretty good chance they get through. I think they're better than the Saudis. The Saudis did not look great against Spain. Cape Verde got this incredible kind of emotion behind them. A draw would probably take them through because I think Spain will be Uruguay. A win would definitely take them through. That would be amazing.

[Roger Bennett]

Kate Verde's coach Babista said there's something we owe to other smaller national teams. We're here to show a country maybe small may struggle financially, but if they are resilient, if they can endure struggle, they can stand shoulder to shoulder with major teams. Major players are on another level. He's honestly the Cape Verde and Tony dimato and I wonder he's going to play them all in the movie which is sure to be forthcoming. Saudi Arabia drew a Uruguay. Cape verde have a 0.05 chance of winning the tournament. Oh, I love those.

[Michael Davies]

That's a lot of percentage.

[Roger Bennett]

Yes, Chris Richard. That's a lot of percentage. Then in the late slot group G for Geronimo. Cruel irony. Egypt, fresh off the first ever World cup win against Iran, now allowed within the United States for two full days before a game. That makes me sad. And it's in the Pride game in Seattle. Two countries where homosexuality is prosecuted as a crime. FIFA ruled it will allow rainbow flags in the stadium. This is where we are now. Who knew that FIFA might come out of Pride month looking better than the San Francisco Giants? All I know is in the Venn diagram between fans of Mo Salah and heated rivalry, the common denominator is ABS and just let love rule rule.

[Michael Davies]

Yeah. Well, obviously it's absolutely right that FIFA should allow pride flags in. It's. It's quite sad that there was even a question about it, to be perfectly honest. I think from a football point of view this is a real opportunity for Egypt. Iran have been pretty good in their two games. They're unbeaten and given the circumstances in which they're playing, regardless of where you stand on. On kind of the issues that surround them, I think as a sporting achievement to, to draw those two games has been really impressive because they are. They have been operating as Mediterranean. The captain said several times they are operating under different conditions to everybody else. I think Egypt will know that if they win this game, they go through and for. For the. For that football mad country and the greatest player it's ever produced. That's a real incentive.

[Roger Bennett]

Yeah, the game in that group. New Zealand, Belgium. Jeremy Doku back. Lovely to see him back with all that joy. He just missed the group second game to witness birth of his firstborn son. Beautifully named praise in London. That's the heavenly Belgium on the field. They've been terrible. Both teams need a win. Loss will send them home. Draw will leave them in Scotland's precarious purgatory. How is your purgatory, your dream? Hanging by a thread. I love the tweet. Did Scotland beat Brazil? No. Did Scotland fight and scrap and be first to every second ball of all of their life? Also no.

[Michael Davies]

Yeah, it wasn't a great performance and they are, I think, I mean the, the odds now of them going through were very, very slender. I think they would need so tomorrow Roger, what I want is Spain win, Cape Verde win. I think I want an Egypt to win. Don't care what happens in the other game. And then it will come down essentially to it would be ideal if Senator didn't beat Iraq, but I think they will. And then I think it will come down to the Congo Uzbetistan Classic Clash.

[Roger Bennett]

And before we move on, for those who prefer to have your football in written form over a cup of coffee, you can get a deep dive into all the World cup happenings with the Men in Blazers newsletter. I love it. We put it out seven days a week. Tells you all you need to know about the action, maybe even a few thoughts from me. But you're all off for just a few. If you've not subscribed already, please do it. Share it with your friends. Give it a look. Link is in the show notes below. You already know what's left. Raw it's time for what everyone suddenly believes that needs its own theme music before the match. Tonight the US gents have had a 20 chance to make the semi finals, 38 chance to reach the quarters and 22% chance of getting out in the round of 16. But look at the realities now. Doesn't look as pretty as it used to. Raw simple question. Does this loss do anything to change your ultimate long term prospects for the US Boys?

[Michael Davies]

Not re. Not. Not really. Not materially. Rog I think they'd already locked up the group. They've won the group. It doesn't change who they play in the round of 32. I think that is not it's not an easy game, but it's not a. It's not kind of a Morocco, Netherlands kind of nightmare game. It's what you'd have taken at the start of the tournament. I think if you'd said, in the round of 32, the US will play Bosnia, you'd probably have said, okay, I'll, you know, deal with that. I won't sort of choose what's in the box. I still think the quarterfinals are the most likely outcome.

[Roger Bennett]

Oh, I still maintain we're going all the way. 5%. What would Chris Richard should say?

[Michael Davies]

He takes a lot of percentage.

[Roger Bennett]

A lot of percentage.

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[Michael Davies]

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[Roger Bennett]

Okay, it's time for the food European mind cannot comprehend. And in honor of coach Pochettino. Coach, we've gone to his favorite food in America. It's Chick fil A. Have you got all of it?

[Michael Davies]

I've got all of it. So here are some fries.

[PFT Commentator]

Yeah.

[Michael Davies]

They look like Crinkle cut.

[Roger Bennett]

Yeah, I'm not interested.

[Michael Davies]

Roger don't do carbs.

[Roger Bennett]

Yeah, and I'm just like, they're cold and it's just not worth it. But this is interesting.

[Michael Davies]

So I've heard of Chick fil A. Yeah.

[Roger Bennett]

If you don't know what it is. Yesterday, Coach Poach had a great quote saying of America. People have no healthy food. Yes, you got the healthy food, but you also have the chick fil a. It's amazing. My question is, has he tried a Malibu Mango Erwin smoothie? But raw. Let's get in here. Okay. This is like a citizenship test rating Chick fil A. So be very careful.

[Michael Davies]

Someone's on a visa.

[Roger Bennett]

I want to hear from you. Tell. Tell us now. I'm gonna guess you're gonna give this a 7.5.

[Michael Davies]

Not far off, Rog, but a little bit higher.

[Roger Bennett]

Go on.

[Michael Davies]

It's a 7.9. Oh, my Lord.

[Roger Bennett]

Where does that snuggle in be?

[Michael Davies]

About sixth or seventh, I think. That is.

[Roger Bennett]

It's not as good as Ross goes, man.

[Michael Davies]

So that is a really nice chicken burger. Yeah, that is better than your. I don't want to criticize anybody, any small businesses, but you know the guy with the little. The little bolo tie and the mustache who's got a chicken thing?

[Roger Bennett]

Mr. Colonel Sanders, Eternal Sanders, one of the great military minds of our nation.

[Michael Davies]

Colonel Sanders, who's in charge of several regiments. I think. I think that is a better chicken burger than General Sanders produces.

[Roger Bennett]

That's ridiculous. But at the same time, his military maneuvers.

[Michael Davies]

I'm not.

[Roger Bennett]

I mean, I'm defeated.

[Michael Davies]

Don't get me wrong. I wouldn't put Chick Fil A in. I wouldn't get them to invade a beach. Yeah, but that is. It's really nice. But it is at the same time still just a chicken burger.

[Roger Bennett]

Potch has just spoken to the media. After today's loss. Tom Bogart tweeted Mitchie potchinas want to talk about momentum. We kind of have to Poch. He said, I'm happy. Maybe I'm not showing because your questions are a little bit weird. I'm confused. Maybe the vibes is like, we go home tonight and Turkey stays in the World cup now. Yeah. Oh, hold on one second. Colonel Sanders versus the tart Nami. Who wins? That's very interesting.

[Michael Davies]

Well, I think we've established it over the course of the last two nights. The. The battle for the battles are won logistically.

[Roger Bennett]

Yeah.

[Michael Davies]

And the tartan army have managed to get loads of traffic cones over to America. I think they take it logistically.

[Roger Bennett]

I think they kick.

[Michael Davies]

Also in Britain a couple of years ago, they KFC ran out of chicken.

[Roger Bennett]

Did they really? Yeah.

[Michael Davies]

Problem in there.

[Roger Bennett]

Come on, Coach Poach. Let's end with one of your letters. You know, we end this with your love letters to the World Cup. Really the best of your journeys, your experiences, your memories. Drop us a line. Men in blazers discord. Or send us an email meninblazersmail.com this letter comes from GFO P. Katie. It's really beautiful raw. Do the honors.

[Michael Davies]

You enjoy your chit fillet. I send this photo in as a special reminder of how football is. What makes something so special. My dad was at the Brazil. My dad was at the Brazil USA match on July 4th in Stanford 32 years ago when he Bought this jacket. It's a classic. He was born in Portugal, but from the moment he landed on American shores, he was red, white and blue through and through. Even in an era where routing for Portugal would have been much easier and slightly less heartbreaking, he shared that love with me. And I've been obsessed with all things US Soccer for as long as I can remember. I lost my dad in 2022, but did inherit his jacket and felt so proud I could bring it back to life in Seattle last week. I know I'm not alone in having brought folks with me to the stadium in spirit. And it was so meaningful to bring a second generation of American love to the World Cup. Let's go win this damn thing right? Much love and courage, Katie and Luciano.

[Roger Bennett]

Katie, that is a beautiful letter. It really, really is. My heart goes out to you for the memory of your father. Luciano. I know the pain of losing a father. One you said many beautiful memories with. My dad died July 4, two years ago, so it's coming up. And that bond that I have with him through football is so deep. All of you parents out there taking your kids, my wife took my kids to the game today. I always say to them, you will. Your kids will remember this forever. This memory of the football, but also of you. I hope you think about that every time you wear the jacket. Savor it. Savor these memories. And yeah, let's go win the World Cup. Send us your email, send us your postal. I will send you a patch. I can't wait to raise a pint with you when we're next in Seattle. Final note, we're officially heading east tomorrow morning.

[Michael Davies]

Time zone change.

[Roger Bennett]

Rog, I can't wait. A long residence on the west coast coming to an end. We're going back to one of my favorite cities, Philadelphia. Fourth stop on the matchday. Live. We'll be in the quite gorgeous Spruce Street Harbour park this Saturday, June 27th on the waterfront, 3pm Eastern Time. Come be with us before Croatia take on Garda. Ru and I will be joined by another stack. Lineup up. You got World cup champion Sam Mewis is coming. We got Italy's iconic striker, Super Mario Balotelli, an Eagles royalty. Jeremiah Trotter, the Axeman. It's going to be the most important day in Philadelphia since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. I don't like to be hyperbolic. After that, we're going to Atlanta next Wednesday, July 1st. Founders Green, come be with us. Honestly, pretty much show of shows. We've got a couple. I can't Tell you, the level of talent we've got in Atlanta, it's going to be hilarious. You ready for that?

[Michael Davies]

I'm slightly worried about what team one versus Team two means, Roger.

[Roger Bennett]

It means that we do not know what we're talking about. Right?

[Michael Davies]

Okay, fine.

[Roger Bennett]

How's that?

[Michael Davies]

I'm very much looking forward to Mario Balotelli live in Philadelphia.

[Roger Bennett]

Yes. Words, feelings, fireworks, maybe for baby. On that note, Rory, we'll be back Tomorrow from Philadelphia, 1:00am Eastern Time. Time change works against us, friendo. Come join us on the YouTube magical moment from our Matchday live right here this evening, one lucky fan did something incredible. We do a Marriott Bonvoy take your shot challenge. If you can get it in the circle of life, you can win tickets for the World Cup Final. And with Rams legend Todd Gurley coaching him, Mighty Man Rubico did this. This is Rog saying, let's not take a second of watching football together for granted. Cheer up, America. I feel better after being with you. Big, big. Love and courage. Roll tape. For your dad. Do it for your dad, baby. Do it for your dad. Come on, baby.

[Kyle Beckerman]

Here we.

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[Roger Bennett]

Usa. Usa. Usa. Usa. U.s.a. let's hear.

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