Salah Battles Slot, Messi Wins MLS Cup, and USMNT Draw Dream Group

Summary

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Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard

Episode: Salah Battles Slot, Messi Wins MLS Cup, and USMNT Draw Dream Group
December 9, 2025

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Episode Overview

Landon Donovan and Tim Howard deliver an episode packed with high-stakes soccer drama: Lionel Messi’s impact in bringing Inter Miami its first MLS Cup, the surging tensions at Liverpool between Mohamed Salah and new manager Arne Slot, and the excitement (and nerves) following the USMNT’s favorable 2026 World Cup group stage draw. Alongside tactical breakdowns and personal anecdotes, the hosts debate coaching philosophies, league dynamics, roster politics, and what "winning" actually means for US soccer.

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Key Episode Topics & Insights

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1. MLS Cup Final: Miami vs. Vancouver

[01:33-16:23]

• Messi Delivers for Miami

  • Miami clinches the MLS Cup against Vancouver in a match that, by both hosts' accounts, Vancouver "kind of deserved to win" ([02:01]). The match’s flow was classic MLS: open play, heavy transitions, and ultimately "three moments, three goals, and it's over" ([02:01]).
  • Landon: "Great for the league, great for Miami, great for my former teammate David Beckham."

• MLS Defense under the Microscope

  • Tim argues that the league’s attacking reputation disguises poor defending: "People often talk about MLS being a really powerful, strong, attacking league…my takeaway is MLS is a very poor defensive league. Right. Very poor defensive league." ([02:22])
  • This defensive frailty played right into Miami's hands, letting Messi impact the game in decisive moments.

• Stopping Messi (Or Not) – A Coaching Rant

  • Landon is flummoxed that teams still give Messi freedom: “Why do you not have someone around him at all times?... Even in the second half...he had 30 yards with nobody around him.” ([04:26])
  • Tim proposes: "Figure out a way to sacrifice one area of the game...dump him every time. Take a booking...It hasn't worked. So literally hasn't worked.” ([05:49])

• Managing Superstars: Mascherano’s Gambit

  • Both praise Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano’s decisions—resting Messi and dropping Luis Suarez for playoff games, prioritizing team health and playoff fitness.
  • Landon: “He made some really hard decisions, man… He did a phenomenal job. The actual managing how they play is how they play… But the actual, just management of all this, I thought was excellent.” ([10:09])

• Miami’s Win – Good or Bad for MLS?

  • Landon says Inter Miami’s “villain” role is great for MLS–teams “hate Miami more, which I think is great for the league.” ([13:51])
  • Tim believes the “haves and have nots” dynamic drives drama and viewership.
  • Donovan quips at accusations Miami “bought a title”: “Everybody pays for a title. That's what you do, you spend…you think it's easy to convince Lionel Messi to come to Miami? ...It must have been years and years and years of wooing him.” ([15:09])

• Predictions: Who’s More Likely to Return Next Year?

  • Both favor Vancouver, citing team quality and Miami’s likely “World Cup hangover” with Messi and others fatigued from full international cycles ([16:10]).
  • Tim warns: “Not because they're bad, but because literally the exhaustion...there’s so much more on Messi’s plate going into a World Cup and then post-World Cup how he unwraps that than anybody else.” ([17:40])

Notable Quotes:

• Tim: “MLS is a very poor defensive league. Right. Very poor defensive league.” ([02:22])
• Landon: “Why do you not have someone around him at all times?... he had 30 yards with nobody around him.” ([04:26])
• Tim: "He [Mascherano] didn't just pump his fist. He nearly jumped in the stands. He ran around the field. He hugged people after the third goal. Let me throw this in the mix, because everyone's talking about Messi. He's a dog, and he's been successful everywhere he's gone." ([11:03])

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2. Premier League Drama: Salah vs Arne Slot at Liverpool

[21:16-32:50]

• Salah Benched, Frustrations Boil Over
  • Salah, benched for three games, gives a bombshell post-match interview: “I’ve done so much for this club…now I’m sitting on the bench and I don’t know why. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus.” ([22:10])
  • Landon notes: “It is electric. When you guys sent it in the group chat, I was like. My mouth dropped. I was like, whoa.”
• Breaking Down the Power Struggle
  • Tim sides with Salah, arguing stars are not—and should not be—treated the same as others.
    • “There’s this myth in sports that everyone’s treated the same… Nobody’s treated the same on the inside, particularly not a world class, one of the best in the world players who has brought you silverware after major trophy droughts…” ([24:52])
  • Landon, more sympathetic to the club, adds, “Sports to me are the ultimate meritocracy...If he's not doing the job, that is tens, if not hundreds of millions of dollars lost. And so he can't just say, I've earned it over the last—yes, you've earned some respect and some right, but if you're not performing, you don't have a right to say, I get to keep playing.” ([29:53])
  • Tim: “You cannot have Mo Salah both ways. You can only have him one way... If you want these guys to be the best and you want them to be single minded...they only know one way.” ([31:41])
• Team Dynamics: Dressing Room Readings
  • Tim analyzes a tunnel incident: Salah singled himself out, and teammates “each to a man walked by him and. And that tells me that maybe they don't disagree with him.” ([27:35])
  • The pair discuss the likely outcomes: Salah leaving, Slot potentially getting fired if results tank, and the broader locker-room implications.

Notable Quotes:

• Mo Salah (quoted by Landon): "I’ve done so much for this club down the years and especially last season. Now I’m sitting on the bench and I don’t know why. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus." ([22:10])
• Tim: “If I’m Mo Salah and I’ve done everything for this football club...I have a bit more license. Drop the other guys.” ([26:22])
• Tim: "You cannot have Mo Salah both ways. You can only have him one way..." ([31:41])

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3. World Cup 2026 Draw: USMNT's "Dream Group" and The Path Forward

[38:18–61:32]

• Atmosphere & Star Power at the Draw

  • Landon shares the surreal experience at the draw with presidents, world stars, and legends from multiple sports: "It was such a bizarre experience...so exciting because everyone has their own interest in what's going on." ([38:56])

• Group Analysis & Confidence

  • USMNT’s group: Paraguay, Australia, and likely Turkey. Both hosts agree: the path couldn't have gone much better.
    • Tim: “This is a guaranteed US Men will top this group.” ([44:00])
    • Landon: “You would bet it on the US on all three games.” ([44:10])
  • The hosts poke fun at perennial pessimism: “So many people in the US media landscape talk about how they think this is a tricky draw. I don't.” ([43:54])

• Likely Path to Glory: Bracket Analysis

  • They dive deep into the likely knockout brackets—predicting a round of 16 matchup vs. a third-place finisher (e.g., Switzerland, Egypt), then possibly Belgium in the round of 16, Spain in the quarters, France in the semis, and Argentina in the final.
  • Landon: “How much money I would pay just to get to watch us at home in a World Cup against Spain in a quarterfinal.” ([48:18])
  • “If we get to a final, we're winning for sure...We're on a heater if we get to a final.” ([49:05])

• USMNT’s Benchmark for Success

  • The meaning of "success": Is it surpassing the 2002 team’s quarterfinal finish, or something else? They debate the moving goalposts of success given the new expanded format.
  • Landon: “If this team gets to a quarter final, that is a MASSIVE success.” ([55:14])
  • Tim: “Go smash records. Go create a World Cup where everybody falls in love with this team...just big moments.” ([55:29])

• Roster Philosophy: The 'Right' vs. the 'Best'

  • They dissect coach Pochettino’s statement about picking “the right players, not the best players.”
  • Tim: “Sometimes you need some bag carriers and some water carriers at the back end or a guy who’s a set piece specialist.”
  • Landon: “There are players that make a World Cup that are not, quote, the best... It's true in every environment in every country.” ([59:07])

Notable Quotes:

• Tim: “This is a guaranteed US Men will top this group.” ([44:00])
• Landon: “If this team gets to a quarter final, that is a massive success.” ([55:14])
• Pochettino (quoted): “We don’t need the best players. We need the right players to make a team, a strong team.” ([56:59])

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4. Fan Mailbag & Listener Questions

[67:28–81:37]

• Salah’s Liverpool Future?
  • J.R. and the hosts speculate: “Will Mo Salah play another game for Liverpool Football Club? ...No, I think that's the right answer.” ([68:34])
  • Tim’s twist: “Slot's gonna get fired...He gets dropped for Inter. He gets dropped for Brighton before he goes to AFCON. Then he goes away...there's a new manager.”
• World Cup Playoff Predictions & Dark Horses
  • Quickfire predictions for playoff groups: Heart says Ireland, Italy, Turkey, Sweden, Iraq, Jamaica; dark horses include Colombia and Italy, given their history of peaking in tournaments ([76:48]).
• Personal Memories: World Cup Roster Cuts
  • Landon reflects on the pain of Brian Ching being left off the 2010 squad: “Coaches have really hard decisions to make...I felt bad for him as a person because I wanted him to have that experience.” ([78:21])
• Atmosphere: Finals Under the Lights?
  • Is there a difference between day and night finals? Most love night games’ drama, but TV and money dictates schedules. “I just like the lights and the energy. It's cold, the field's wet, the ball moves fast, all that. It's just better.” ([80:55])

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Timestamps: Key Segments

• Messi and Miami’s Triumph – [01:33–16:23]
• Salah vs. Slot: Liverpool Drama – [21:16–32:50]
• World Cup Draw & USMNT Path – [38:18–61:32]
• USMNT Roster/Coaching Philosophy – [56:36–61:32]
• Mailbag (Fan Connection) – [67:28–81:37]
• Final banter and wrap-up – [81:37–end]

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Memorable Quotes (with Timestamps & Speaker)

• “MLS is a very poor defensive league.” – Tim Howard [02:22]
• “Why do you not have someone around him at all times?” – Landon Donovan [04:26]
• “There’s this myth in sports that everyone’s treated the same… Nobody’s treated the same on the inside, particularly not a world class, one of the best in the world players who has brought you silverware after major trophy droughts…” – Tim Howard [24:52]
• “He [Slot] is clearly making a statement here, right? I’m not playing you…It’s probably because of what he said more than anything else.” – Tim Howard [23:55]
• “This is a guaranteed US Men will top this group.” – Tim Howard [44:00]
• “If this team gets to a quarter final, that is a MASSIVE success.” – Landon Donovan [55:14]
• Coach Pochettino (quoted): "We don’t need the best players. We need the right players to make a team, a strong team.” [56:59]

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Tone & Style Notes

The episode is witty, irreverent, honest, and deeply informed, blending high-level tactical insight with player-centric empathy and the playful edge of two USMNT legends. Landon and Tim are passionate, occasionally fiery, always unfiltered—bouncing between straight talk and a locker-room banter that feels both accessible and authoritative.

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Summary for Newcomers

If you missed this episode, you missed the US’s top soccer minds digging into everything a fan cares about: How do you actually stop Messi? What happens when a legend like Salah gets benched? Does Miami “buying a title” help or hurt MLS? And as the 2026 World Cup comes to US soil, just how far can this golden generation go? From tactical rants to behind-the-scenes stories, it’s another essential listen for anyone invested in US and global soccer.

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Transcript

[A]

There's this myth in sports that everyone's treated the same, and that's a myth on the outside. Nobody's treated the same on the inside. Particularly not one of the best in the world players who has brought you silverware after major trophy droughts. And this person has become the best player at your club, in your league and around the world.

[B]

Unfiltered Soccer with Landon and Tim, presented by Volkswagen. Volkswagen has long been a supporter of soccer in America and a sport proudly been a partner of U.S. soccer for over five years.

[A]

Welcome in to Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan. That's him. And Tim Howard. That's me. Presented by Volkswagen LD we got. This is a juicy episode.

[B]

Oh, yes.

[A]

We got more World cup draw and pathway stuff. We have drama on Merseyside. We have Messi winning the Holy Grail. We got a lot of stuff to talk about.

[B]

Yes, sir. I'm in the LA studios.

[A]

You've been all over. Hang on.

[B]

Can I just tell people I feel like you right now?

[A]

Yeah. San Diego, east coast for an event in New York, up to Maine, down to the World cup draw, back to San Diego, then. You're coming to see me tomorrow?

[B]

Yeah, having dinner.

[A]

We're doing all the things.

[B]

It's gonna be fun. It's a lot, but it's kind of a microcosm, I think, of what next year is going to be all over the place. Travel, enjoy this. Take advantage of it.

[A]

People like, where do you live? On a plane. Have you ever been?

[B]

Yeah. Hotel. Follow us on social media, guys. Unfiltered soccer. Subscribe on YouTube and follow on Apple podcasts and Spotify. Leave us a review. Do people still do that?

[A]

Yeah, they do.

[B]

I haven't checked in a long time, but I think we're highly rated. Tim, you can also email Jordan feedback, unfiltered soccer.com. all right, there's a lot. Tim, let's start. MLS cup final.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Miami, Vancouver. I was traveling home, so I got to watch the last like or the first half hour on the last half hour of my flight home, home from D.C. and then watch the rest in the car. And then I was working out while I watched the final. So I think overall, high level.

Great for the league, great for Miami, great for my former teammate David Beckham. Vancouver kind of deserved to win the game, but this is Miami all over, right? It's like three moments, three goals and it's over. And it's. It's kind of old school mls. Like, that's what we used to do sometimes with the Galaxy, like, we'd have a. Not a great game, but then Robbie came. Bang. Goal over.

[A]

Yeah, I think it's funny. I think the MLS is a. The MLS is a highly transitional league. Right? Like, that's the best part of a MLS match is the openness. Right? And I tell people all the time, and this is gonna come as a surprise to people, but don't. Because your eyes need to be wide open. People often talk about MLS being a really powerful, strong, attacking league. And when I watch games, as I do every weekend, my takeaway is MLS is a very poor defensive league. Right. Very poor defensive league. And therefore, that then leads to transition moments and really good attackers. And so that was kind of my takeaway. Not that I thought. Not that I thought Vancouver was poor. That's not what I mean. But in transition, this is what Miami has been doing all year. And so much so that they soaked up and absorbed so much pressure from Vancouver. They just allowed Vancouver to have the ball, you know, And I thought Vancouver used the ball, and I thought they were dangerous, and I thought they had their moments. But ultimately, when the real moments mattered, Messi came to the forefront. And that's not. That's not any. Any. Any surprise.

[B]

But this is what they've. This is what Miami's done the entire playoffs, right? And. And they're winning all these games, and they scored. I think they scored five, four, four, three, though. Their final four. I mean, it's wild. And I'm just going to tee you up here because we talked to Brian Schmetzer about this. You've said this over and over, and I cannot. You're kind of. You've talked it into existence for me, and it. It just. The more it happens, the more it makes sense. Why do you not have someone around him at all times? And I get that it's not possible for 90 minutes every play. Totally. But there are these. All these little moments. Even. Even in the second half. I think Svetti cut in at one point and, like, swing the ball and he switches it to Messi. And I swear to God, tim, he had 30 yards with nobody around him.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And I'm like, do you maybe want to get around that guy? Maybe. It. It's just bizarre, man. I don't. Maybe it's something they do the way Miami does things, that. That allows it, but I can't figure it out. Like, there's nobody around you.

[A]

So. So for. I know there's. There's just so many more brilliant football minds than me out there who. Coach or at least they think they do. And what. What I'm trying to say again, for the third episode running, and I'll put it back onto the coaches. You and I have played for what I would consider some.

Tactical savants. And the ones that weren't tactical savants, they were really freaking good tactically at designing game plans. Right. So. So my ch. And I'm not. And I'm not for a second accusing all these coaches of going, well, we're playing Messi, so we'll flip a coin. They're devising some sort of game plan. I'm saying do it better. I'm saying come up with something different. Where Messi, in transition, isn't getting moments where he can just have the free run of the pitch and slip guys through. I know he's good enough. I get that. All I'm saying is devise a game plan, because this is what you do. And figure out a way to sacrifice one area of the game.

And then try and dominate him physically. That's it. Because. Because I'm not for a second saying, he's not gonna nutmeg you, and then drop that left shoulder outside the foot around you. I get all that. I'm saying, physically dominate and impose your will on him. Dump him every time. Allow his bodyguards and Busquets and DePaul and all these guys to get their tail feathers up. Dump them every time. Take a booking, all of these things. Right. Figure out something different. It hasn't worked. So literally hasn't worked.

[B]

Part of the challenges is soccer has become very game model driven. And when you go through your licenses, the first thing that happens when you get to the A is, okay, we want you to now develop your game model, how you play. And I think. And look, I'm guilty of this, too. You get so obsessed with doing things a certain way. And the old phrase is, everyone has a plan until you get punched in the mouth. Correct. Right. And so you're so obsessed with doing things a certain way that you lose a little bit of that tactical fluidity to change things. And. And this is a. A little bit of modern soccer. It's kind of the way things have gone. So Vancouver, very good at what they do. Very good. And on another day, they win that game. And twice earlier this year, they beat Miami, of course.

[A]

Yeah, yeah.

[B]

And so.

[A]

Which is fair argument.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. So on another day. But just when you're playing the odds in a final, when it comes down to one or two moments of brilliance, you're really playing with fire, man. Like, you really are. And they played with fire and they.

[A]

Got burnt and I, and I thought Vancouver, I thought Vancouver was good. They got the goal through poor goalkeeping on, on the first one. They double doink the post and then another third rebound hit the post. That was a wild, that was a wild sequence. But I will say this, even on the, not to, not to bang on the tactics. Remember when I said like, defensively it's a poor league. Right. Let me give you an example. So Messi had how many assists in the game? Two assists.

[B]

Yeah. And he was part of the third goal.

[A]

Yeah. And the first goal really came from. The first goal was nothing. He was pinned on the sideline. He went bop, bop between his feet, then went in left and flicked it over the top right. So he essentially creates that goal. When he, when he does his little dance and flicks the ball over the, over the.

One of the defenders, they're still, there's still three versus three Vancouver. And one of the center backs or one of the defenders steps to the ball, he's nowhere near the ball. He can't get near it. So if you just drop your line and get to the edge of your box, then you're basically defending three versus three. In the end, he steps, he makes a bad play. He opens up a spot to play the ball into, right? The ball gets played in, in and around the box. It gets crossed in its own goal. Like these are so, these are, these are so preventable defensively. So anyway, that, that was, I thought ultimately it was a good game. And I actually feel Vancouver, because I think the scoreline flattered Miami. I didn't really think three, one game.

[B]

So Tim Bruce used to always say to us, time favors the defense. And so like in that moment, just slow everything down and let people get back to help you defend. And it's. As soon as you commit and it speeds up for the attacking team, you're in big trouble.

[A]

Well, that's, and that's the concept. It's. Everybody wants to press everywhere, right? Because that's become in vogue over the last decade and a half. What people don't realize, if you're not a good pressing team all around, as soon as you come out of your slot, you've basically made the decision for, for the attacker. You've opened up a space to put the ball. So, yeah, I, I tend to agree with that.

Anyway, but again, again, Messi is just. 15 goal contributions in the playoffs. I mean, six goals, nine assists. It's a joke, man. It's a joke.

[B]

It's wild. You could say. You could say this was maybe the best MLS season ever for a player. I mean, I can't think of one better than what he's put together. And he should.

[A]

He's the best ever, and he lives in Miami. The guy's just.

[B]

The guy's living the dream. Yeah. You know, Tim, I don't know if you remember, like, I think it was early 2000s, when LeBron and. And I think it was Chris Bosch and who else was. And they went to Miami, and they won, right? In Miami.

[A]

Yes. Yes. Yeah.

[B]

So they win in Miami. And I remember at the time, there was this young coach, Eric Spoelstra.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

And everyone was like, well, you got Bosch and Wade and LeBron. Of course you're gonna win. And I was kind of in that. So I was like, yeah, anyone could do it. And then you cut to 20 years later, and the guy's still going and successful. And I'm not necessarily apples to apples, but, like, Mascherano with his first job here, and he. He made some really hard decisions, man. And he left Messi out of a lot of games during the season. They put the emphasis very clearly on the playoffs. Massive decision leaving Luis Suarez on the bench. Like, people haven't talked about that post final. A lot. Like, that was a huge decision in those few games. I think he did a phenomenal job. Like, he really. In the actual managing how they play is how they play, and it fits them because they have a superstar in Messi that plays a certain way. But the actual. Just management of all this, I thought was excellent.

[A]

Can I throw another thing at you that I haven't heard anybody talk about? And if you have them, then with respect, Mascherano is a dog. I played against him. He's a winner. He didn't just pump his fist. He nearly jumped in the stands. He ran around the field. He hugged people after the. After the third goal. Let me throw this in the mix, because everyone's talking about Messi. He's a dog, and he's been successful everywhere he's gone. There's a really darn good chance that him getting his hands on that silverware this year made him think, you know what?

I fancy a job, maybe somewhere else I can do this. Right. But he's probably solidified some thoughts in his own mind, too, so be wary of that if you're in Miami, of being able to keep hold of your coach as well. So it's in it.

[B]

You know, that they got a little bit of money. I think they can Entice him with sometimes.

[A]

But you know this. Sometimes it's money, sometimes it's. You know, this is a guy who played in the Premier League, played at Barcelona. Like there's. Yeah, what a farce that was. He and Tevez at West Ham. No one ever believed that. You don't even remember that, do you?

[B]

No, but I remember when I megged Mashrano in the emergency Darby. I'm gonna bring that up every time we talk about him.

[A]

That's amazing. Okay, so we want to hear. We want to hear from our fans who. Who lives a better life. Messi and his yacht and his one MLS Cup. Or wait for it, Landon Donovan playing golf every day. And six. How many have six MLS Cups? I think I know the answer, but please feel free to comment.

[B]

Hey, I earned it, man. I earned it.

[A]

Amazing. LD so. So let me throw a question now. Is, is Inter Miami winning the MLS title good for mls, right? Like, great mls. That's great. Why? Because they're the villains.

[B]

Tim, let me. Let me share a story with you. And Don's going to kill me When. When we see him.

In. I forget what year it was. We were playing in Seattle, and it was the semifinals. It was the conference final, and we had won a trophy before. And I know the league, like, was. They always say, like, we don't root for anyone. We don't.

[A]

But.

[B]

But they wanted Seattle. Seattle deserved to win a trophy. Like, they had been such a great addition to the league. And we beat Seattle and all the executives from MLS came walking down on the field to, like, give us our Western Conference trophy title. And it looked like someone had just kicked their dog. Like they were miserable. And I remember looking at em, I was like, guys, we, like, be happy. What about us? Like, be happy in there. Like, you could just see they want yesterday or whenever. Sorry. On Saturday, I can promise you, in that MLS suite, people were doing backflips and cartwheels, like, so happy. I mean, it's amazing for the league, and it makes all those teams hate Miami more, which I think is great for the league.

[A]

Just imagine. Imagine how happy they'll be when Houston wins a title. They'd be buzzing, devastating.

I think it's good for league. I'm just a big believer in the haves and the have nots, and that's a whole different conversation. But I think that just. That just spawned from my time in England, where you now. Now the table has been condensed, right? And people are learning how to spend money differently. And psr profit and sustainability rules have come in and tried to sort of create a balance, but ultimately there's a haves and have nots. And I just tend to think that makes for better drama, makes for better viewing, which ultimately, at the end of the day, this is the sport, this is the business we're in. Right. A viewership, sort of driven sport. So I like it. I think it's. I think it's great for, like, you know, there's iconic moments and you played with Sir David Beckham and he, he and you all kind of needed to lift the trophy, to give that move.

Some sort of clout, Right. The money was there, the fame was there. But, like, did it matter? Well, it mattered in the end because he won. So this is the same. You got the. You get the television deal that's linked to Messi, biggest name in football. Like, you kind of need to win. Like, that's just my opinion on it.

[B]

Yeah. And I keep getting this, this comment. People are like, well, they just bought a title. They like, everybody pays for a title. That's what you do, you spend. If you don't like it, then go get the next Messi. Go get Mbappe, bring him over. Like, Miami went out. You think, by the way, you think it's easy to convince Lionel Messi to come to Miami in America? It's not like he was like, oh, all right, here's the deal. Let's you know how much grinding Jorge Moss and David Beckham and Garber must have done. It must have been years and years and years it is of wooing him.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And you got to say, congrats, congratulations. Next year.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

Who is more likely to be back.

[A]

In MLS cup of the two finalists. Of the two finalists, I think Vancouver. I think Vancouver because. Because I really like their team. I do. I like their team. And I think they showed how good they are in the final. And in a run up to the final, Sebastian bro Holter is going to be an X factor. Can they keep him? Can they keep him happy? Yeah.

[B]

Last year of his deal. So it's going to be interesting. Yeah.

[A]

And then. And then, look, people will argue this, and I'm just going to tell you straight out, because I've seen it, I've witnessed it. Arson Wenger used to talk about the World cup hangover. He wouldn't bring his players back into training after a World cup at Arsenal until, like, I don't know, late August. And it was basically like, you guys are no good to me for the first three to five games in the Premier League. But I need you fit and healthy and ready in the back end of the season. And here's what I would say. Look at Inter Miami, you've got a, you got a supporter shield last year, you've got MLS cup this year, middle of the season. This year you're going to have a World cup, right, for two or three of your best players. And obviously Messi, the greatest player. There's no doubt in my mind that that team will down tools. There's no doubt in my mind. Not because they're bad guys, not because they're bad, but because literally the exhaustion. And by the way, don't forget Messi who runs this team. He's the heartbeat of this team, right? And I know he can do it because he's done it for years. But just don't forget Messi playing at a World cup isn't a player playing at a World Cup. It's the hopes, it's the dreams, it's the threats, it's the, it's the entire nation. It, it. There's so much more on Messi's plate going into a World cup and then post World cup how he unwraps that than anybody else. So I just tend to think, by the way, he's not going to play a ton of minutes before the World cup. FYI, mls. Right?

You think his, you think his minutes were managed this year? He's basically going to look at the calendar when it comes out, speak to Masterano and just say, all right, I'll play here, here and here. And he's right. Am I? I'm not lying.

[B]

No, no, no, you're right, you're right.

[A]

He's got to be fully fit and rested before the World cup and then after the World Cup. Yeah, I think, I think it's a toss up. So Vancouver is the answer to the question.

[B]

Yeah, I agree. I think the key for them, they have to keep special. And Berhalter.

I want to say they're one piece away, but Ryan Gauld feels like that piece, he came back late in the season but was still getting his fitness back. So they played 20 or 30 minutes a game. They feel like they have enough quality and then maybe one more attacking piece that like if Brian White is injured or he's not on his game or whatever, they can, they can get goals from there. But they're a really good team, man. They really are curious what you guys think of the two teams and then are you also, are you guys happy for Inter Miami? It was funny when we asked last week Tim, I got a ton of comments about. I would say 95% are like, no, screw them. Hate Miami.

[A]

Good.

[B]

Some people are like, I love Messi. I love Messi. Yeah, it's good. It's good for league.

All right, Tim, it's time for the unfiltered refresh. Sponsored, as always, by Coors Light. Choose chill. Get Coors Light delivered. Go to coorslight.com USLNT all right, MLS cup weekend. Timmy, who chose chill?

[A]

Easy, Sir David Beckham. And here's why it's so hard to be him. He has to have success everywhere he goes. You were a part of that success. He couldn't just come to the mls. He couldn't just be the person he was. He had to win in order for it to be successful. He and you and the LA Galaxy had to lift trophies. And he did that. So fast forward. He wanted to bring an MLS franchise to Miami. Took a while. Had to figure out the stadiums. That was difficult. Went through some growing pains, but he got the stadium, he got messy. He got a supporter shield, and now an MLS Cup. By the way, LD that ain't easy from the ground up. He had to have success. He could not have a premier franchise in Miami and be average. So everything is heightened. And with that comes so much pressure. So for me, I look at it and just think, he's the chillest guy in the room. He chose chill.

[B]

I want to take you back, Tim, to many, many, many years ago, before he came as a player, he and his team had the foresight to think, okay, what happens next? What am I doing next? I want to own a franchise. I want to be successful. And I think people need to take a moment and just be grateful for what he has brought to the sport in this country. David Beckham could have gone anywhere. Sure, he could have done it. He could have gone to Indonesia or China or Brazil and brought this and his legacy and his Persona anywhere. And he chose to. Came to. To chase, to, Came. Come to America. I was a benefactor of it in la. And then what he's done in. In Miami, I sent him a note right at the beginning of the playoffs. I think it was after their first win. I said, congrats. And he was so diplomatic. He was like, it's just the first game. We have a long way to go. I was like, come on, man. But I'm so happy for him. Like, he really has earned this and deserved it. And congrats to you, Sir David Beckham, for choosing Congrats. Let's move on to the Premier League. There are a few things in life I love more than watching Liverpool. Liverpool Football Club disintegrate.

[A]

You're a bad guy. You're a bad guy.

[B]

I'm a great guy. I'm a great guy. So Liverpool, what did they draw this game on the weekend? Is it three?

[A]

Three?

[B]

I'm like, I'm. I've seen so much soccer. So they draw this game. But notable, like, every time they'd pan to the bench, you see Mo Salah sitting there again and not playing. And he didn't get in at all.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And then he got interviewed. And I can't wait to hear your.

[A]

Your thoughts on this because mix zone, Mix zone. Mo is never a good thing for.

[B]

Liverpool Football Club, but it's. It. I can't tell. There's so much on this. I can't tell if he knows he's been wanting to say this, like when he was in his contract dispute or if this is just emotional Mo and it just like spews out like, he just vomits it out like, blah.

[A]

Here it is.

[B]

Okay, so I want to. I'm gonna read through. I can't read through all of it. If you go listen to it, it is electric. When you guys sent it in the group chat, I was like. My mouth dropped. I was like, whoa. Okay. I'm very, very disappointed. To be fair. I've done so much for this club down the years and especially last season. Now I'm sitting on the bench and I don't know why. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That is how I'm feeling. I think it's very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame. The club made me a lot of promises in the summer, and so far I'm on the bench for three games. So I can't say they keep the promise. I've said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager, and all of a sudden we don't have any relationship. Okay? He goes on and on. It's not acceptable. They're throwing Mo under the bus. Blah, blah, blah, blah. Just go. I. I just want to know your thoughts on this.

[A]

On. On. On which part?

[B]

Well, do you. Okay, so for first of all, do you agree that someone's trying to throw him under the bus? Do you agree with him coming out publicly to speak like this about the club? Do you think he should be on the bench or should he be playing? I just. I'm just. All of it.

[A]

I. Oh, by the way, he's been dropped for the last three games.

And he's not traveling to. I think we just got news. He's not traveling to.

[B]

Yeah, he's not traveling this week. Inter Milan.

[A]

Yeah, Inter Milan. Yeah. So there's a problem if, if you didn't already know that.

I back Mo Salah in this and I know I'm in the minority and here's why. Because there's a problem, There's a problem with him and Slot specifically. And.

And Slot had like, we always, we. It's funny when a player gets dropped, the conversation is like, is he rested or is he being dropped? Right? Like, and you know, as a player, you're like, I ain't been rested, bro, I'm getting dropped. Right, but there's an argument here that because they were playing, you know, back when he first got dropped, they were, they were playing like Premier League and they had midweek. And so you're probably saying like, look at your age, no problem if the man. It's a really easy excuse for the manager. I watched Sir Alex Ferguson do it perfectly. He would drop you and then, and then the team would win and he'd go, oh, we won and then we can't bring you back. Or he drops you and then he actually was resting you and he brings you back. So Slot had the opportunity to do that. Slot is clearly making a statement here, right? I, I'm not playing you. He's probably not traveling actually to Internet because it's probably because of what he said more than anything else.

And I'm okay with it. And here's why. Because.

There'S this myth in sports that everyone's treated the same, and that's a myth on the outside. Nobody's treated the same on the inside, particularly not a world class, one of the best in the world players who has brought you silverware after major trophy droughts, and this person has become the best player at your club, in your league and around the world. And he's done that and he's earned that. He's earned that. And if the. There may be an argument tactically where you go, and I don't know this because I don't. I'm not at Liverpool Football Club. But you're not doing enough work and your production's down. So if your production is down and we're not getting enough work defensively, maybe we need to have a conversation. Okay, I'm looking around and if I'm Mo Salah, I'm looking around and going, you brought Virt in for over 100 million.

He ain't about his business. You brought Isaac in for a record fee. He ain't about his business. I got the big fella at the back Kanate leaking goals. You brought in two fullbacks. They don't know whether to stick or twist. And I'm the guy. I'm the guy that's different. It's different. If the team's clicking and they're winning, they're not getting any production and he's been at fault, sure. But if I'm Mo Salah and I've done everything for this football club beyond.

Then what I would say is, okay, I have. I have a bit more license. Drop the other guys. By the way, he ain't dropped Konate this year. If I'm Mo, I'm saying he's dropping me. And that's how players think. I was the same. I didn't get dropped very often. When I got dropped, I was like, yo, I know I've been stanking, but like, what about those three, right? They didn't play my position. So there's that, the other part that's interesting. And now. And now this is a little bit of an assertion because again, I'm not on the inside at Liverpool Football Club.

I'm interested in the dynamic in the dressing room and I'm. I'm thinking specifically of the manager and here's why. Yeah, I'm very observant. I read between the lines and I'm saying there was a moment, if anybody watched the game and watched enough coverage, there was a moment that Mo Salah, they were walking down the tunnel, right? So all the players were filtering down the tunnel. Mo Salah was over on the side clapping the fans, right? Doing his Mo Salah routine where it's about me and I'm clapping the fans and like, this is my last hurrah, right? We all knew what it. We all knew what it was. You don't have to look at it twice to know that's what he was doing, right? It was a selfish moment.

And every player walked past him, right? And not. Not a lot of players, not a lot of players can. Can speak to him because he's freaking Mo Salah, right? So Putty Gakpo, even though he's a big player, he's 23 years old, right? But Van Dyke, Allison Robertson, those are guys, if that's me, and I'm really pissed off at Mo Salah, right? You know what I do? I embarrass him. I go walk over towards him and I go, all right, lad, you're Done. Come on, enough with the clapping. Let's go. And I almost, and I almost, I almost passively embarrass him like all right, are we done clapping? Let's go. Get in. They each to a man walked by him and. And that tells me that maybe they don't disagree with him. Okay. And so I think there's, there's this story is there's still a lot to be told and now they're gonna have to. Now they're gonna have to try and unravel this because he didn't travel to Internet. He didn't travel intern. Not because he wasn't training. It's because of what he said. So now Liverpool have a job on to figure out how do we get.

[B]

How do we get for. For everyone is he's going to be gone now for afcon.

So I think it allows everyone's space to figure out how to get it done without him every week being the storyline. You know what I mean?

[A]

Sure.

[B]

So Tim, let me take you back to last year.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Because I think this is relevant.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

Remember how long it took them and how much animosity there was back and forth about getting the new contract. That tells me someone inside the club wasn't on board with it. You know who that person was.

[A]

I know exactly who it is.

[B]

Right. So there was some. And, and there's sometimes this happens with coaches and players for whatever reason. And this happens in every walk of life. You just don't get along with someone for some reason. They could be producing at a high level and any. Everybody who's listening. In your job there's someone who produces at a high level that maybe is your manager or you manage them and for whatever reason your personalities just don't mesh and it just doesn't work. And that's what this feels like. And so Arnes slot was waiting for the first moment. Sure things didn't go well. To be like, okay, I'm going to put him on the bench. And so it's clearly not working right now. All I would say to Mo, there was one other there was or about this.

Vis a vis Mo Salah. There was another moment in the, in the interview where he said I don't have to go every day fighting for my position because I earned it. And people will say, oh, you're not bigger than the club. He said, I'm not bigger than anyone but I earned my position. And I would say to him, sports to me are the ultimate meritocracy. Liverpool as a club and Arnes slot as Their manager have an obligation to get that team into Champions League football. And if he's not doing the job, that is tens, if not hundreds of millions of dollars lost. And so he can't just say, I've earned it over the last, yes, you've earned some respect and some right, but if you're not performing, you don't have a right to say, I get to keep playing.

[A]

You don't see, I, I'm. And this is why I'm on his side. I hear what he was saying. He's, he, if he's had a dip in form, which he has, I mean.

[B]

He was, he had to, there's only one way to come from last year, right?

[A]

And also, and also his dip in form has probably been better than the dip in form of the other guys around him. Meaning he's been the best of the worst, right? He would argue that. He would all. And he would also argue, and this is, this is why these guys are champions. He would also argue that let the record show I'm fit, I'm talented and I always come good, right? So he's going to say, sure, you want to arrest me, rest me, you can't drop me for four games. That's unacceptable. And that's where I agree with him.

[B]

Yeah, that's where I agree with that too.

[A]

And so, and so the people on the other side of this argument, which I think they don't have a leg to stand on, is they're going to say.

Yeah, but everyone, everyone has, everyone has to pull their own weight and be a certain way. I just having, having been on the inside, not everybody's treated the same. Like I've played with some really good players and you've heard me use this phrase and they're just aw shucks guys. They're just aw shucks. They're good players, man, they score goals, they do really well at their position, they're a top player, but they're just an aw shucks guy. They're not assassins and they never will be. But guys like that, with that mentality, you cannot, you cannot have Mo Salah both ways. You can only have him one way. So if you want that killer, that's who he is, don't try and change him. If you want Mbappe Neymar, Ronaldo Messi, if you want these guys to be the best and you want them to be single minded, you want them to drive their team, they only know one way. So you can't have it both ways because I guarantee you, I guarantee you there have been moments at Liverpool Football Club where Mo Salah has been so arrogantly selfish and it drove that team to titles and no one said a word about how selfish he is. So you can't have it both ways.

[B]

All right, exciting news, Tim. Three weeks from now, we will do our second annual Unfilty Awards.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

Celebrate the end of 2025. We've got all the categories listed in the comments on YouTube and then we'll post them on our socials, too. So let us know who you want to see get an Unfilty this year. I love this stuff. All right, let's take a break. When we come back, we'll talk about the World cup draw. Man, being in the room. Tim, we talked about on the live show, but it was bizarre and exciting and weird and fun and all the things and talk the U.S. men's National Team's path, potential path to ultimate victory right here on Unfiltered Soccer with Landon and Tim, presented by Volkswagen.

This episode is brought to you by Airbnb. Tim Nothing like MLS playoff season. My favorite time of year. End of August, September. It's cold. You travel to the Midwest or the eastern cities. The leaves are changing. You get outside, it's freezing for the game. I love this time of year.

[A]

Yeah, totally. LD Playoffs are what make American sports unique. It's how you end up with an underdog team making some insane run for the championship or David and Goliath duking it out in the final.

[B]

Yeah, you don't want to miss a second of the playoffs, no matter where your MLS team might be playing in the first round alone. Fans from New York were heading down to Charlotte. Dallas fans making the trip up to the Pacific Northwest to play against Vancouver. Last year in the final, the Red Bulls had to come all the way down to SoCal, where my galaxy beat your Red Bulls. Tim.

[A]

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[B]

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[A]

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[B]

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[A]

USMNT on USLNT. Of course, we have to start with the draw United. You were there, L.D. i was excited to see my former teammate and friend Rio Ferdinand host. And then that got overshadowed completely by Lauren Hill because, yes, I am a kid who grew up in teenage years in the 90s. I watched the Fugees at, Wait for It. Hunka Bunka in Sayreville Teen night. I saw them before they dropped their first album and fell in love with Lauryn Hill. So that was wild to see her. Wasn't expecting that. How did you like it?

[B]

She was cool, man. Like, she. She was so cool. And Bocelli in the beginning.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Woo. That was chills and unexpected. All of a sudden, he's just there and they're like, please welcome. And next thing you know, it was wild. Tim, if you asked me at 10 years old if I would be in a room with the president of the U.S. the president of Mexico, prime minister of Canada, Tom Brady, Shaq Rio, Wayne Gretzky, Aaron Judge, Kevin Hart, Heidi Klum, whoever else was in there, I would have said, you're out of your damn mind. It was crazy. It was such a bizarre experience. Like, really, truly bizarre. But so exciting because everyone has their own, like, their own interest in what's going on. Oh, they like Ryan Nelson is sitting next to me, this Kiwi, and he's like, just praying they get a group that they have some remote chance in which they did.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And there's all these story lines. It's. It was palpable. It was really fun to be in the room.

[A]

That's awesome. You know, you know that all the names you just mentioned, you didn't mention mine. My, my invitation. I swear. I've got two email accounts. I checked. Yeah, I didn't get that invite.

[B]

They must have the wrong email address. Or maybe the mail didn't get there. It was cold that week. So.

[A]

Question.

[B]

Sorry, mate.

[A]

And I asked you this on the, on the live podcast, but it's so interesting for our listeners. So, like, you're there representing yourself in the US and, and All. And you're. You are who you are on the world stage, like, with your new head of hair, where people like Spider man.

[B]

Like.

There'S a little bit of that. But, Tim, the other thing is, is you realize how insignificant you are.

[A]

Oh, God.

[B]

World.

[A]

Oh, God.

[B]

Dude. And. Because when we walk in U. S. Soccer circles, people are like, oh, there's Landon or there's Tim or there's Clint or whatever, and they're like, there's that American guy, but there's Roberto Carlos and there's Iker Casillas and theirs, and theirs, and there's Yaya Toure, and those guys are just. There's. You forget how famous they are and how popular they are in the soccer world. And it was. It was.

[A]

Can I tell. Can I tell you it's true? Can I tell you this? Like, my generation, I still truly believe that Gigi Buffon and Iker Casillas are. The two. Are two of the top three greatest goalkeepers ever. Ever. I know that. I know that there are. There are some others that in that conversation, they're. They're top two of. They make up the top three. And I was in. I was in my apartment and obviously with all the fan for you were sitting through it, but I could. Like, I was folding clo laundry and I was just pottering around the apartment, and anor Casillas comes on to get interviewed, and I just stopped. I just stopped. I just stopped. And I'm like, I don't know. Whatever he's going to say, I need to listen because he's. He's a goalkeeping God. Anyway. That's awesome. That's really cool. I'm glad you were there.

[B]

All right, so let's dig into. The US Group couldn't have gone a ton better. I listened to the Australia coach after the. After the draw and the first word out of his mouth, when they asked how he felt, he said, satisfied. I was like, oh. Most people are like, very. Like, oh, it's such a difficult group. And d. And he was like, no, we're satisfied. And I was like, okay, fairness. I mean, he's kind of smug. I don't really like him, but he. In fairness, they're pretty. They must be pretty happy, too. The US Contingent, the staff and all the people were there, and they were, like, quietly content with how it went. And. And they know it's not easy. They're not. They're not fools, but they were content. And I think for the players, they must be absolutely buzzing because, first of all, you know, Two of the teams and you may know the third. It's. It's likely going to be Turkey. So sure, there's familiarity there.

[A]

So let me let. So let me see. Let me talk about this briefly from, from the other side and then. So there's two reality checks here. The real. The other side is right. If we're talking about Turkey, a let's. We're going to put them in for now, right? That could change. Right end Australia and Paraguay by getting the U.S. forget what anyone else thinks about the U.S. right now. By getting the U.S. as a pot one team. You just went. Thank God.

[B]

Stoked.

[A]

That's a game we can game plan for. We can park the bus. We can try and be fit. We can do something to them. I don't think it's going to work personally, but they're thinking in their preparation over the next six months. Buzzing here. We're buzzing. Okay. Because what we have to realize in this country, as much as we back this team and much as we love US Soccer, as much as we think we're the best in the world, the rest of the world doesn't. They don't think that about our U.S. team. They don't think that about our individual players. We, we see it constantly throughout Europe. That's why when we talk about Christian Pulisic and Chris Richards and Tyler Adams and I'm forgetting one or two when they're holding down regular spots in big leagues in Europe, that's why you're like, hell yeah. Because guess what? Those teams, those leagues don't give a rats. You know, what about American players? Okay, so that's what the rest of the world thinks. And anyone who wants to pretend to change my mind, don't. But the other side of it, and this is important, I've heard so many people in the US.

Media landscape talk about how they think this is.

A tricky draw. I don't, I don't. This is a guaranteed US Men will top this group.

And to illustrate that point, if I gave you three bags, three duffel bags full of money for each game and said go to Vegas and bet that on the team you think is going to win, you would bet it on the US on all three games. I don't know if that's going to pan out. Right. We don't know about suspensions and injuries and one offs and ties. I'm just saying if you had to pick a winner and I gave you a bag full of money for each game, you would bet it on the US you would for sure.

[B]

For sure. And I would say you would bet it almost anywhere in the world you were playing this, but you're playing it at home. Correct. And I just, Yeah, I would absolutely agree with that.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

Go through Tim. The likely scenario. I love this, by the way, because think about all of our World Cups. We were never even. It wasn't even a thought to think ahead to what's next after the group. It was like first, second, third, fourth, fifth priority or get out of the group. And now we're like, okay, what happens? Okay, so if we win the group, this is where it gets confusing. We would play the third one of a third place team from one of the following B, E, F, I, I or J. Yeah. How they figure that out? I have nuts like some like Matrix deal. Like I don't know how they figure that out.

[A]

So let's, let's just give a disclaimer to, to our listeners right now. Landon just said if we win the group, we play a third place finisher from B, F, I or J. As we go through this exercise, just bear with us. We're going to give you our best thought impression of who we think's going to, going to finish third in these groups. Like, like betting favorite. Because the fact of the matter is you can't get this right that there's going to be one team.

[B]

It will. So anyway, so let's assume for sake of. I think B is the Canada group. Let's say it's. That would be kind of dangerous. Switzerland.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

Or it's maybe in another group. It's maybe Egypt or it's maybe a team like this. I would think we would still be favored in that game. You agree with that? If it's one of the.

[A]

In B, I'd say in all.

[B]

In any, any group that has a third place finisher. Maybe outside of the Norway group. Yeah, maybe against Norway. It's more of a 55th but I think we should beat Norway at home. I do. I know they're good.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But I think we should be.

[A]

There's a few that worry me. I, I will say that.

[B]

Yeah, of course we're not a top, top, top team in the world.

[A]

But group, I mean group B, like group B, let's say, could be. Let's say group B is Canada or Italy at Finister or Switzerland or Canada or let's say Italy pull their finger out and they end up winning the group. Okay, so you're like Switzerland or Canada. You don't love. Just, just given the, you know, just given the continental sort of divide group. Yes. The US should win that game. Group E worries me because it's going to be Ivory coast or Ecuador. Don't love that matchup. Again, not to say that, but we should.

[B]

That is a game I think we should win.

[A]

Yes. Yeah, I'm agreeing with you. I'm just saying I don't. I don't love it. That's F. You're not going to love any of these.

[B]

Well, no, like, it's not like we're going to get, you know, Jordan.

[A]

Yeah, that's fair.

[B]

Or Group F I like a little.

[A]

Bit better because the Netherlands will win that group. So you're looking at Japan.

Japan, Tunisia. Maybe the playoff team is, like, Sweden, maybe. I mean, they've got. They've got some top players in Sweden. You know what I mean? So, like.

Who else? Group I. That's a group of death. So you're looking at Norway.

[B]

That's the Norway one.

[A]

Or Senegal.

[B]

That's a challenge.

[A]

You know what I mean?

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[A]

That's a tough one. And then Jay. Jay's a cupcake. That's.

[B]

What's the J group?

[A]

Argentina. They win the group then. So you're looking at Algeria, Austria, Jordan. It's not gonna be Jordan.

[B]

It's going to be. It'll be Algeria, probably. Right.

[A]

So, I mean. Yeah, yeah, there's. What I'm. What I'm saying. I look at some of these. Is how many? Five. There's two. There's probably two or three that I'm like, yeah, we got. We're gonna. We're out. Not win that. And then there's two or three where I'm like, I don't love it, but I still think we'll win. You know what I mean? So then.

[B]

Well, it's fun to dream.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So we advance. Then we play likely Belgium.

[A]

Yep. That's in the round of 16.

[B]

That would be round of 16. And then likely quarterfinal against Spain. God, what a game that would be. How much money I would pay just to get to watch us at home in a World cup against Spain in a quarterfinal.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

Oh, and then once we beat Spain, then we're going to play Mbappe and France in the semi.

[A]

Brush them aside.

[B]

Yeah, brush them aside. No problem. And then we get to the final to play Argentina in your backyard.

[A]

Do you think so?

[B]

I mean, this seems pretty easy to be honest Question.

[A]

If we get to a final against Argentina, do you think they train the day before the game? Argentina, do you think. Feet up. What are you such a clown? I'm asking the question, if we get to a final, we get to a final, we're winning for sure.

[B]

Oh, we're on a heater if we get to a final. But you never know. Momentum, it's just the path gets harder now with more teams because it's, every round is so brutal. This, Belgium, Spain, France, Argentina to win a championship, that's kind of brutal.

[A]

But this, this team, again, I, I, we mentioned this in the live podcast after the, the draw. I do. I think this, this team, this team's run is going to be built on momentum. It's got, you know, totally the momentum of, of, of their performances, of the, of their hopefully victories. And then, and then just the, just the sheer, the media coverage, the backing, the, the people in the streets, like this, this World cup will be covered.

More than any World cup in history. And this, this US Team will be covered greater by a long way. By a long way. That's, that's amazing. I mean, now, now the other side of that comes pressure. I get it. But like, I just think it's all, it's all good because here's the other, here, here's the other kicker. When you look at some of the other countries, like, they try and tear their, their team down. Yeah, they try like in the midst of a tournament, they'll try and tear their team down.

[B]

Mexico, France. Right. That's right.

[A]

Yeah. Where, where we don't have, we won't have that problem. Like, like the, the mass media outlets aren't going to look at this team and like pick the bones out of it. They're just going to go another U.S. victory onto the semis, you know, that, that kind of thing. So that's a great thing. It's a great thing. I agree.

[B]

All right, so we went through the glass half full scenario. It we were to finish second. Andrew made this point. It's actually a really good point. The next game path, you could argue, could potentially be easier because we would cross over into the Belgium group. So if Belgium won, we'd play then either Egypt, Iran or New Zealand in the next round. And all three of those, you would say, okay, we like our chances. Not easy, but we like our chances. So. And then from there, of course, then it gets harder. Whatever. Finishing third would be a disaster. That would finish third. First place team of France, Senegal, Norway, or the Iraq, Bolivia, Suriname, the fourth team in that group. So that would then be either France, probably France or Senegal, which could be.

[A]

We have to go. Nightmare. There's too many permutations. We have to go with we have to go with the first one because.

[B]

We'Re winning the group.

[A]

Fine. But here's the other thing. You know what, Atlanta? When I, when I always say like I1, I have a strong opinion, but my opinion can be swayed given the right argument. And I'll admit when I'm like wrong, not that I'm wrong in this situation, but I listened to an argument after the draw. So you remember I was like so down on like the world cup format. Remember I was just like, everything's diluted.

[B]

Grumpy.

[A]

I. Yeah, grumpy. I listened to a guy who, who, who I quite respect and his take kind of shed a different light on it. Cuz I was like, oh, all these third place team gets in. What the f. You know. But then he was basically saying, yeah, but the drama is still set because at the last kick of the ball in the third group game, there's still going to be a team fighting to go through and a team fighting to go home.

[B]

That's a good point because in most world cups there if there's two teams with six and two teams with zero in the last game, that zero the two teams with zero is a nightmare. And sometimes, sometimes the teams play for a draw because they don't care and they. Yeah, that's a good point.

[A]

So, so, so that was like, okay, that gave me a little bit more like, all right, that, that will be fun to like see some of that drama. Because that's what we want. We want, we want. There are some other games.

[B]

Every game will have drama. You could be on zero points and still go through if you win your third game.

[A]

Right.

[B]

You can.

[A]

Yeah. Based on.

[B]

And that's almost never the case.

[A]

Right?

[B]

Yeah, it's a good point. So that's. I'm glad you changed your opinion. A little wrong. A little bit.

[A]

A little bit.

[B]

All right, Curious what you guys think. What are your expectations? What's a reasonable play place for this team to get? And Tyler Adams had a good quote Matt freeze did on our, on our show too. Tyler said, everyone's gonna want to say us winning at all is obviously the goal, but I think the benchmark of going further than any u. S. Team has ever gone is also realistic. So he's setting expectations a little bit. And Matt freeze was like, whatever, we want to win the world Cup. I was like, good man.

[A]

Matty Freeze, Booger.

[B]

He's like, let's bring that Booger's in.

[A]

Bring that on business. He's like, listen, we're winning the world cup. That's it. But I like interesting about Tyler Adams because I. Because I. I want to pick your brain on this. So he. As they should. They want to play well, set the benchmark, do better than any. Any US team ever has. So I. I know we go back to what, 19. I should know this. 19, 50, whatever. 40, 30 something.

[B]

30.

[A]

I think when they finished. When they finished fourth or something, were.

[B]

There eight teams we're talking about.

[A]

I know we're talking modern day.

[B]

Yeah. And.

[A]

And so what he's saying is they obviously want to better the two. Your 2002 team, that would have been mine, but Bruce forgot the name is.

[B]

An alternate and it's in the mail. It's in the mail.

[A]

And. And so. But the format lends to some interesting questions. Right. Because now we're saying.

[B]

Right. What does that mean?

[A]

Okay, so. So getting to. You know, I guess it's. It's not really about rounds you mentioned. It's about winning more knockout games then, essentially, because. Because there's an extra round here. You know what I mean? So if they. If they get to a. Let's see, if they get to this round of. If they get through the round of 16, then that's bettering the result, even though it's not. Is that right? No, that's. No, if they get.

[B]

Well, that would be equaling the result in that way, but they will have won two knockout games to R1. So let me tell you what's going to happen, Tim. It's going to be depending on who you ask in the US Soccer, in whoever spins there will spin and say, this is the best whatever. And then old grumpy guys like me will say, no, our team was better. We were better. And in the end, like, really, who cares? But I. It is interesting because now, going forward, this will be the benchmark, this World cup, like 40, 18 to a round of 16 or 32 or whatever it is, will be the benchmark. But look, if this team gets to a quarter final, that is a massive success.

[A]

Totally.

[B]

I mean, a MA. If they get to a round of 16 and it's an amazing game against. What do we say, Belgium? And you end up getting a bit unlucky and go home. Like, that's still great. That is. That is. And the momentum will have built and it'll be really positive for.

[A]

And listen, you won't. I mean, they're. There will be some spin doctors. That much. That much we can assure you. But it won't come from me because what I want them guys to do is go Go smash it. Go smash records. Go. Just go create a World cup where everybody falls in love with this team. And that's. And that. And that. That's by breaking records. That's by performing well. That's by just giving everything big moments. And I'm excited. And I'm excited because, you know, when you live it, you. You realize how special it is and. And they have such an opportunity, man, it's exciting.

[B]

Change your life forever. Literally forever. I want to touch. I want to pick your brain on this. This was really interesting. So there's this coming out of the draw. There's this literally walking out of the room.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

There's this wild energy. I mean, it's like bubbling and people are talking and everyone's starting to think and permutations and who did you draw? Who did you. Because you're only focused on your own group, you know? And then Pochettino went on Fox, and it was really interesting because he still had that sort of euphoria of the draw and because, remember, it's his first time.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

Right. Like, as a coach, like, it's novel for him too.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

And he said all the right things. All the right things. But then he. They asked him a question about the roster, and this was interesting. I want to hear your take on this. I'm quoting here. He said we don't need the best players. We need the right players to make a team, a strong team. When talking about who, like how he's going to pick his roster, the right players to build a powerful team with the possibility to fight with any team in the world.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Good and right. Are completely different. That's an awesome quote. I love that quote. So do you agree with that? And. And because I'll tell you from like a coaching standpoint, even though I didn't coach in a World cup, but I'll give you my opinion on that. But I'm curious, do you agree with that and what do you think that means? Like, decipher that for our fans.

[A]

So I think Poch is hitting his stride in terms of. In terms of how he deals with this group.

And I think he took a while to kind of come to the boil and he observed a bunch of things. And now I think he's like, right on it. And I think that means with all the, you know, he's had a good look at the players in the summer at the Gold cup who wasn't his number one team. Even though he says everybody has an equal footing, I personally don't believe that. So he Has a group that's not his number, his A team. And.

Some guys do some really good things. And when you look at how you build a roster, we've talked about how you build a roster, it's not always your best players. Right. Like, sometimes you need some bag carries and some water carries at the back end or a guy who's a set piece specialist. You know, we've talked about this.

And so I believe him when, when he says he's going to build this roster, that he needs a strong team. Right. That, that, that good and right are different. The. The players who I would worry about are the players who have.

What year are we in? 25 would be 26 then for the players that coming out of the last World cup in 2002, have strutted around and have. And have picked and choose when it was important to play for the US I would worry if I was one of those players, and.

Ultimately.

And before anyone gets upset with me, I would pick those players. Personally, I'm not the coach, but I would pick those players because I think that they give us the best chance of winning. But this coach believes that this team's best chance of winning is have the right pieces in, not the best pieces. And so that's kind of how I see that.

[B]

And I would guess that most coaches view it that way. Most? I wouldn't say all, but I've said it a million times and multiple times on this podcast. There are players that make a World cup that are not, quote, the best. The best 23 or 26 in the country. It's true in every environment in every country. So the guys who it's good for and should like that quote. And that quote, again, was really fresh and raw right out of the room. So I put a ton of weight into it. It wasn't like he was prepared for that question or they told him they were going to ask that, or it just came out and it was a. I thought it was a great quote. And guys, like, we say it again. Burhalter, Christian Roldan.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Guys who are a little bit, like, grittier behind the scenes. Great team guys. Really good team guys. Yeah, I would say I would be. I would be bolstered by that.

[A]

Oh, definitely. For those real chance.

[B]

Like a real chance now.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And you might not have said that a few months ago.

[A]

No.

[B]

But now they're like, yeah, you know, the guys like Diego Luna who, like, grind and do all those.

[A]

Those guys, those guys start the MLS season really well, go into the March camp, that's right. Grind away. Yeah, they could. They could really see themselves on the plane.

[B]

Curious what you guys think, aside from the guys we said, who is that a good quote for? And then who should be worried about that quote?

[A]

I. I think. I. I think Landon, right before you close, I think that quote tells me.

Two people who we think should be on the team that are going to raise our eyebrows and they're going to miss out. That's what I think.

[B]

Two people who. You don't know yet.

[A]

I don't know yet. I don't know yet. But he doesn't have to say that. You mentioned it. He comes out. He comes out of the room. He. He doesn't have to say.

[B]

No, he doesn't.

[A]

He's made a point by saying that.

[B]

Correct. It was very intentional.

[A]

And so that's why I say.

[B]

And a lot of times people. Coaches say things intentionally because they're prepared and they've thought about what they want to. He believes it.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But he's also like. He knows that that is.

[A]

That felt like he was.

[B]

His players are going to be listening.

[A]

Yeah. Like he hasn't filled up the water cup yet, but that feels like he's setting the table. He's put the. He's put the knife and fork out on the napkin. He's put some cups, the water cup there. He's setting the table just so. So he can go. No, no. I said that to you, remember? So it'll be interesting.

[B]

Yeah. Who are some guys who are going to make the team? You guys let us know that you think maybe are a little off the radar. You wouldn't expect. Okay, it's stoppage time. Sponsored by FanDuel. New customers can bet $5 and get $150 in bonus bets if you win. Download the FanDuel sportsbook app to get started. All right, the World cup draw was last week. Tournament. Now start US Got a fantastic draw. Paraguay, Australia, and then either Turkey, Kosovo, Romania, Slovakia. I think Turkey is the team. Turkey is the team that likely comes in there. This is a group. We can win. Absolutely. We can win. You could feel the energy with all the US Soccer staff and people around very happy with this draw. Could have been much, much, much worse. Other parts of the draw. Spain are currently ranked number one in the world. Argentina are close behind second. France are third. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out because there's an extra round now in the round of 32, which was always previously the round of 16. So you're going to see some really Interesting matchups in the round of 32 that usually wouldn't happen till the round of 16 or even the quarterfinals. It's going to make for a really interesting tournament. Last tournament, Cinderella, Morocco. Very interesting draw for them as well. They are, I think a lot of people think, a dark horse to get back there again in 2022. Spain didn't get past Morocco in the round of 16, what I was just talking about. And France lost to Argentina in the final. So it's gonna be interesting how this all plays out. An exciting summer to come. Unfiltered soccer's World cup futures this week are. Kylian Mbappe. For me to win the Golden Boot, U.S. men's National Team will make it all the way to the quarterfinals, and Spain will win the tournament. I think Spain are the best team in the world and they win. Don't forget to check out the full list of unfiltered soccer futures on our socials later this week. All right, Tim, let's take another break. When we come back, we will get into all the Questions in the AT&T fan connection. I can imagine there's a lot around the draw. This is going to be fascinating. Cannot wait. Right here on Unfiltered Soccer with Landon and Tim, presented by Volkswagen. Stay right there.

This episode is brought to you by Airbnb. All right, Tim, between your work, your daughter, your son, or maybe just your own enjoyment, how much traveling do you think you've done to see soccer this year?

[A]

Honestly, I lost track at this point. Just this summer alone, I was all over the place. But it is. It's a beautiful thing to see how many soccer fans and how soccer has been embraced, no matter where we go.

[B]

Yeah, I mean, I was just in Austin. I'll be traveling to New York. Everywhere I go, I meet fans. Whether I'm going to see a game myself or just on vacation, I see people everywhere. I hear stories. I hear stories about their pilgrimage to Everton to go watch a game, to go see the new stadium, to go see their favorite team. They get immersed in the chants, the songs, that incredible feeling of seeing the game up close and personal.

[A]

Well, I mean, I think that's where. That's where the game has changed. These trips have become a big deal for soccer fans, and this summer is going to be no different as we'll see the soccer community to make their way to 11 host cities here in the US to support their favorite national team.

[B]

It's going to be incredible. I can't wait for it. And what if those fans could turn their homes into an opportunity while they're away at the game. Hosting your home on Airbnb while you travel is an easy way to earn a little bit of extra cash. Maybe go towards tickets for your game that you want to go to. We know they're not cheap. Or maybe to help your kids pursue their soccer dreams.

[A]

Yeah, your home might be worth more than you think. So find out how [e-mail] host all.

[B]

Right, Tim, it is holiday season and boy, do I need to choose chill sometimes. Thanksgiving's an interesting one for me. I go with the in laws to a hotel. It's nice. Most of them I like. Some of them are a bit challenging. Sometimes I gotta walk outside, grab a Coors Light, choose chill. Christmas is fun. I enjoy it. I love it, all the things that come with it. But the kids are home for two weeks and that is brutal sometimes. So sometimes turn on the hot tub, go out in the Jacuzzi, watch a football game, grab a Coors Light and chill.

[A]

Yeah, you're right. It's all it's always about family around the holidays and of course, big family meals. Every time I finish eating, I'm out back. I get around the fire, I reach in the cooler, grab a cold Coors Light and choose chill. Because as you mentioned, it's hectic and then at some point someone calls me inside to play spoons or card games. And so I'm having a Coors Light. Choosing Chill.

[B]

When you embrace a chill mindset this holiday, it's a good time to choose chill and crack open a Coors Light.

[A]

Choose Chill this holiday season and then reach for a Coors Light. Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door. Visit coorslight.com USLNT or you can find it pretty much anywhere that sells beer.

[B]

Celebrate responsibly Coors Brewing Company Golden, Colorado.

[A]

There'S nothing better than feeling like someone has your back and that things are going to get done even without you having to ask. Like your crisp new Jersey waiting for you in the locker room or. Or a perfectly set up wall for a free kick.

[B]

Yes, we unfiltered soccer get ready for next summer. We know that very little in the beautiful game is guaranteed. But as we prepare to bring our unfiltered brand of non stop soccer coverage, it's good to know AT&T has your back. With the AT&T guarantee, staying connected matters.

[A]

That's why in the rare event of a network outage, AT&T will proactively credit you for a full day of Service. That's the AT&T guarantee learn more at.

[B]

Att.Com guarantee AT&T connecting changes everything Credit.

[A]

For fiber downtime lasting 20 minutes or more or a wireless downtime lasting 60 minutes or more caused by a single incident impacting 10 or more towers must be connected to impacted towers at onset of outage. Restrictions and exclusions apply. See att.com guarantee for full details.

Time for the Fan connection presented by AT&T every week we invite you, the listener, to connect with us by submitting your questions at. @&t connecting changes everything and on uslnt our connections with you will help grow the game back like we never left. AT&T fan Connection Everybody's favorite time of the week where we get to hear your comments, questions, concerns and give Landon all the smoke. J.R. what's happening?

[C]

Oh, you know, just enjoying some frigid weather here in New York.

[A]

It's cold. Cold.

[C]

It's a little brutal out there.

[B]

How about your Liverpool?

[C]

How about my Liverpool?

[B]

Things seem to be going very well right now.

[C]

They're not. They're not going well.

[A]

I have a question. Sure. I have a question to start the.

[B]

Was this in the AT T mailbag?

[A]

AT T fan connection it was in. It was in my mailbag and. And I bore it out for you.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

Jordan.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

Will Mo Salah play another game for Liverpool Football Club?

[B]

Great question.

[A]

Yes or no? You can elaborate but give me the yes or no first.

No, I think that's the right answer.

[C]

I don't think that he's going. I don't see any reason why he should like for him. Why. Why would you play for them again?

[B]

I have a plot twist.

[A]

I have one too and I think it's the same one. What's your plot twist?

[B]

Mine is he's gonna go somewhere else and then come back and sign a one day contract and retire. What's your plot twist? That slot's gonna get fired.

Africa.

[A]

He gets dropped for Inter. He gets dropped for what's Brighton before he goes to afcon.

[B]

Yeah, he goes away to have there's a new manager.

I love this.

[A]

Maybe, maybe not. So either way, it's not great for Liverpool. It's not great.

[C]

No, it's not. It's not great for Liverpool. I don't like any of this. I really don't. I don't like any of it. As a fan I. I know you do. But like genuinely, I just don't like any. I don't like the fact that we're not doing well. I don't like what's happening in the media, I don't like any part of it. I don't like the idea that the way that Mo Salah could play for the club again is for us to perform so badly that they fire the manager. Like, there's just. There's.

[A]

You mean continuing. You mean continuing to play badly?

[C]

Yeah. Yes, yes, yes, totally.

[A]

In other Merseyside.

Notes, I think Everton are fifth in the table.

[C]

Wait, can I say something?

[A]

No, no, no, no, no. That's just. That's just. Oh, no, they went. They went to sixth. They went to sixth.

[C]

Okay. But I would like to say something that's actually related to that.

[A]

Okay.

[C]

I. Okay. So if I step back from my Liverpool fandom, I actually think that this is one of the more interesting first half of a Premier League season that we've seen in a long time.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[C]

Because I think there's a lot of really wild stuff. Hap. Like Sunderland alone is just like a crazy thing. And I feel like teams are moving up and down the table at some really strange rates. And so I feel like if you.

[B]

I don't know, all of a sudden are like.

[C]

Right, I don't know exactly. And so I just feel like if you are able to be a. A fan who doesn't have their allegiance or their happiness so tied to their team's allegiance, you might be really enjoying yourself right now. Me, not so much. But generally speaking, it's a great league to be watching right now.

[A]

It is. And going back, circling back a little before you for you get your questions out. Oftentimes, Atlanta and I have spoke about this sometimes about availability of other managers and like Steven Gerrard's up there. I'm not saying. I'm not saying fully. I'm saying interim manager Xavier Alonso, keep your eyes on him. And what's going on. Real Madrid, like, also like a really.

[C]

Weirdly similar situation, though maybe it's the right fit. Like it's all in Vinicius and stuff like that. Yeah. I mean, to be. I'll be really honest, maybe I shouldn't say things like this, but like, that was what my dream was when Klopp.

[B]

Announced that he was leaving.

[C]

Yeah, that's what.

[B]

Yeah, I think it just fits.

[A]

So I think, I think, I think, I think Liverpool Football Club loved.

Love Slot. I think they. I think they loved Jurgen Klopp. But by the way, if Chavy Alonzo's on the sideline, they just go bonkers, bro. They would love that anyway. Okay, we're not replacing questions. J. Go questions.

[C]

Okay. I have quite a number of questions. I will also just warn you that someone who wrote in into the mailbag said that one of the things that they like about the mailbag segment is when I ask follow up questions. Tim. So wait, I never said.

[A]

I never said you shouldn't ask follow ups. I love your follow ups. It's great.

[C]

Yeah, some of my questions are stupid. You said that.

[A]

I would never say that.

[C]

All right, let's start with some US Men's national team stuff. So this question is from Greg via email, and I'm gonna give you some information, so don't panic when you hear this question. What are your predictions for the remaining slots for the upcoming World cup in 2026, and what is your dark horse prediction? So there are six playoff that haven't been played. So I'll go through the group and you tell me each one who you think is getting through. So group A is the Czech Republic, Ireland, Denmark, and North Macedonia.

[B]

It's Chia.

[C]

Chia. Sorry.

[B]

Fox tells us this is the what we have to learn to say. And Turkey.

[C]

We haven't gone to Turkey yet. You haven't given me a chance to say that one wrong.

[B]

I would say Chia. I. My heart wants Ireland. Desperately wants Ireland. But I think probably Chia.

[A]

I'm gonna go with Ireland.

[B]

Go on the Irish. All right.

[C]

Okay. Group. I mean, I also would like Ireland.

[A]

To go through group B. Is Italy. Fun.

[C]

Group B is probably Italy. Yes. Although Wales. I would love for Wales to go through.

[B]

Wales would be great, too.

[C]

Yep. Group D, which is our group is Slovakia, Kosovo, Turkey or Romania?

[B]

Turkey.

[C]

Yeah, Turkey.

[A]

I'm gonna go into the bodega down the street and ask for a turkey, a sandwich. This guy's gonna look at me like I'm crazy.

Group F. You like that one, Landon? I got you. I got landed.

[C]

Group F is. Is Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, or Albania?

[A]

Oh, that's a tough one. That's a really good place.

[B]

A really tough one. I think maybe Ukraine.

[A]

I think Sweden.

[C]

So they're actually top ranked in that group.

[B]

I think Ukraine.

[A]

I have a question. I have a question.

When. When we. We. I don't know. You're on a team landing. We were supposed to play Ukraine when they were going through a civil war many years ago and we ended up playing in Malta. I think it was like, behind closed doors there.

[B]

I remember that.

[A]

Yeah. Is this a home and away? Do we know? And if so, are they.

[B]

Isn't it?

[A]

I don't know.

[B]

Someone put that in the chat.

[A]

Would they be playing? Because then. Does anyone know?

[B]

And Then one game at the higher ranked. Ukraine doesn't play at home. They play.

[A]

I know. So where are they?

[B]

Poland, I think. I think they play in Poland.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

It's odd.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Okay, cool.

[B]

That's all.

[A]

So I think. I think Sweden.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Okay.

[C]

And then which one is left now? Oh, yes. Jamaica, New Caledonia and Congo. Oh, sorry.

[A]

I.

[C]

Is Suriname, Bolivia and Iraq.

[B]

Iraq.

[A]

I want. I want Suriname so desperately to go through. I'm just gonna say that.

[B]

Great.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Those games are in Mexico, by the way, which will be interesting. So there's obviously home field. Those. Those playoffs are happening in Mexico.

[A]

Really?

[B]

How come? Yeah, In March. I'm not sure.

[C]

Confederation.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

Interesting. Okay.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Okay. So sorry, you. Tim said Suriname. What did you say?

[B]

Iraq Rock. Okay.

[A]

And then does Bolivia. Does Bolivia not get an edge because it's at altitude?

[B]

Altitude, maybe. Yeah. That's not a bad shot.

[C]

Good point.

[B]

They're not a great team.

[A]

They're not a great team. Gone are the days. I don't know. Maybe. Okay, I'm going.

[C]

Group K is Jamaica, New Caledonia and Congo.

[B]

This is where Tim's like, see, I told you. What the hell New Caledonia doing?

Yeah, it's Congo.

[A]

Really? I'd love to. I'd love to see Jamaica just because.

[B]

I would love to, too, but I don't think they're beating Congo, actually. Who knows?

[A]

Yeah. What do I keep chucking that out like an expert on cover?

[B]

Yeah, totally.

[C]

I know that, like, we take FIFA rankings with a grain of salt, but they're not ranked that far away from each other. Congo is 56 and Jamaica's 70. So, like, it's not that.

[A]

I'll take Jamaica. All right. I like my picks. And then. What'd you. What did you ask for? Dark horse. Jesus.

[B]

Dark horse Prediction in the tournament in general.

[C]

Well, Landon's got us going all the way through and beating Spain and stuff.

[A]

U. S Star. Course.

[B]

Yeah.

Colombia is a good team.

Uruguay, even though we just destroyed them, are very good team. Senegal are a very good team.

Yeah. Senegal's kind of heavy on Norway, but then I wonder, like, well, Italy was so bad in their group, and that's why they qualified so easily.

[A]

Italy's my dark horse. Here's why. Because they are fricking. You want to talk about a team. So we know this. Italian teams can win a. Can win a one off. They can win a one off. Italian football is built to win knockout games. They. By the way, they stunk. They stunk like we did and didn't make the 2018 World Cup. You know, they did in the Euros, botched it. So they have. They have a weird ability that, like. So I don't pick them, but if you're asking me to pick a dark horse, then I'm like, yo, this team. Yeah.

[C]

Okay. Another World cup question from Yan via email. And thank you, Jan, for explaining to me how to say your name properly. This one is about the 2010 World cup roster, and it is for Landon. Are you ready?

[B]

I think.

[C]

How did you feel when Bob Bradley left Brian ching off the 2010 World cup roster? Were you looking forward to partnering with him again? Houston Dynamo fans could not understand it, but it seems like most US Soccer fans didn't appreciate his potential contributions. I feel like you of all people may have had sympathy for us Houston fans.

[B]

Definitely had sympathy. And I love Chingy. Like, as a human being, love Chingy. Coaches have really hard decisions to make. I saw Jurgen Klinsman this week at the draw, and, you know, he was like, he's just such a weird guy. But it was fine. It was cordial, and.

They have hard decisions to make, and I was the recipient of a very hard decision, and I just felt bad for Chingy because I felt like he deserved it, and I wanted him to have that opportunity. What we talked about earlier about building a roster is, in my opinion, he provided something a little different that would have been helpful, but it didn't matter. Like, our team did what they did, and I don't think. Whether he was on the roster or not, I don't think it would have changed anything. We obviously had a good World cup, and Bob. Bob did a great job, so I felt bad for him as a person because I wanted him to have that experience.

[A]

Follow up question. How many. Who were the strikers that we took? Were you and Clint considered strikers?

[B]

No, we were both midfielders, so we had Robbie Finley, Josie.

[A]

Charlie, Herc.

[B]

Herc. I think was. Charlie was hurt.

[A]

Right. Was Charlie injured? Yes, because. Yeah.

[B]

From his accident.

[A]

From the. From. From qualifying. Yeah.

[B]

So. Oh, and Edson. Yeah, that's right. Good. Andrew and Edson Buttle. And that Edson was the last one. Yeah, Edson's in that. In the picture with the Algeria goal. Yeah.

[A]

We only took four.

[B]

Yeah. But we had me and Clint as well.

[A]

I know. No, no, no. I know, I know.

[B]

So it was, you know. Yeah.

[A]

So. Yeah. Cool.

[C]

Okay, one more. This one is from Mike via email. I've always found night games under the lights to feel more epic for big games.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

With the MLS cup final this weekend being a midday kickoff and Both World cup semifinals and finals at a 3pm kickoff, which I did not even realize. Thank you, Mike, for pointing that out. How do you feel about finals in the afternoons instead of a night game? Did the games under the lights feel bigger than afternoon games when you played them?

[B]

Yes, I loved night games. But, Mike, I'm sorry to say, it's all about TV and money. Just. It's just all there is to it.

[A]

You know what I would say. So I would imagine ld Most of your big finals were in the. During the day or at night?

[B]

Day.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

All of them, actually.

[A]

Yeah. See, that's why most of my finals, like cup finals, cup semifinals, both in England and here, like, they were all during the day, so those felt big to me. There's something special about. They talk about playing under lights is special.

I. I understand what he's saying, but I. I sometimes think for me, during. During the day feels special too, so. But yeah, there is. There's a pageantry to being under lights.

[B]

I just like the lights and the energy. It's cold, the field's wet, the ball moves fast, all that. It's just better. Just like it.

[A]

Better.

[C]

Because I'm grumpy. I will just say I think everyone's going to be glad that they're not leaving MetLife at like 11 o' clock at night, though, because you don't want to be doing that.

[A]

No, it's true.

[B]

Yeah. Present company included.

[A]

Are you. Are you going to the final?

[B]

We're going to the final.

[A]

Who's we?

[B]

Oh, no, we're going to semi. Your house, man. Come on, Timmy. You got a room? Can I get a room? You should rent out your apartment, by the way. How much money you'd make?

[A]

Yeah, good one.

[B]

I don't let Airbnb.

[A]

Dude, no.

[C]

Okay, just as a reminder for everyone, you can ask any questions that you want, no matter how silly they may be, of Landon and Tim via email feedbackunfiltered soccer.com and you can also send your suggestions for unfilty awards. Should we give Landon an award if he can accurately tell us what state MetLife Stadium is in? Because I know he struggles a little bit with New York and New Jersey.

[A]

Billy, you're so dumb.

[C]

I'm leaving.

[A]

Wait, wait. Last question.

[B]

Is it in Secaucus?

[A]

Wait, last. Last question. Last question for you, Jer. I just got an email through. We're having dinner this week for people who don't know we're having a team dinner. I just got the seating chart through on an email. You're sitting in this order, if you look at the screen, you're sitting directly between me and landon. Scale of 1 to 10, how excited are you to have dinner with us?

[C]

Negative 800. I don't want that.

[A]

Goodbye.

[B]

All right, Tim. Another show on the wraps. Thank you all. That was a really good show. I enjoyed that. Thank you as always, for being with us today. Remember to subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcast, Spotify, anywhere you get your pods. Timmy. I will see you this week as always. Follow us. Social Media Unfiltered Soccer. Thank you to vw. Love you guys, our Fan connection sponsor, AT T and our stoppage time sponsor, Phil Sandal.

[A]

Yeah, ld, I thank you in advance for buying dinner. I'm super pumped to see you. Travel safe. Thank you to our unfiltered refresh sponsor, Coors Light, and our additional sponsors, Cafe Bustelo and Airbnb. Have an amazing week, as always. We'll be back next Tuesday with another edition of Unfiltered Soccer.

[B]

Limu Emu and Doug.

[A]

Here we have the Limu Emu in its natural habitat, helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug. Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us. Cut the camera. They see us.

[B]

Only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty Liberty Liberty. Liberty Savings Ferry Unwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and affiliates. Excludes Massachusetts.