USA Proving Everyone Wrong & The Azteca Advantage Nobody's Talking About

The USA just did something they haven't done since 1930... back-to-back World Cup wins on home soil, and their first win over a European team in 24 years.

Today we breakdown why this USA team finally has an identity (and why he's becoming a fan). Then... Belgium's heart-attack comeback against Senegal, and why it might've been lucky.

Spain hasn't conceded a single goal all tournament... are the silent killers the real deal?

Plus the coaching bloodbath (seven gone already, one fired after a single game), the Azteca altitude edge nobody's talking about, and a Maradona prediction from 2018 that's going viral for being way too accurate.

Bold takes, real stories, no corporate filler.

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Chapters:
00:00 — Welcome back (+ shout-outs)
00:50 — Today's headlines
02:42 — USA is for real (2-0 over Bosnia)
05:19 — Belgium survives the Senegal scare
07:46 — Spain, the silent killers
10:29 — The coaching bloodbath: 7 gone
12:48 — The Azteca altitude problem
16:30 — Was Maradona right?
17:45 — Wrap-up

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

What's up, everybody? Welcome back to the football show. If you are new to the show, thank you so much for tuning in. Uh, if you're not subscribed to the channel, go ahead and subscribe. We're doing these episodes and it's gonna continue uh so much more after the world. We're already have lined up a few professional soccer players. Uh I'm excited, man. I I'm I'm very excited. So um we're gonna talk about a few things today. Uh also shout out to everybody that's commenting on the social media clips. That's awesome. Welcome to the channel, welcome to the discussion. By the way, all love. I know that there's been some like heated conversations uh in there, but it's it's all love. I think part of that, uh part of this beautiful game is being able to have these conversations and uh do not agree on anything, by the way. Like, that's a beautiful part. So let's keep the conversation going. Today is gonna be a steamy one. So the USA just did something that they have not done since 1930 back-to-back World Cup wins on home soil. This is crazy, and by the way, 1930 is the first the year of the first World Cup. This is crazy. So um they they uh they beat European teams for the first time in 24 years, and this is the crazy part. One of Bosnia's players is also an American. I found out like two days ago. So he grew up in the US national team, all the setup, all the thing, and then he decided to betray them all. I'm kidding, I'm kidding. He decided to go to Bosnia. Uh, his family is from there, and you know what? Uh, I guess good for the US. So uh they sent him home. But it's not just that guy, you know, there's many things. I mean, Checo, he was the first 40-plus year old player to do the playoffs, I believe. Fact check me on that one. Uh, but Belgium survived a freaking heart attack against Senegal. Who saw that coming? That was crazy. We're watching the game. We're like, there's no way Belgium come comes back from this. And if you haven't seen it, uh to go watch it. It's crazy. They they come back and they didn't even make it to PK's, they go back 3-2. Um, was it a Piquet on the 3-2? I want to hear you in the comments. Um, Spain has let just one goal in the entire tournament. Crazy. Seven coaches are already fired or quit their job. You know, this World Cup is you know shooting down coaches like like like flies. And uh, and this is like there's a crazy Maradona prediction from 2008 that's uh 2018. Sorry, that's going viral. So it was like very accurate. So, with that, guys, let's get to the episode. Of course, let's come up, let's start with the USA. They beat Bosnia 2-0 in the round of 32s. Um, I think they had like 10 games that they didn't win against European teams. Crazy. Uh, something like that. But it's also the first time that they win all their games or three games in in a world cup. So let me see, let me see. And then back to back with it. Okay, cool. Um there we go. This is the this is the fact. So it's also the first World Cup win over a European team since 2002. 24 years. That is crazy. And uh they get the chance to play Belgium after, and uh, there's a little revenge there, so uh, which is crazy. Now here's the here's the story I love. You know, Bosnia had a winger. Uh man, how do I say this name? Boy uh Bai Raktarvich, right? Maybe I totally screw that up, but he is a US-born kid, as many of the you know soccer players or football players that are coming out in this system. Um he grew up in the the whole system and then they switched to Bosnia before qualifying. So, I mean, what uh if you have Bosnian roots, this is very important because uh he was one of the key players to take Bosnia into the World Cup, and you could see it on the last couple games, and especially the last game uh against Italy. So today obviously they knocked him down, and uh, I mean that there's no better script for something like this, but honestly, uh, is this USA team is shutting my mouth? They are a dangerous man, and they're playing really good. I'm becoming more and more of a fan every time they play. I hope they do keep it's the first time that I really see the US team uh since I got to this country in 2010 that I feel that there is an identity that they are they're playing as a unit. You could tell. Like even yesterday with 10 man, these guys were it it they didn't need the 11th man. I think that red card would have been pulled and uh and that game would have ended like 4-0, something like that. So what is the ceiling in this team? Like, like uh, are they a legit knockout threat in the in this tournament? Um I see USA stronger than Belgium at this time. What Belgium did against Senegal, crazy, but I also think very lucky. I mean, the way that they scored those goals. I think there were a couple mistakes in the back. So by the way that US is playing, I think they have a real chance at you know moving forward in that phase. So very cool thing. So um we talked a little bit about the heart attack of Senegal, but uh the 96 years and 2002 stats. Um first time in generations, anyways. Yeah, you can you can quote me or you can fact check me on all this like crazy statements that that I'm making. But our team is leaving me here some notes for the research. But uh Belgium, Belgium, Belgium, golden generation, or end of the golden generation, or start of the new golden generation. We've heard it all, right? But what a freaking game that they pull through, and uh I feel so bad for Senegal. Man, that that was a lack of concentration in the last five minutes of the game. Uh, it went to extra time, and then they they score. I mean, and you you can see like the team is evolving as the tournament is moving forward. And you know, I've seen these memes like be careful with Belgium, you know, 10 years ago, be careful with Belgium 12 years ago, and every year, even in the Euros, they don't really uh move the needle forward, right? So I think like they score five five or the six group goals in one game, which is with New Zealand, right? So um the rest of the time it feels like they're just sleepwalking, and you know, um Senegal, Senegal was one of those teams in in Africa, I mean they made it to the finals, that we could really feel they could bring the competition. And and it's crazy, like all these African teams except Morocco so far, you know, they they they promise, and then they get the here to these playoff games, and then um they they fall off, which is crazy. So obviously I'm not gonna go talk about you know past games or th things like that, but you know, Belgium in general, like they look very shaky for 270 minutes, right? Like uh and then they they flip the freaking switch. Um and then now they're showing up. So let me actually pull the bracket out and see to make sure that we're we're good. So yeah, USA, Belgium, and whoever wins that uh plays against Spain and whoever wins between Portugal and Croatia, uh, which is 0-0 at the time of this recording so far. So crazy, did not expect it, good for Belgium. Um, I think USA beats them. I think USA will get to the quarterfinals. I think USA gets into the quarterfinals, it's a successful World Cup. If they get to the semifinals, it's gonna be a massive success. And obviously, if they get to the final, it's incredible. Um, I don't think every prediction, by the way, that I've said in this show has been completely wrong. So um, shout out to my Mexican friends, uh, which has been pretty intense in the comment section in Instagram specifically. But uh, anyways, we'll talk about that just in a bit. But uh Spain, baby, the silent killers. They just play uh Austria uh right before I recorded this. And um if you haven't seen it, I mean you probably already know, but um, here's the scary thing about them they haven't like let a single goal the whole tournament. Oh wait, no, no, no, no. They met maybe one. Let me double check. Let me double check, let me double check, let me double check. Uh 3-0, yeah, no, no goals, which is crazy. 0-0 against K K Verde, crazy 4-0. They won, 1-0 against Uruguay, and now 3-0. So uh Unay Simon, good, strong defense, QRC baby, and Laporte, uh center backs. Yeah, man, this is scary team. I don't think as scary as France. I don't think, but very, very, uh, very scary. So 10 clean sheets in the last 13 games. That's uh that's a machine. I don't think that one's true. Because I see a result here against uh this is Peru, a friendly uh 3-1. Uh might be official games. Um Laminama also as uh the the player of the game. Uh this this guy's special, even though I don't think he scored in the last in the last uh in this last game. Am I right? I have short memory, guys. Yeah, uh no, these are injured people. Come on, man. Where's the game? Against Austria here. Can't even see it. Alright. Stats. Yeah, Order Sowell was the one. But um, I mean, man of the match, he had a ton of shots. He was moving around. Uh, we talked about this like disruptors of the game. He's obviously one of them. And um, you know, it's a shame that players like Nico William or Jeremy Pino are both injured uh for for for the race. But I think with um the guy that came on the left-hand side with uh Baena, I think they're they're in good hands, and Almore right in the middle. Pedrian Rodri, of course, in the middle. They've been very criticized about all the past as being like to the back, but you know, they have their identity, like we've talked about it on the show, and it's clearly working. Very strong, very strong. Okay, uh, let's see, what else? I lost all my nudes. Alright, here we go. Um yeah, we mentioned the coaches, the coaches bath. I mean, we know it's pain. Tell me in the comments what do you think? I think they're gonna go far. We'll see. Uh, but this is crazy. Every World Cup, everybody seems surprised around us that um that these coaches are just falling like flies afterwards. And and it makes sense. Like, so for some of them is the start of a cycle, for many of them is the end of it. And seven coaches have already gone, already gone from this world cup sacked or they resigned, right? So started with Tunisia, like game one, they fired uh Sabri Lamucci in like after for the first game, after they lost like five five zero, I guess, to Sweden or five-one, I can't remember. Um, but that's actually the first time in World Cup history a coach got fired in the first match, and then the guy that they brought, they hired for two games, um, and you know, to do their best. I mean, nothing that you really can change in in two games, I don't think. Then then domino started falling, right? You see uh Netherlands uh common, uh, he resigned after they went out. That was a crazy offset. Uh Steve Clark's from Scotland, South Korea's con uh coach, which was crazy. Like he was so bad that even in interviews, they blur him out on TV in Korea, which is crazy. Obviously, Ecuador, uh, BLC were Uruguay. So they've been like very, very noisy ones. But uh, I mean, it makes sense. These are high-stake jobs that you know, if you do well, you can be there for years, and but it's part of the game. So uh Germany, though, is like the exception, like they're backing up Nagelsman, and uh apart from that, everybody else really has been gone. So, like um, it is the World Cup, right? It's at the end of the day, it's like these are the best players, the best stage, the best everything, and it's a high-stake job. So um I I don't see it as a surprise. I'm surprised there's no more coaches that are being fired. I mean, there's revolts like Senegal, for example, that some of the players are complaining about the coaching staff, and as long as they stay there, they're not gonna continue. Uh, with some of these, you know, African, South American countries, maybe smaller countries in Asia, uh, federation situation can be a little tricky uh where it comes to some of this. Um, you know, maybe from Venezuela, we've seen a lot of corruption in the Federation, so I don't I can't speak for other countries, but that is a factor. So um at the end of the day, uh teams need to perform, and the coaches are responsible for this. Now, this is something that I think it was very interesting, it very interesting uh when it comes to Mexico City and the Azteca and how dangerous that stadium can be. So I haven't really heard many people talk about this, but I saw it on an interview with English coach uh Thomas Tuchel. Right? So the Stadio Azteca it sits 2,240 meters above sea level. It's about 7,300 feet, so two miles up in the in the in the sky. And for those that are not familiar with this, it does affect your body like crazy. Like it. Um basically um it's less oxygen. This is why teams like Bolivia, for example, they play in such a high altitude that other teams have a big trouble playing in those. And if you haven't really experienced this, um, I challenge you to go research it. Or or if you have the possibility. Um, it's crazy. I mean, right now where I live, we live sea level, but you know, my my dad, his hometown was up in the mountains, about 3,000 meters uh high in the mountain. And I remember when we go on vacation, I will have to train. That was like December, so we have to like it was in a break in our season, and man, would I get dizzy? Uh wanted to throw up, like the altitude really, really affected me. And so I've lived it at that stage, but as a professional player, yes, you can prepare, but it does affect if you're not used to it. And I think this is an unwritten advantage for Mexico as host of the country and and being able to do that. And uh now it makes a lot of sense. Now it makes a lot of sense of how they're performing. So uh, you know, to Chelsea's point, is there's no way to really adapt to altitude in just a couple of days, in just a few days. Like, usually when people when players and teams go to that altitude, they spend a week at least to get ready for this. So um it's almost like it's almost impossible. But you know, they haven't stopped working, which is uh the the the good part. I saw a couple videos of them working with like these machines that uh oxygen limits their oxygen and kind of mimics them training in altitude to get ready for this. So uh I do think that this is a real edge of Mexico. It's not an excuse for any other team, absolutely no. Like I think they're playing it the right way, and I mean they it could have been a different team playing in the Azteca uh if they didn't end up first in their group, uh, but it can be a factor to help. And you know, I don't think as professionals, these guys are they're not gonna complain. Like they're gonna go and they're gonna perform to the best of their ability. So uh it's gonna be definitely a fun game. I am gonna make the prediction on this one. I think it's gonna be a very tough game, but I think home advantage will matter on this game, and I think um I do believe Mexico is gonna win. It's gonna be tight, but it's gonna win. Uh we'll see. Maybe I'm making this prediction because every prediction that I've made, I'm wrong. So whoever wins that game goes and plays against Brazil or or Norway. But uh I'm home advantage. I think I have to give it to Mexico. Also, they're playing really good. Uh, it will it'll be fun to see them kind of get a little bit further down. I would like to see a semi-is a semi-final or quarterfinal. No, it's a semifinal against Argentina again. That would be great. Uh, all right, so was Maradona right? Uh in 2018, he made a prediction that is now going around and people are freaking losing it. There's a couple interviews of him saying this, and the code that everybody is sharing, uh, he supposedly said that USA will split the World Cup games into four quarters instead of two halves. This was 2018, you guys. Like, this is a while back. Uh, and he's like blatantly said like to sell more ads. Well, guess what? This is exactly what's freaking happening. And uh, if you if you are on the boat that this is not affecting the game, I think you are wrong. Uh, because England, this is the first example that they use these passes into their advantage to change the the the momentum of the game um against Congo because they were losing it, man. So um, as a fan, I hate it. As a player, I will probably hate it. Um, I see the benefit on it, but I don't it's one of those things that are hard if it ends up happening and changes. Uh, for the betterment of the game, I don't know. I mean, if it's not super hot, you don't really need it. So I think there should be a rule of humidity and temperature before you apply these water breaks and do not make it mandatory for the rest of the thing. I mean, it's gonna become a freaking uh a four-quarter game. Um so call me a purist, but here you are. Anyways, that's uh the crazy episode today. It's been it's been fun. Um thank you. Thank you for coming here. And if you're not subscribed, go hit the subscribe button. Well, let me know in the comments what else you want us to talk about. You want to uh you want us to bring interviews, you want us to do contests, you want us to do reviews? What else? What else? Let me know. Uh I'm having a blast. Thanks to you, and uh enjoy the games today. Take care.