July 3, 2026 • 30 mins
On today’s episode, Jason is joined by former U.S. Men’s National Team defender, MLS Rookie of the Year, and 2X MLS All-Star Jonathan Bornstein for lengthy conversation involving all the biggest headlines surrounding the World Cup, including: the controversial red card handed down to USMNT leading goal scorer Folarin Balogun, which tactics the Americans might try to employ to overcome the loss of their best scorer, the keys to victory in their upcoming matchup with Belgium, why it's clear that France, Argentina and Spain are the three best teams in the tournament, the incredible home field advantage that Mexico is currently enjoying, who should be favored to win the coveted Golden Boot trophy, and much more!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
This is straight Fire with Jason McIntyre.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
What is up streak Fire.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
Fam, It's me Jason McIntyre, Straight boyer or Friday, July
the third, everybody fired up for July fourth weekend a
lot of soccer. Soccer plus fireworks equals fun. Oh my gosh, folks,
I don't know if you guys are loving the World
Cup as much as I am.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
This is just it's the greatest. It does not get
much better than this.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
You know, when it was Katar, the times were all
wacky and you'd have to wake up at the ass
crack of dawn and watch soccer, which is fine, but
it's just not as fun as like, Oh, I just
you know, finished the show. I'm gonna head home, listen
to the second half in my car, hit the gym,
come out, and then watch another soccer match, and then
maybe get dinner, hang with the fam, and then watch
(00:55):
another match like it lines up so perfectly, and thank
you for understanding.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
No podcast.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
On Thursday, I was fortunate enough to head up to
Santa Clara for one of the coolest sporting events I've
ever been to, probably number one USA Bosnia. Just a
tremendous atmosphere, incredible match. We largely dominated. Of course, the
flow Balagan red card nonsense was kind of a bit
of a stain on the game. But ultimately we win,
(01:23):
we advance, We look really good, crowdjuiced up when another
clean sheet for the defense, when our starters have played
three matches, We've conceded one goal to Paraguay.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
That's it.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
And by the way, Paraguay's no joke. They play France tomorrow.
They knocked off Germany, like Paraguay's had a good reputation
coming in and we smoked.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Anyways, the match was outstanding.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
The balligan I'm not gonna get into it anymore, just
for the record, and as I record this one am
Eastern time on Friday morning. I FIFA has not come
out and said anything about the Batican red card.
Speaker 4 (02:02):
There is no appeals.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
Process that is accurate. What also is accurate is FIFA
can look at any red card and determine, oh that
we need to upgrade that to a two game suspension,
that was that dirty, or we need to downgrade it
to a yellow. So those are the two options for FIFA.
They've come out and said nothing, they probably won't say anything.
I'm still of the belief. We got jobbed, completely hosed.
(02:25):
And it's interesting, one hundred percent of these rules analysts
that I've seen said, yeah, it's not red card worthy.
And what makes it not red card worthy is on
the field. The referee just ruled foul. He said, didn't
even have a yellow. So what happened was they were
going to continue play, but the kid on Bosnia instantly
(02:47):
grabs his leg like it's snapped in half and starts lobbying.
Speaker 4 (02:49):
Oh, come on, where's the card. Where's the card? And
var looks at it.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
They look at it in slow motion, which apparently you're
not allowed to do that. This is according to what
the official said, and they determined it was a dangerous play.
Now there was no malicious intent, that's clear. Baligan's not
even looking. He's not looking at where he's stepping. He's
fading backwards, kind of falling over, and yes he does
(03:16):
kind of crunch the guy's leg. But just for the record, dude,
after rolling around on the ground in agony, basically needing
to get stretchered to the hospital instantly surgery ended up
getting up and running around like five minutes later and
stay in the game. So you know, he sold the
hell out of it, which is fine. I just think
like var is kind of nonsense. And I'm not going
(03:39):
to go too deep on the Croatia Portugal final if
you haven't seen it. So the first half of that
game was a snooze fest. The second half was crazy
town and port You know, I'm not going to hype
the Model anymore. It's I guess I sound like an idiot,
just bragging and boasting, and that's not the plan, honestly.
Speaker 4 (04:01):
But you know, you guys have been following here on the.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Pod for a long time and this Claude Cowork is
a freaking game changer.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
It is the Model. I did total the record for
picks so far.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Forty two, twenty three and two, and that's after a
Swiss double.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
Sunday.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
I didn't even write that one up because it wasn't
full confidence, but I was like, ah, we're running hot,
I'll bet it anyway, Boom Switzerland minus a half hit
and a Switzerland parlay of minus a half and under
two and a half goals should not have got there,
but it did.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
Anyways.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
The Model liked two bets in Portugal Croatia both teams
to score, which cashed in the first sixty minutes after
Renaldo's PK and then draw, We're in the what one
hundred and second minute something like that, and.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
Portugal scores an.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
Un believable goal, and I'm like, well, you know, you
lose a bet that way that whatever are you going
to do about it? Like that was an awesome game,
awesome ending. You can't win them, all right, And the
draw bet was a longer bet. It was I think
it was plus four hundred plus three hundred. I don't
remember it off the top of my head, and so
that's a smaller wager for me, and so I'm winning anyway,
(05:20):
So I didn't really get upset that Portugal scored plus
was a freaking great goal, one of the best passes
I've seen anyways. So next thing you know, Croatia comes
down and in a bing, bing boom, somehow the ball
goes in. I'm talking to the wife, she's telling me
something and I just have to cut her off. I'm like,
oh my god, did that appen? And it was like
(05:42):
absolute bedlum in pandemonium. I thought that was the craziest
woman of the tournament. Right then they showed the replay
and they're like oh, he's probably off sides. Well, if
the ball hit the Croatia player in the head and
he flicked it on and folks, I'm just telling you.
In the NFL, we can they zoom in. Did he
touch the line? Was his toe on the line? You
(06:03):
can get in there and see everything. This you couldn't tell.
So when you can't really tell, I look at the
rotation of the ball. Guys, you could look at the videos.
They're all out there. The ball rotation does not spin
differently at all. It does not change direction, it does
not slow down. If it grazed his hair, does that count? Hey,
(06:26):
I don't know the answer to that. Maybe I thought
head or hair, which.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
Is I don't know.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
So then they say, oh, yeah, there's a chip in
the ball, and you can see the bump, and then
all these slups get out there and they're like, wait
a sec. They're only showing one bump where the chip
made contact with the head, but right after its skim
past the Croatia guy, it hit the Portugal defender in
the head.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
It was like, wait, what's god?
Speaker 3 (06:52):
I mean, it was absolutely chaotic and crazy, and I
feel bad for Luca Madras. Fans in Croatia. I felt
like they got job but whatever, we got job done.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
Baloch, what are you gonna do?
Speaker 3 (07:03):
So to celebrate a soccer weekend, We've got a great
guest who played on the US national team, Jonathan Bornstein,
former left back defender, a lot of soccer experience, and
he helps me break down this Mexico England game on
July fifth. I'm totally geeked for that. The model is
(07:25):
leaning toward Mexico. It's not official, you know. Obviously, we
got to see what the weather is and if there's
any injuries and stuff. But I don't think I can
bet against England here. It's probably gonna be a no
play for me. I'm super geeked for that game July fifth,
five o'clock, and the US plays on the sixth against Belgium.
(07:46):
So we talk about that in depth with Bornstein. We
don't really get into Morocco, but he largely agrees with
me that France is the team to beat. I don't
see how you guys are watching this and think of
anything otherwise France than Argentina. And I think after that,
maybe Spain's bounced back, but I don't know, we'll see anyways.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
I hope you'll like the interview.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
I know we didn't get to Jalen Brown and the
big NBA crazy Town trade.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Listen, folks.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Next week soccer eases up a bit, We'll get to
Jaylen Brown.
Speaker 4 (08:17):
Enjoy.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Jonathan Boardstein, former US national team defender.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio
dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to
listen live. You know a guy, Jason likes to think
he knows everything when it comes to sports.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
I know what sports fans want, but for.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Everything he doesn't, he knows the guy who does.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
Let's just say I know a guy who knows the
guy who knows another guy.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
All right, let's welcome into straight fire.
Speaker 3 (08:52):
A big time guest who played in Liga MX, he
played for the US national team. He's been to a
bunch of games. That's so fi for the World Cup.
Jonathan Bornstein, John, how you doing man?
Speaker 5 (09:05):
Jason? Thank you for having me here. I'm doing really well.
Speaker 6 (09:08):
I think, just like I have all the followers, all
the listeners, just been enjoying this World Cup.
Speaker 5 (09:13):
As it's been going on here in the United States.
Speaker 6 (09:15):
Right, So, big buzz about the US exciting win yesterday
and more than anything, just happy to be talking about
it with you here on the show, Jason.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
So we met the wife and I we were able
to get tickets and we went up to Santa Clara
just parachute it in for the game. And I will say,
like I've been to a bunch of sporting events by far,
it was the number one sporting event I've ever been to,
only to get ruined by the Flow Ballagan red card,
which I got to ask you about that, Listen. I'm
sure you've got some red cards in near Jay, Jonathan,
just be real, be honest your thoughts on the red card.
Speaker 6 (09:50):
I mean when I originally saw it, obviously, I thought
it was the challenge that was very accidental, right, and
for them to be able to go back and slow
it down and go through that entire process sense of
you know, video assisted review and for the you know,
I just felt like it wasn't fair to the US
and to Flow because you know, he was not trying
to do that.
Speaker 5 (10:10):
It wasn't malicious. Both guys are kind of going for
the ball.
Speaker 6 (10:12):
And then if you go back in the World Cup
first game for Argentina and Messi has a very similar
challenge against the defender in like the twenty fifth minute
that they go.
Speaker 5 (10:22):
They look at they decide it's not a red card.
Speaker 6 (10:24):
If you put the two images side by side in
video time, they literally the exact same offense, right, And
so how gon to be that one isn't given a
red card the other is at this juncture of the tournament,
all that you had in all those elements, and for
me is just really unfair. You know, I obviously losing
our number one striker. He's already scored three goals, so
(10:47):
it's going to be a big, big, big loss for us.
But more specific, guy, I just think, you know, FIFA
needs to do a better job within having consistency within
the calls.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Yeah, I'm still we're recording this Thursday after. I'm still
holding out hope that FIFA looks at it was like,
you know, we got this wrong, We're gonna downgrade it
to a yellow and I did. I've checked all the ais, Google, Gemini, Claude.
There's no precedent for that happening. So you know, I'm
still that holding out a little bit of it. Just
your I think you're right, unfair just seems accurate. So
assuming he is out Ballakans out, you know, we're still,
(11:20):
according to the gambling markets, pretty much a coin flip
against Belgium. They did smoke us five to two a
couple months ago. We didn't have all our guys. I'm
just scurious. Do you think Ricardo Peppi is the guy
he starts? Does he maybe throw a curveball with Haji right?
Does he move polistic out of what's your best guess
as to what Pochatino does here.
Speaker 5 (11:40):
I would guess that he would put in Ricardo Peppi.
Speaker 6 (11:43):
I think he's the guy Thatchtino has been bringing off
the bench consistently throughout this tournament. I think, you know,
that would probably be just the light for like kind
of not having to switch a lot of the tactics
compared to what they played against uh yesterday game and
leave my stadium.
Speaker 5 (12:01):
I think.
Speaker 6 (12:03):
You know, there are a few other options that are
out there for us. Would we go to you know,
more like a three four to three and have a
single forward and two wingers and you know, mix the
thing up like that, But that would then be throwing
a lot of new elements into kind of what we've
been doing and having success in this tournament, right, So
I'd see it as just straight from straight swap at
the nine with Peppi coming in and then obviously needing
(12:26):
to go two guys deep in the bench as the
game goes on.
Speaker 5 (12:30):
But yeah, I do see that as the only option,
only true vioblaws.
Speaker 4 (12:34):
So yeah, I mean that seems what everybody's leaning toward.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
I will say po Chattino was I don't know about
under fire, but he had a rough start to twenty
six and then he gets to the World Cup and
he looks like a different dude. I mean it, And
again I'm I'm an untrained eye. You played a lot
of pro soccer. It looked like yesterday against Bosnia. They
tried to work the outside, then they tried the over
the top, nothing was really working, and then they decided, hell,
(12:58):
let's just press these guys and it was over after
turnover and when we get a goal. Is that what
you saw there? Or is what what was your read
on what Pochatino did there?
Speaker 6 (13:07):
I mean, I think as the game goes on, right,
any game you try and find ways to hurt the opponent, right,
And I think we started the game trying to play
our normal style, you know, get down the lines, great
overlaps or over overloads on the outsides, you know, getting
our wing backs, you.
Speaker 5 (13:24):
Know, up the field in good attacking positions.
Speaker 6 (13:27):
And yeah, I thought Bosnia did a really good job
defensively of kind of keeping us at bay for the
majority of the game, right. And then obviously I think
as game goes along, you have to figure out new
ways to both attack and defend the team. So I
think them actually pressing the line a little bit higher,
getting our defensive line very very high.
Speaker 5 (13:47):
I thought that really worked.
Speaker 6 (13:48):
And you know, we were causing them just as much
trouble as they were causing us right in our attack.
Speaker 5 (13:54):
So I think, you know, it was a good good showing.
Speaker 6 (13:57):
I thought, you know, the us of the bill to
adapt within a game, to be able to change kind
of schematic and tactics while the game's going on, I
thought they did a very very good job within the
Boston the game of doing that.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
I don't know how much you remember from the Belgium meeting.
So we took the lead one nothing and.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
Then it was largely all downhill from there.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
Second.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
I mean, we didn't have Tyler Adams I believe Richards
missed the game.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
Tilman came in late. We didn't have our full deck.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
Are you worried about Belgium because they I missed some
of that game against Senegal flying up to Santa Clara,
but some of the advanced at say Senegal was basically
kicked their ass.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
I mean it was. It was one sided for eighty
five minutes.
Speaker 6 (14:38):
Yeah, I saw, I saw the majority of that game.
I do think Senegal being a very athletic team, being
very dynamic within you know, their attacks, their wingers, their forwards.
I thought that caused a lot of trouble for Belgium's defense.
I do think that you know, players like Blukaku coming
off the bench, Jeremy Doku who's on the wing, is
(15:00):
very very unbalancing a winger.
Speaker 5 (15:02):
Their their other guy on the.
Speaker 6 (15:04):
Other side, Tilleman, I'm sorry, Lenro Trossard also on the
wing right, both guys very very good on the ball,
good at creating a lot of opportunities for their team.
And then you have think guys with experience like a
de Bruyner right. I think the strongest suit that Belgium
has is their attack. I think if if we can
(15:26):
keep them at bay, kind of like what we did
against Bosnia, high pressure, not giving them a lot of
time and space on the ball, making them make decisions quickly.
I think that's where we're going to get our best
options to win the game, right, And so I think,
you know, we do do have to have it in
the back of our minds that they got Lukaku, who's
(15:47):
going to be coming off the bench. He's come off
the bench in the last couple of games and scored.
So I think, you know, our history with Belgium, especially
over the last World Cup as well as this previous
game before the World Cup, you know, we have not
had big success against them, So I think I think
we're playing in a different way than we were playing
when we had these prep matches as well as obviously
(16:08):
World Cups in the past. So I think we have
the best chance of any that we've ever had of
getting a victory in this round of sixteen match.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
What do you make and again I think it's nonsense,
But again I didn't play for the US national team
like you did.
Speaker 4 (16:21):
What do you make of this?
Speaker 3 (16:22):
Sole We hadn't beaten a European nation, and in the
last five years it was like ten matches or something.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
Does that stuff matter?
Speaker 3 (16:30):
I mean, do you could we take anything away from that?
I mean, obviously we beat Bosnia, so the streak is over.
But you know, Belgium is European. I'm just is it
a style of play thing? Is it just a step
up in competition?
Speaker 4 (16:42):
What do you think is there?
Speaker 5 (16:43):
If anything? I think it's the combination of both those things, right.
Speaker 6 (16:47):
I think European team play against other European teams and
the level gets riden when you get those type of
games consistently, right Whereas you know, we're on the in
the CONCACAFT reach in you know, North and Central America,
and our competition lead up to World Cups, lead up
to big tournaments is a little bit less than playing
(17:08):
against a Spain and you know in England and a
Germany and France on a you know, more of an
international daily basis, so to say. Right, So I would
say there's an element of that to it. Just the
overall competition raises the level of the teams you play.
But you know, we do try and get those games
in as well in terms of friendlies, but again never
(17:29):
the same lineups, not always the full roster, and so
when you go to the World Cup, I think all
of this gets thrown out the window, right, because everyone
has their best players, everybody wants to win the level
of the you know, everything under a magnifying glass, and
you know, players that are playing the best soccer that
they've ever played because of all these different elements as well.
And so for me, this World Cup you've already seen
(17:53):
you know, bigger teams like a Germany, like the Netherlands
get eliminated, but maybe like these underdog teams, right, And
so if there's any ever a chance for the US
to now beat a European opponent in the round of sixteen,
I think that is coming Monday, July sixth.
Speaker 4 (18:11):
So I like that.
Speaker 5 (18:13):
So I see it. That's how I see it.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
Let me ask another question on Belgium. So they didn't
look great early against Egypt. They were not great. The
Iran game was embarrassing. Sure they killed New Zealand, but
they're not any good. And then they were outplayed largely
by Senegal.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
I'm just curious.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
I saw that de Bryna and Doku were subbed off
like before the sixty minute mark.
Speaker 4 (18:35):
Those are supposed to.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
Be their two best players. I thought Belgium wasn't quite
on the Netherlands level, but I do though they were
better than this. They just haven't been good at all.
Am I underestimating them or overestimating us.
Speaker 6 (18:48):
I don't think either of those. I think we just
have to analyze what they've done in this tournament. Right,
they haven't been great.
Speaker 5 (18:53):
In front of goal.
Speaker 6 (18:55):
They've been getting a lot of their production from players
who were coming off the bench. But that being said,
these are also very like elite athletes who play on
their team, and so I think to underestimate them going
into this game would be something that we should not do.
Would be negative just because you know, although you can
flip the switch when you're playing this game, these guys
are ready for big matches and they have been creating
(19:19):
a lot of opportunities, just probably not finishing these opportunities.
And so I think against Senegal they also had very
good lapses in those first fifty sixty minutes, although Senegal
I think just was able to.
Speaker 5 (19:32):
Put them away by taking advantage of their opportunities. Right.
Speaker 6 (19:36):
Scoring those two goals definitely put Belgium under a lot
of pressure, and then again they brought in those I
would say super sill, especially with Lukaku who then came
in changed the entire dynamic of the game. Big body,
big presence up top, very strong, able to get on
the ball and both score a goal and then also help,
you know, set up a couple of goals.
Speaker 5 (19:55):
Right, So I think we have to be wary of
all of it.
Speaker 6 (19:58):
We need to be playing on our front, playing our
game the way we've been playing, with the energy and
the togetherness that we've been playing it throughout this entire tournament.
I think, take away only the Turkey game of that
Tapan style and and we should be at least well,
you know, able to compete, if not win this game
going forward.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio
dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to
listen live.
Speaker 4 (20:31):
Let me ask you about the USA bench.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
So obviously Balligan, if he suspended you put in Peppi,
and then I does depth become an issue. I'm just
reading what Poachattino's done taking out the Turkey game. It
seems like the guys he trusts are burholter Raina and Peppi.
Is that safe because the defense did look shaky against
Turkey on the back line. I'm just curious, do you
(20:53):
think there's any defenders on the bench or anyone Maybe
I'm missing that that he does, trust.
Speaker 6 (21:00):
I mean, usually in these type of big games, you're
not really switching on a lot of defenders, right. I
think we've seen it consistently throughout all the teams in
the World Cup. Your defensive line, unless someone gets hurt
or if someone is just having a very bad game,
defensive units tend to stay together, right because you know,
if you're playing well with consistency over the tournament, you
(21:22):
know it's it's hard to come in as a defender.
Just and also within my experience, right I was ever
on the bench, it was always more difficult to come
in as a left back than it was to maybe
come in as a winger or a midfielder or a forward.
Speaker 5 (21:35):
And so.
Speaker 6 (21:37):
That being said, I do think some guys have given
themselves a good chance. I'd say the only defenders really
would be our outside guys with Joe Scally or Austin Trustee,
it would be guys who would consider bringing in off
the bench, if you know, if our wing backs are
getting a little tired, from going up and down the field.
Speaker 5 (21:53):
But I do think over the tournament.
Speaker 6 (21:55):
And guys who've been coming off the bench, Yeah, we're
looking at more of a of a Geo Reyna uh in.
Speaker 5 (22:00):
Terms of like a more creative option. Maybe as well.
Speaker 6 (22:04):
Brendan Aronson could potentially be an attacking you know, breat
that that played in.
Speaker 5 (22:09):
In in the Turkey game. But you know, but also
Bene to see minutes.
Speaker 6 (22:14):
And if we're looking to now have to replace Peppi
because he was the guy coming off for for for flow,
then you're looking at someone more like how.
Speaker 5 (22:22):
Do you write right? Who I think could easily do
the job as well?
Speaker 6 (22:27):
Big body, you know, someone who can who can bring
a spark to our to our attack if if need be.
Speaker 4 (22:33):
Let's look big picture, Jonathan.
Speaker 3 (22:35):
At the World Cup, obviously, France is a pretty clear favorite,
Argentina probably second, and then Spain finally seemed to wake
up today and you know they just eviscerated Austria. But
would you say those are pretty much the top three
or is there somebody you think they could crack that
uh that trio?
Speaker 5 (22:53):
No, I think you're pretty spot on there, Jason with
that assessment.
Speaker 6 (22:56):
I think France has looked very good throughout the entire tournament,
you know, pretty handed victory in the round of thirty
two almost looked like they were skating through the game
at times right where it just looked like it was
coming off so easy to them. Argentina, we're about to
see them tomorrow, but their their ability to obviously have well,
(23:18):
their guy Messi has the ability to just change the
game like no one else in the game today, right,
And so I do see.
Speaker 5 (23:26):
Their team running very hard.
Speaker 6 (23:29):
And knowing that this could be Messi's last chants at
another World Cup and maybe his last big tournament of
his career. And so I see definitely Argentina and France
as top two. France I think maybe out out nudging
Argentina even at this point, just with the with the
performances that they've had and their overall complete team that
(23:52):
they're competing with.
Speaker 4 (23:54):
So July fifth could be the game of the World Cup.
Speaker 3 (23:58):
England at mech They've got to go to Asteca and
it's going to.
Speaker 4 (24:03):
Be a very tall order.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
My pick before the tournament was was England, but mex
I didn't anticipate Mexico being this good at home.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
Remember, they've had a couple of rough cycles.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
Uh, you know the league at X Well, Mexico's kind
of been down a little bit, but they look like
a completely different beast at home.
Speaker 6 (24:22):
Yeah, I think I saw a stat that they've only
lost five games or maybe even less games at as
Teca over the last forty something games.
Speaker 5 (24:31):
So we have to go look it up, but I
just remember off in my mind they've they've lost very
few games at as Teca over the history of you know,
international games at that stadium, And so you need.
Speaker 6 (24:42):
To add in that twelfth man, right, the fan base
being there primarily will be for Mexico. You stay that
same thing for the US right here on home soil.
These type of things actually add to players running harder,
you know, finding another year to be able to perform
(25:03):
in the World Cup.
Speaker 5 (25:03):
So yeah, I think Mexico is gonna be tough to
be at home.
Speaker 6 (25:06):
And England they were almost out of the tournament as well,
if you don't have the heroics of Harry Kane very
late in the game. Right, So a lot of these
bigger name teams have not been showing up as big
name teams I think in this tournament, and it just
it just goes to show how much parody there is
within world world football nowadays, right I do.
Speaker 5 (25:27):
I said it earlier, I will say it again.
Speaker 6 (25:30):
Anybody can beat anybody at any game of this World Cup.
And that's I think what makes it most exciting for
all the fans and even for the players.
Speaker 5 (25:38):
You know, you always know you have a chance if
you show up and you play your top games.
Speaker 4 (25:42):
So who would be who are you picking in that one?
Speaker 3 (25:44):
Because you know, I mean Mexico basically sleeping in their
own beds. They just played Ecuador there, England played in Atlanta.
Speaker 4 (25:51):
They got to travel to the altitude.
Speaker 1 (25:52):
I don't.
Speaker 4 (25:53):
I don't I think I gotta go Mexico here.
Speaker 6 (25:56):
Yeah, I think Mexico is better prepared for the situation
when you add in all of these different elements of altitude,
of travel time, of just you know how much you've
also had to travel throughout the World Cup. You know,
there are teams who have more favorable outcomes because they,
you know, we like us travel from Los Angeles to
(26:17):
Seattle to Los Angeles and now up to northern California.
There's other teams that are traveling across the country. Yeah,
even internationally, from Canada to the US US Mexico back.
So these things add up on just the overall wear
and tear of the mind. You know, how much are
you actually resting within all that stuff. So I do
give Mexico a much favorable outcome in that match, and
(26:39):
I think they also had to I wouldn't say easier,
but they took care of business rather more quickly than
England did in their match. Right, So one team had
to fight to the very end, a lot of emotion
within that. The other team kind of you know, had
a lot of opportunities to go you know, they obviously
won two zero, but opportunities to go up three zero
and had a bit easier of.
Speaker 5 (26:59):
Them a match.
Speaker 6 (27:00):
So I do like Mexico in that one, maybe a
little biased just because I've played there a long time,
played with a lot of the guys who are playing
in on that team. You know, guys who grew up
in Todeteo with like Louis Romo or Believing Neva, and
then also played with Brian Gutierras in Chicago. Uh so
had the opportunity play it with those guys and then
also against a lot of those guys, So you know,
(27:24):
go go way back with a bunch of them, and
so that's kind of why I'm also rooting for them.
Speaker 3 (27:28):
So Mexico if they win, likely with face Brazil. It's
weird to talk for eighteen minutes about soccer and not
mentioned Brazil.
Speaker 4 (27:35):
I don't, I don't. I don't think this Brazil team
is great.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
Obviously they have great players, but they haven't looked particularly sharp.
Speaker 4 (27:41):
I don't know what's your take on Brazil.
Speaker 6 (27:43):
Yeah, I'm right there with you. I think we always
expect more from Brazil. Historically, they're probably the best team
ever to to play in a World Cup, right, most championships, historically,
the best players that you know, I've touched the field
and been able to well, we've been blessed to see
them play.
Speaker 5 (28:00):
So I have been a little disappointed. Brazil is one
of those ones you can't ever found out either, right right.
Speaker 6 (28:08):
I thought Japan might be the team to upset them,
and I actually, you know, if I were to be
betting on the games, I would have bet that Japan
was gonna win that game. And when they scored that
first goal, I thought I was onto something. But then again,
you got really talented player, you know on Brazil, you know,
attacking minded players who who find a way to get
(28:29):
it done, who playing you know, the top European clubs
in the world, play in the top competitions in the world,
and so that experience they bring to them and it's
almost like you can ever count them out, even if
they're losing late in the game. So you know, hopefully
that I would like to see them go a little
bit further, but you know, we'll have to wait and see.
I think they need to bring their best game for this,
(28:50):
for this round of sixteen matchup.
Speaker 3 (28:52):
All right, so last one we haven't talked really individual players.
Obviously Messi's greatness, but it feels like, you know, they
use the phrase golden general a lot. I mean, have
you ever seen a golden boot leader board? It's more
stacked than this, I mean, Holland Kine. You know, there's
just too many good I don't know, is this like
(29:14):
the best you've ever seen it in terms of like
just scoring machines.
Speaker 5 (29:18):
I mean, I think so.
Speaker 6 (29:19):
I think getting the most consistency from your top players
of those names we mentioned, I think in Bope is
on track to just obviously, Messi broke the record of
the number of goals scored in a World Cup. But
in Bope is on his heels right behind him, and
he's still I think you're going twenty seven, right, Yeah,
so he's got many more World Cups to go, you know.
Speaker 5 (29:41):
Would we will definitely.
Speaker 6 (29:43):
Be seeing these records just broken and rebroken and I
think for years to come. But it is impressive to
see so many top players, top stop strikers, at top
attacking players from so many different countries scoring so many goals.
Speaker 5 (29:55):
I think it's just it's great for the fan, it's
great for the game, and you know, hopefully it only
continues into these even more pressing rounds as it goes.
Speaker 3 (30:05):
Yeah, all right, Jonathan Bornstein, former US national team player. Obviously,
have a great July fourth, enjoy the July sixth game,
and then hey, who knows, listen, maybe I'll you know,
dip into my kids college. Fun to go see US
a Spain at so far if that, if that batch happens,
because those tickets are gonna be it's gonna be a
tough one. Not for a guy like you, you know, obviously,
yo yo, get up, but that would be that would
(30:28):
be phenomenal. Jonathan, thanks man.
Speaker 6 (30:30):
Yeah, no, I hope that happens. Well, Thank you Jason
for the for the time and I loved the interview.
Thank you brought those great questions. It was always always
a pleasure of talking US soccer dear in the World Cup.
Speaker 5 (30:40):
So thank you
This is straight Fire with Jason McIntyre.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
What is up streak Fire.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
Fam, It's me Jason McIntyre, Straight boyer or Friday, July
the third, everybody fired up for July fourth weekend a
lot of soccer. Soccer plus fireworks equals fun. Oh my gosh, folks,
I don't know if you guys are loving the World
Cup as much as I am.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
This is just it's the greatest. It does not get
much better than this.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
You know, when it was Katar, the times were all
wacky and you'd have to wake up at the ass
crack of dawn and watch soccer, which is fine, but
it's just not as fun as like, Oh, I just
you know, finished the show. I'm gonna head home, listen
to the second half in my car, hit the gym,
come out, and then watch another soccer match, and then
maybe get dinner, hang with the fam, and then watch
(00:55):
another match like it lines up so perfectly, and thank
you for understanding.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
No podcast.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
On Thursday, I was fortunate enough to head up to
Santa Clara for one of the coolest sporting events I've
ever been to, probably number one USA Bosnia. Just a
tremendous atmosphere, incredible match. We largely dominated. Of course, the
flow Balagan red card nonsense was kind of a bit
of a stain on the game. But ultimately we win,
(01:23):
we advance, We look really good, crowdjuiced up when another
clean sheet for the defense, when our starters have played
three matches, We've conceded one goal to Paraguay.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
That's it.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
And by the way, Paraguay's no joke. They play France tomorrow.
They knocked off Germany, like Paraguay's had a good reputation
coming in and we smoked.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Anyways, the match was outstanding.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
The balligan I'm not gonna get into it anymore, just
for the record, and as I record this one am
Eastern time on Friday morning. I FIFA has not come
out and said anything about the Batican red card.
Speaker 4 (02:02):
There is no appeals.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
Process that is accurate. What also is accurate is FIFA
can look at any red card and determine, oh that
we need to upgrade that to a two game suspension,
that was that dirty, or we need to downgrade it
to a yellow. So those are the two options for FIFA.
They've come out and said nothing, they probably won't say anything.
I'm still of the belief. We got jobbed, completely hosed.
(02:25):
And it's interesting, one hundred percent of these rules analysts
that I've seen said, yeah, it's not red card worthy.
And what makes it not red card worthy is on
the field. The referee just ruled foul. He said, didn't
even have a yellow. So what happened was they were
going to continue play, but the kid on Bosnia instantly
(02:47):
grabs his leg like it's snapped in half and starts lobbying.
Speaker 4 (02:49):
Oh, come on, where's the card. Where's the card? And
var looks at it.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
They look at it in slow motion, which apparently you're
not allowed to do that. This is according to what
the official said, and they determined it was a dangerous play.
Now there was no malicious intent, that's clear. Baligan's not
even looking. He's not looking at where he's stepping. He's
fading backwards, kind of falling over, and yes he does
(03:16):
kind of crunch the guy's leg. But just for the record, dude,
after rolling around on the ground in agony, basically needing
to get stretchered to the hospital instantly surgery ended up
getting up and running around like five minutes later and
stay in the game. So you know, he sold the
hell out of it, which is fine. I just think
like var is kind of nonsense. And I'm not going
(03:39):
to go too deep on the Croatia Portugal final if
you haven't seen it. So the first half of that
game was a snooze fest. The second half was crazy
town and port You know, I'm not going to hype
the Model anymore. It's I guess I sound like an idiot,
just bragging and boasting, and that's not the plan, honestly.
Speaker 4 (04:01):
But you know, you guys have been following here on the.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Pod for a long time and this Claude Cowork is
a freaking game changer.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
It is the Model. I did total the record for
picks so far.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Forty two, twenty three and two, and that's after a
Swiss double.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
Sunday.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
I didn't even write that one up because it wasn't
full confidence, but I was like, ah, we're running hot,
I'll bet it anyway, Boom Switzerland minus a half hit
and a Switzerland parlay of minus a half and under
two and a half goals should not have got there,
but it did.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
Anyways.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
The Model liked two bets in Portugal Croatia both teams
to score, which cashed in the first sixty minutes after
Renaldo's PK and then draw, We're in the what one
hundred and second minute something like that, and.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
Portugal scores an.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
Un believable goal, and I'm like, well, you know, you
lose a bet that way that whatever are you going
to do about it? Like that was an awesome game,
awesome ending. You can't win them, all right, And the
draw bet was a longer bet. It was I think
it was plus four hundred plus three hundred. I don't
remember it off the top of my head, and so
that's a smaller wager for me, and so I'm winning anyway,
(05:20):
So I didn't really get upset that Portugal scored plus
was a freaking great goal, one of the best passes
I've seen anyways. So next thing you know, Croatia comes
down and in a bing, bing boom, somehow the ball
goes in. I'm talking to the wife, she's telling me
something and I just have to cut her off. I'm like,
oh my god, did that appen? And it was like
(05:42):
absolute bedlum in pandemonium. I thought that was the craziest
woman of the tournament. Right then they showed the replay
and they're like oh, he's probably off sides. Well, if
the ball hit the Croatia player in the head and
he flicked it on and folks, I'm just telling you.
In the NFL, we can they zoom in. Did he
touch the line? Was his toe on the line? You
(06:03):
can get in there and see everything. This you couldn't tell.
So when you can't really tell, I look at the
rotation of the ball. Guys, you could look at the videos.
They're all out there. The ball rotation does not spin
differently at all. It does not change direction, it does
not slow down. If it grazed his hair, does that count? Hey,
(06:26):
I don't know the answer to that. Maybe I thought
head or hair, which.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
Is I don't know.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
So then they say, oh, yeah, there's a chip in
the ball, and you can see the bump, and then
all these slups get out there and they're like, wait
a sec. They're only showing one bump where the chip
made contact with the head, but right after its skim
past the Croatia guy, it hit the Portugal defender in
the head.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
It was like, wait, what's god?
Speaker 3 (06:52):
I mean, it was absolutely chaotic and crazy, and I
feel bad for Luca Madras. Fans in Croatia. I felt
like they got job but whatever, we got job done.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
Baloch, what are you gonna do?
Speaker 3 (07:03):
So to celebrate a soccer weekend, We've got a great
guest who played on the US national team, Jonathan Bornstein,
former left back defender, a lot of soccer experience, and
he helps me break down this Mexico England game on
July fifth. I'm totally geeked for that. The model is
(07:25):
leaning toward Mexico. It's not official, you know. Obviously, we
got to see what the weather is and if there's
any injuries and stuff. But I don't think I can
bet against England here. It's probably gonna be a no
play for me. I'm super geeked for that game July fifth,
five o'clock, and the US plays on the sixth against Belgium.
(07:46):
So we talk about that in depth with Bornstein. We
don't really get into Morocco, but he largely agrees with
me that France is the team to beat. I don't
see how you guys are watching this and think of
anything otherwise France than Argentina. And I think after that,
maybe Spain's bounced back, but I don't know, we'll see anyways.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
I hope you'll like the interview.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
I know we didn't get to Jalen Brown and the
big NBA crazy Town trade.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Listen, folks.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Next week soccer eases up a bit, We'll get to
Jaylen Brown.
Speaker 4 (08:17):
Enjoy.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Jonathan Boardstein, former US national team defender.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio
dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to
listen live. You know a guy, Jason likes to think
he knows everything when it comes to sports.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
I know what sports fans want, but for.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Everything he doesn't, he knows the guy who does.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
Let's just say I know a guy who knows the
guy who knows another guy.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
All right, let's welcome into straight fire.
Speaker 3 (08:52):
A big time guest who played in Liga MX, he
played for the US national team. He's been to a
bunch of games. That's so fi for the World Cup.
Jonathan Bornstein, John, how you doing man?
Speaker 5 (09:05):
Jason? Thank you for having me here. I'm doing really well.
Speaker 6 (09:08):
I think, just like I have all the followers, all
the listeners, just been enjoying this World Cup.
Speaker 5 (09:13):
As it's been going on here in the United States.
Speaker 6 (09:15):
Right, So, big buzz about the US exciting win yesterday
and more than anything, just happy to be talking about
it with you here on the show, Jason.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
So we met the wife and I we were able
to get tickets and we went up to Santa Clara
just parachute it in for the game. And I will say,
like I've been to a bunch of sporting events by far,
it was the number one sporting event I've ever been to,
only to get ruined by the Flow Ballagan red card,
which I got to ask you about that, Listen. I'm
sure you've got some red cards in near Jay, Jonathan,
just be real, be honest your thoughts on the red card.
Speaker 6 (09:50):
I mean when I originally saw it, obviously, I thought
it was the challenge that was very accidental, right, and
for them to be able to go back and slow
it down and go through that entire process sense of
you know, video assisted review and for the you know,
I just felt like it wasn't fair to the US
and to Flow because you know, he was not trying
to do that.
Speaker 5 (10:10):
It wasn't malicious. Both guys are kind of going for
the ball.
Speaker 6 (10:12):
And then if you go back in the World Cup
first game for Argentina and Messi has a very similar
challenge against the defender in like the twenty fifth minute
that they go.
Speaker 5 (10:22):
They look at they decide it's not a red card.
Speaker 6 (10:24):
If you put the two images side by side in
video time, they literally the exact same offense, right, And
so how gon to be that one isn't given a
red card the other is at this juncture of the tournament,
all that you had in all those elements, and for
me is just really unfair. You know, I obviously losing
our number one striker. He's already scored three goals, so
(10:47):
it's going to be a big, big, big loss for us.
But more specific, guy, I just think, you know, FIFA
needs to do a better job within having consistency within
the calls.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Yeah, I'm still we're recording this Thursday after. I'm still
holding out hope that FIFA looks at it was like,
you know, we got this wrong, We're gonna downgrade it
to a yellow and I did. I've checked all the ais, Google, Gemini, Claude.
There's no precedent for that happening. So you know, I'm
still that holding out a little bit of it. Just
your I think you're right, unfair just seems accurate. So
assuming he is out Ballakans out, you know, we're still,
(11:20):
according to the gambling markets, pretty much a coin flip
against Belgium. They did smoke us five to two a
couple months ago. We didn't have all our guys. I'm
just scurious. Do you think Ricardo Peppi is the guy
he starts? Does he maybe throw a curveball with Haji right?
Does he move polistic out of what's your best guess
as to what Pochatino does here.
Speaker 5 (11:40):
I would guess that he would put in Ricardo Peppi.
Speaker 6 (11:43):
I think he's the guy Thatchtino has been bringing off
the bench consistently throughout this tournament. I think, you know,
that would probably be just the light for like kind
of not having to switch a lot of the tactics
compared to what they played against uh yesterday game and
leave my stadium.
Speaker 5 (12:01):
I think.
Speaker 6 (12:03):
You know, there are a few other options that are
out there for us. Would we go to you know,
more like a three four to three and have a
single forward and two wingers and you know, mix the
thing up like that, But that would then be throwing
a lot of new elements into kind of what we've
been doing and having success in this tournament, right, So
I'd see it as just straight from straight swap at
the nine with Peppi coming in and then obviously needing
(12:26):
to go two guys deep in the bench as the
game goes on.
Speaker 5 (12:30):
But yeah, I do see that as the only option,
only true vioblaws.
Speaker 4 (12:34):
So yeah, I mean that seems what everybody's leaning toward.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
I will say po Chattino was I don't know about
under fire, but he had a rough start to twenty
six and then he gets to the World Cup and
he looks like a different dude. I mean it, And
again I'm I'm an untrained eye. You played a lot
of pro soccer. It looked like yesterday against Bosnia. They
tried to work the outside, then they tried the over
the top, nothing was really working, and then they decided, hell,
(12:58):
let's just press these guys and it was over after
turnover and when we get a goal. Is that what
you saw there? Or is what what was your read
on what Pochatino did there?
Speaker 6 (13:07):
I mean, I think as the game goes on, right,
any game you try and find ways to hurt the opponent, right,
And I think we started the game trying to play
our normal style, you know, get down the lines, great
overlaps or over overloads on the outsides, you know, getting
our wing backs, you.
Speaker 5 (13:24):
Know, up the field in good attacking positions.
Speaker 6 (13:27):
And yeah, I thought Bosnia did a really good job
defensively of kind of keeping us at bay for the
majority of the game, right. And then obviously I think
as game goes along, you have to figure out new
ways to both attack and defend the team. So I
think them actually pressing the line a little bit higher,
getting our defensive line very very high.
Speaker 5 (13:47):
I thought that really worked.
Speaker 6 (13:48):
And you know, we were causing them just as much
trouble as they were causing us right in our attack.
Speaker 5 (13:54):
So I think, you know, it was a good good showing.
Speaker 6 (13:57):
I thought, you know, the us of the bill to
adapt within a game, to be able to change kind
of schematic and tactics while the game's going on, I
thought they did a very very good job within the
Boston the game of doing that.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
I don't know how much you remember from the Belgium meeting.
So we took the lead one nothing and.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
Then it was largely all downhill from there.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
Second.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
I mean, we didn't have Tyler Adams I believe Richards
missed the game.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
Tilman came in late. We didn't have our full deck.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
Are you worried about Belgium because they I missed some
of that game against Senegal flying up to Santa Clara,
but some of the advanced at say Senegal was basically
kicked their ass.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
I mean it was. It was one sided for eighty
five minutes.
Speaker 6 (14:38):
Yeah, I saw, I saw the majority of that game.
I do think Senegal being a very athletic team, being
very dynamic within you know, their attacks, their wingers, their forwards.
I thought that caused a lot of trouble for Belgium's defense.
I do think that you know, players like Blukaku coming
off the bench, Jeremy Doku who's on the wing, is
(15:00):
very very unbalancing a winger.
Speaker 5 (15:02):
Their their other guy on the.
Speaker 6 (15:04):
Other side, Tilleman, I'm sorry, Lenro Trossard also on the
wing right, both guys very very good on the ball,
good at creating a lot of opportunities for their team.
And then you have think guys with experience like a
de Bruyner right. I think the strongest suit that Belgium
has is their attack. I think if if we can
(15:26):
keep them at bay, kind of like what we did
against Bosnia, high pressure, not giving them a lot of
time and space on the ball, making them make decisions quickly.
I think that's where we're going to get our best
options to win the game, right, And so I think,
you know, we do do have to have it in
the back of our minds that they got Lukaku, who's
(15:47):
going to be coming off the bench. He's come off
the bench in the last couple of games and scored.
So I think, you know, our history with Belgium, especially
over the last World Cup as well as this previous
game before the World Cup, you know, we have not
had big success against them, So I think I think
we're playing in a different way than we were playing
when we had these prep matches as well as obviously
(16:08):
World Cups in the past. So I think we have
the best chance of any that we've ever had of
getting a victory in this round of sixteen match.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
What do you make and again I think it's nonsense,
But again I didn't play for the US national team
like you did.
Speaker 4 (16:21):
What do you make of this?
Speaker 3 (16:22):
Sole We hadn't beaten a European nation, and in the
last five years it was like ten matches or something.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
Does that stuff matter?
Speaker 3 (16:30):
I mean, do you could we take anything away from that?
I mean, obviously we beat Bosnia, so the streak is over.
But you know, Belgium is European. I'm just is it
a style of play thing? Is it just a step
up in competition?
Speaker 4 (16:42):
What do you think is there?
Speaker 5 (16:43):
If anything? I think it's the combination of both those things, right.
Speaker 6 (16:47):
I think European team play against other European teams and
the level gets riden when you get those type of
games consistently, right Whereas you know, we're on the in
the CONCACAFT reach in you know, North and Central America,
and our competition lead up to World Cups, lead up
to big tournaments is a little bit less than playing
(17:08):
against a Spain and you know in England and a
Germany and France on a you know, more of an
international daily basis, so to say. Right, So I would
say there's an element of that to it. Just the
overall competition raises the level of the teams you play.
But you know, we do try and get those games
in as well in terms of friendlies, but again never
(17:29):
the same lineups, not always the full roster, and so
when you go to the World Cup, I think all
of this gets thrown out the window, right, because everyone
has their best players, everybody wants to win the level
of the you know, everything under a magnifying glass, and
you know, players that are playing the best soccer that
they've ever played because of all these different elements as well.
And so for me, this World Cup you've already seen
(17:53):
you know, bigger teams like a Germany, like the Netherlands
get eliminated, but maybe like these underdog teams, right, And
so if there's any ever a chance for the US
to now beat a European opponent in the round of sixteen,
I think that is coming Monday, July sixth.
Speaker 4 (18:11):
So I like that.
Speaker 5 (18:13):
So I see it. That's how I see it.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
Let me ask another question on Belgium. So they didn't
look great early against Egypt. They were not great. The
Iran game was embarrassing. Sure they killed New Zealand, but
they're not any good. And then they were outplayed largely
by Senegal.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
I'm just curious.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
I saw that de Bryna and Doku were subbed off
like before the sixty minute mark.
Speaker 4 (18:35):
Those are supposed to.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
Be their two best players. I thought Belgium wasn't quite
on the Netherlands level, but I do though they were
better than this. They just haven't been good at all.
Am I underestimating them or overestimating us.
Speaker 6 (18:48):
I don't think either of those. I think we just
have to analyze what they've done in this tournament. Right,
they haven't been great.
Speaker 5 (18:53):
In front of goal.
Speaker 6 (18:55):
They've been getting a lot of their production from players
who were coming off the bench. But that being said,
these are also very like elite athletes who play on
their team, and so I think to underestimate them going
into this game would be something that we should not do.
Would be negative just because you know, although you can
flip the switch when you're playing this game, these guys
are ready for big matches and they have been creating
(19:19):
a lot of opportunities, just probably not finishing these opportunities.
And so I think against Senegal they also had very
good lapses in those first fifty sixty minutes, although Senegal
I think just was able to.
Speaker 5 (19:32):
Put them away by taking advantage of their opportunities. Right.
Speaker 6 (19:36):
Scoring those two goals definitely put Belgium under a lot
of pressure, and then again they brought in those I
would say super sill, especially with Lukaku who then came
in changed the entire dynamic of the game. Big body,
big presence up top, very strong, able to get on
the ball and both score a goal and then also help,
you know, set up a couple of goals.
Speaker 5 (19:55):
Right, So I think we have to be wary of
all of it.
Speaker 6 (19:58):
We need to be playing on our front, playing our
game the way we've been playing, with the energy and
the togetherness that we've been playing it throughout this entire tournament.
I think, take away only the Turkey game of that
Tapan style and and we should be at least well,
you know, able to compete, if not win this game
going forward.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
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Speaker 4 (20:31):
Let me ask you about the USA bench.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
So obviously Balligan, if he suspended you put in Peppi,
and then I does depth become an issue. I'm just
reading what Poachattino's done taking out the Turkey game. It
seems like the guys he trusts are burholter Raina and Peppi.
Is that safe because the defense did look shaky against
Turkey on the back line. I'm just curious, do you
(20:53):
think there's any defenders on the bench or anyone Maybe
I'm missing that that he does, trust.
Speaker 6 (21:00):
I mean, usually in these type of big games, you're
not really switching on a lot of defenders, right. I
think we've seen it consistently throughout all the teams in
the World Cup. Your defensive line, unless someone gets hurt
or if someone is just having a very bad game,
defensive units tend to stay together, right because you know,
if you're playing well with consistency over the tournament, you
(21:22):
know it's it's hard to come in as a defender.
Just and also within my experience, right I was ever
on the bench, it was always more difficult to come
in as a left back than it was to maybe
come in as a winger or a midfielder or a forward.
Speaker 5 (21:35):
And so.
Speaker 6 (21:37):
That being said, I do think some guys have given
themselves a good chance. I'd say the only defenders really
would be our outside guys with Joe Scally or Austin Trustee,
it would be guys who would consider bringing in off
the bench, if you know, if our wing backs are
getting a little tired, from going up and down the field.
Speaker 5 (21:53):
But I do think over the tournament.
Speaker 6 (21:55):
And guys who've been coming off the bench, Yeah, we're
looking at more of a of a Geo Reyna uh in.
Speaker 5 (22:00):
Terms of like a more creative option. Maybe as well.
Speaker 6 (22:04):
Brendan Aronson could potentially be an attacking you know, breat
that that played in.
Speaker 5 (22:09):
In in the Turkey game. But you know, but also
Bene to see minutes.
Speaker 6 (22:14):
And if we're looking to now have to replace Peppi
because he was the guy coming off for for for flow,
then you're looking at someone more like how.
Speaker 5 (22:22):
Do you write right? Who I think could easily do
the job as well?
Speaker 6 (22:27):
Big body, you know, someone who can who can bring
a spark to our to our attack if if need be.
Speaker 4 (22:33):
Let's look big picture, Jonathan.
Speaker 3 (22:35):
At the World Cup, obviously, France is a pretty clear favorite,
Argentina probably second, and then Spain finally seemed to wake
up today and you know they just eviscerated Austria. But
would you say those are pretty much the top three
or is there somebody you think they could crack that
uh that trio?
Speaker 5 (22:53):
No, I think you're pretty spot on there, Jason with
that assessment.
Speaker 6 (22:56):
I think France has looked very good throughout the entire tournament,
you know, pretty handed victory in the round of thirty
two almost looked like they were skating through the game
at times right where it just looked like it was
coming off so easy to them. Argentina, we're about to
see them tomorrow, but their their ability to obviously have well,
(23:18):
their guy Messi has the ability to just change the
game like no one else in the game today, right,
And so I do see.
Speaker 5 (23:26):
Their team running very hard.
Speaker 6 (23:29):
And knowing that this could be Messi's last chants at
another World Cup and maybe his last big tournament of
his career. And so I see definitely Argentina and France
as top two. France I think maybe out out nudging
Argentina even at this point, just with the with the
performances that they've had and their overall complete team that
(23:52):
they're competing with.
Speaker 4 (23:54):
So July fifth could be the game of the World Cup.
Speaker 3 (23:58):
England at mech They've got to go to Asteca and
it's going to.
Speaker 4 (24:03):
Be a very tall order.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
My pick before the tournament was was England, but mex
I didn't anticipate Mexico being this good at home.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
Remember, they've had a couple of rough cycles.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
Uh, you know the league at X Well, Mexico's kind
of been down a little bit, but they look like
a completely different beast at home.
Speaker 6 (24:22):
Yeah, I think I saw a stat that they've only
lost five games or maybe even less games at as
Teca over the last forty something games.
Speaker 5 (24:31):
So we have to go look it up, but I
just remember off in my mind they've they've lost very
few games at as Teca over the history of you know,
international games at that stadium, And so you need.
Speaker 6 (24:42):
To add in that twelfth man, right, the fan base
being there primarily will be for Mexico. You stay that
same thing for the US right here on home soil.
These type of things actually add to players running harder,
you know, finding another year to be able to perform
(25:03):
in the World Cup.
Speaker 5 (25:03):
So yeah, I think Mexico is gonna be tough to
be at home.
Speaker 6 (25:06):
And England they were almost out of the tournament as well,
if you don't have the heroics of Harry Kane very
late in the game. Right, So a lot of these
bigger name teams have not been showing up as big
name teams I think in this tournament, and it just
it just goes to show how much parody there is
within world world football nowadays, right I do.
Speaker 5 (25:27):
I said it earlier, I will say it again.
Speaker 6 (25:30):
Anybody can beat anybody at any game of this World Cup.
And that's I think what makes it most exciting for
all the fans and even for the players.
Speaker 5 (25:38):
You know, you always know you have a chance if
you show up and you play your top games.
Speaker 4 (25:42):
So who would be who are you picking in that one?
Speaker 3 (25:44):
Because you know, I mean Mexico basically sleeping in their
own beds. They just played Ecuador there, England played in Atlanta.
Speaker 4 (25:51):
They got to travel to the altitude.
Speaker 1 (25:52):
I don't.
Speaker 4 (25:53):
I don't I think I gotta go Mexico here.
Speaker 6 (25:56):
Yeah, I think Mexico is better prepared for the situation
when you add in all of these different elements of altitude,
of travel time, of just you know how much you've
also had to travel throughout the World Cup. You know,
there are teams who have more favorable outcomes because they,
you know, we like us travel from Los Angeles to
(26:17):
Seattle to Los Angeles and now up to northern California.
There's other teams that are traveling across the country. Yeah,
even internationally, from Canada to the US US Mexico back.
So these things add up on just the overall wear
and tear of the mind. You know, how much are
you actually resting within all that stuff. So I do
give Mexico a much favorable outcome in that match, and
(26:39):
I think they also had to I wouldn't say easier,
but they took care of business rather more quickly than
England did in their match. Right, So one team had
to fight to the very end, a lot of emotion
within that. The other team kind of you know, had
a lot of opportunities to go you know, they obviously
won two zero, but opportunities to go up three zero
and had a bit easier of.
Speaker 5 (26:59):
Them a match.
Speaker 6 (27:00):
So I do like Mexico in that one, maybe a
little biased just because I've played there a long time,
played with a lot of the guys who are playing
in on that team. You know, guys who grew up
in Todeteo with like Louis Romo or Believing Neva, and
then also played with Brian Gutierras in Chicago. Uh so
had the opportunity play it with those guys and then
also against a lot of those guys, So you know,
(27:24):
go go way back with a bunch of them, and
so that's kind of why I'm also rooting for them.
Speaker 3 (27:28):
So Mexico if they win, likely with face Brazil. It's
weird to talk for eighteen minutes about soccer and not
mentioned Brazil.
Speaker 4 (27:35):
I don't, I don't. I don't think this Brazil team
is great.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
Obviously they have great players, but they haven't looked particularly sharp.
Speaker 4 (27:41):
I don't know what's your take on Brazil.
Speaker 6 (27:43):
Yeah, I'm right there with you. I think we always
expect more from Brazil. Historically, they're probably the best team
ever to to play in a World Cup, right, most championships, historically,
the best players that you know, I've touched the field
and been able to well, we've been blessed to see
them play.
Speaker 5 (28:00):
So I have been a little disappointed. Brazil is one
of those ones you can't ever found out either, right right.
Speaker 6 (28:08):
I thought Japan might be the team to upset them,
and I actually, you know, if I were to be
betting on the games, I would have bet that Japan
was gonna win that game. And when they scored that
first goal, I thought I was onto something. But then again,
you got really talented player, you know on Brazil, you know,
attacking minded players who who find a way to get
(28:29):
it done, who playing you know, the top European clubs
in the world, play in the top competitions in the world,
and so that experience they bring to them and it's
almost like you can ever count them out, even if
they're losing late in the game. So you know, hopefully
that I would like to see them go a little
bit further, but you know, we'll have to wait and see.
I think they need to bring their best game for this,
(28:50):
for this round of sixteen matchup.
Speaker 3 (28:52):
All right, so last one we haven't talked really individual players.
Obviously Messi's greatness, but it feels like, you know, they
use the phrase golden general a lot. I mean, have
you ever seen a golden boot leader board? It's more
stacked than this, I mean, Holland Kine. You know, there's
just too many good I don't know, is this like
(29:14):
the best you've ever seen it in terms of like
just scoring machines.
Speaker 5 (29:18):
I mean, I think so.
Speaker 6 (29:19):
I think getting the most consistency from your top players
of those names we mentioned, I think in Bope is
on track to just obviously, Messi broke the record of
the number of goals scored in a World Cup. But
in Bope is on his heels right behind him, and
he's still I think you're going twenty seven, right, Yeah,
so he's got many more World Cups to go, you know.
Speaker 5 (29:41):
Would we will definitely.
Speaker 6 (29:43):
Be seeing these records just broken and rebroken and I
think for years to come. But it is impressive to
see so many top players, top stop strikers, at top
attacking players from so many different countries scoring so many goals.
Speaker 5 (29:55):
I think it's just it's great for the fan, it's
great for the game, and you know, hopefully it only
continues into these even more pressing rounds as it goes.
Speaker 3 (30:05):
Yeah, all right, Jonathan Bornstein, former US national team player. Obviously,
have a great July fourth, enjoy the July sixth game,
and then hey, who knows, listen, maybe I'll you know,
dip into my kids college. Fun to go see US
a Spain at so far if that, if that batch happens,
because those tickets are gonna be it's gonna be a
tough one. Not for a guy like you, you know, obviously,
yo yo, get up, but that would be that would
(30:28):
be phenomenal. Jonathan, thanks man.
Speaker 6 (30:30):
Yeah, no, I hope that happens. Well, Thank you Jason
for the for the time and I loved the interview.
Thank you brought those great questions. It was always always
a pleasure of talking US soccer dear in the World Cup.
Speaker 5 (30:40):
So thank you
Host
Jason McIntyre
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