SPECIAL INTERVIEW: WFTV producer Tom Cook on the Impressive Showing of Co-Hosts USA

Declan Link speaks to WFTV producer Tom Cook  about the USA's impressive start to the tournament, and what comes next. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:24

Good morning. This is Declan Link in Orlando, Florida. Following up after Cookie's report in from Seattle, Washington yesterday, after the U.S. national men's team's comprehensive uh beating of Australia. Cookie, thank you so much for sending the report uh last night. How are you today?

SPEAKER_02 0:47

Uh I'm feeling pretty good, Declan. We're uh a lot of euphoria for us. USA fans, uh, we're really riding the crest of enthusiasm here. It's uh it's it's been a wonderful first two games, so we're feeling really good.

SPEAKER_00 1:04

Well, jumping right into it, what I said to myself as I was making my notes, what an incredible first two games, somewhat unexpected, although you're uh knowing you, I'm sure you're gonna say, yeah, I predicted them. So what an incredible first two games for the USA USA USA. What how what describe your emotions right now because um you obviously uh the games were both very comprehensive wins. USA has qualified and are top of the group as well. So uh lots to look forward to.

SPEAKER_02 1:38

Well, the first thing I would say is anybody who's a student of the game would have expected two wins. Um so I I think uh I I uh I I don't like your uh assessment that who would have thought that we would have won the first two games. We were always expected to win the first two games. Um what was unexpected was the dominance, I think, Declan, and the um the spirit of the team. You know, leading up to the World Cup, our friendlies were we'd play terrible, and then we'd play pretty good, and then we played terrible. And uh I don't know that uh the coach was uh you know getting his thoughts across or what have you, but it's all gelled at the right time, hasn't it? So two expected wins, but not in the manner in which the dominance in which we we did. I mean, I don't I don't think uh Australia were particularly good yesterday, but um um you know they certainly gave Turkey a lot of trouble. And uh, you know, I I was expecting a one-nil or zero-zero tie, and uh so very happy with the two-nothing and uh um keep her going.

SPEAKER_00 2:52

With the with the uh Paraguay Turkey result last night as well. I mean it's it's all falling into place so magnificently. I think um Donald and and Johnny have done a great job of setting this up so the USA just slips through and gets through to the quarterfinals or semifinals. What are your thoughts?

SPEAKER_02 3:10

Uh yeah, and I was um reading last night that um um the third third place team that we might play in the round of 32 would be the winner of Bosnia, and I can't pronounce the second part of their name, sorry. Um and uh guitar. Two pretty terrible teams. So um if we play them, I think we'd be expected to win once again, and then it's Belgium in the round of sixteen, and then by then we have to really play somebody good. But that's four teams that we should beat. And if we just continue doing it where we should, that's great. But then round of sixteen, we have to beat somebody who is on paper better than us, and that is yet to be seen if we can do that. So hopefully by then the momentum is all flowing and the home crowd is behind, and and uh, you know, um a lot of teams that have hosted have done well in this tournament, and I hope that becomes uh something the U.S. can count on um to maybe get us past uh you know a top 10 team uh like uh a Belgium and and get into the later stages of the tournament. That'd be great.

SPEAKER_00 4:23

Yeah, no, I can I completely concur, completely agree. Now, I just you know, as I said, I wanted to jump right into it, but I do want to provide a little context for our thousands and thousands of new global listeners because Cookie hasn't been on for a while apart from his great report last night. Just a bit of background on Cookie. He is the best TV news producer in Orlando, Florida. He works for the ABC affiliate WFTV. Um he's definitely one of the best and most loyal US men's national team supporters, as he's been following home and away since 1950, which is quite incredible. And he's a regular contributor to our World Cup Football, etc. podcast. Um, very unexpectedly and extremely sadly, the Cook family lost their son Cameron a few weeks ago, just before Cookie, his daughter Chloe, and Chloe's husband Tanner and Cameron were supposed to be heading out to the west coast to LA and Seattle to watch the US Games. However, as a celebration of Cameron's life, the Cookies were all in Seattle yesterday for this massive game against the Socceros. And again, our sincere condolences from the World Cup football, etc. team, Cookie. Um, I I I'm so proud of you and and everyone. Um describe your trip so far. I mean, I know you went out there and uh did some sightseeing, you went to the game. You know, how long are you staying? Uh, and what else are you planning to do?

SPEAKER_02 5:52

Um yeah, we've done uh we've done some sightseeing. We're staying with family, which is obviously always the best way to travel. One, they don't charge you anything to drive you around, which is uh spectacular. Um and uh so we've uh we've been really lucky in and telling us where to go, and we've gone to Edmund and uh we've we've uh toured the coast and we're gonna go on a boat ride out into the Puget Sound this afternoon. And um it's it's funny, our hosts um are a little, you know, they're not soccer fans necessarily. So um the day before the game, it's like, well, what do you guys want to do? And they had these all these options of things. I said, we could do some of those things, but you know what? There's a World Cup on, and we could go down to a pub in downtown and sit there all day drinking beer and watching three games. Uh oh, I thought you were gonna watch a game tomorrow. I'm like, yeah, and and so that's exactly what we did. They said, Oh, I thought you wanted to go do it this sightseeing stuff. No, we want to sit in a pub and watch games all day long, and they're like, They're shaking ahead, okay. That's what you really want to do. And yep, that's what we really want to do. So we've done just a little bit of sightseeing, but mostly sightseeing inside various uh pubs in Seattle. And um, and I and I've said it to you before, Declan. You know, Philadelphia is probably the greatest. Uh, my hometown is the greatest soccer city in America. But I'm gonna put Seattle right up there next to Philly. They love their football here. And there is one soccer pub after another downtown, and they are overflowed with people. We went to one yesterday that, you know, we said, how long until we can get in? Hour, hour and a half, one after another. And so that's the kind of sightseeing we've been doing here. It's been great fun.

SPEAKER_00 7:39

So, so Tom, you were massively impressed with the Seattle Stadium. It looks absolutely sensational on TV. And uh this morning when I was walking our dog, I was reading in the athletic that they critiqued all of the 16 stadiums that are being used in Canada, North uh USA, and Mexico. And the Seattle Stadium and the Atlanta Stadium came out tops based on the criteria that you're looking for. I know you mentioned you you obviously have an affinity with the Philadelphia Stadium, which looks fabulous for the Brazil Haiti game yesterday. What what do is it confirmed on the ground the Seattle Stadium is sensational?

SPEAKER_02 8:15

Oh, it really is. Um but a couple of things about it that make it so great. Um, as we all know, a lot of these uh big uh UN American football stadiums are not necessarily in the downtown locations of the cities. Uh Boston, for instance, uh is a really good example of that. You know, miles and miles outside of the urban area. This thing is right downtown, so everybody is uh you know able to go out and go to the clubs and uh uh and walk to the stadium, so it's fantastic. And then I'm being attacked by the family dog at this point. Um uh then they also the sound once you get in, it is absolutely amazing. The the roof keeps the sound in, and of course the crowd was was loud yesterday, so inside it the atmosphere is absolutely fantastic.

SPEAKER_00 9:16

And what what percentage what percentage of the stadium were passionate US fans and w and how many uh Australian fans were in there? And was the general atmosphere um fairly friendly, or was it uh what how would you describe it?

SPEAKER_02 9:30

Yeah, no, I they Australian fans are you know passionate about their team, but extremely polite. There was no bad blood between the the supporters. They actually had more people there than I expected, to be honest with you. Um and uh they had a nice big uh crowd behind one goal, and we were sitting up with the American outlaws. They put the um you know the drums and the and the and the horns and everything like that, scattered all up where we were, uh way up top. And uh you know, didn't I'm sure they didn't appreciate that. They're normally right behind the goal. But uh, you know, there there must have been 10,000 um Australian fans there. I I I was quite amazed at the turnout that they had. But um, you know, in America, just because you're a fan of it doesn't mean you came, you know, straight in from the country. Got, you know, they're probably Australians that live in America, but they had a good showing, and then the rest of them, the vast majority of the fans, at least anywhere near where I was, were doing their best to sing, you know. Uh US uh supporters aren't necessarily the greatest singers, as you pointed out to me many times, but uh they were chanting and singing and and we stood, we were way up top, and you could not sit down. Uh we stood the entire game, everybody was clapping and singing and carrying on, and it was a wonderful atmosphere. It was a great, great uh spirit in the uh stadium for sure.

SPEAKER_00 11:03

And and realistically, I know you touched on the different permutations of how far the US national team could can potentially go. From from your perspective, you're a passionate fan, you read all of the information online about them, you know the history of the team, uh, you you you obviously have witnessed what's happened in the first two group games. Realistically, I'm putting you on the spot here, Cookie. What do you where do you think they're gonna go?

SPEAKER_02 11:28

I I think uh I think we beat Belgium uh in penalty kicks and uh uh lose to Argentina in the next round. I think that's uh what our path is right there. Uh but you know it's one game. Uh 2002 we went up against Germany that were the favorites, and we beat 'em all over the park and should have uh gotten a penalty kick. They would have tied it up. So you never know. One game. Anything can happen in football. One game you can win if you you just gotta get to that one game and play. But I think if uh if I'm being uh talking to you with my head instead of my heart, we we have a real shot at winning a round of sixteen game and uh and then you you know you get in there and you settle it on the pitch. I don't think we'd be uh expected to beat one of the top five uh teams, but that's that that's that's what I think our path. That's your prediction.

SPEAKER_00 12:30

Brilliant. Well let's let's let's see what happens. Now, uh are are you and Chloe and Tana planning on seeing any more US men's teams games or any other games? Are you potentially still going to Philadelphia for that uh July the 4th game, or what's your current verdict on what's gonna happen?

SPEAKER_02 12:46

We've we've um we've we've canceled all our um other uh outings except Philadelphia. We'll go back to the hometown for the 4th of July and celebrate America's birthday. That game, um which I checked the prices this morning, uh could be uh Germany versus France if the favorites go through. We were kind of hoping to go to that, but uh it's up to like $4,000 now, so we may not go. Uh, but we would definitely go to a fan fest in Philly on July 4th. And but we probably won't attend any more games, but you know what? You never know. You never know.

SPEAKER_00 13:25

Well, you never know because your story, uh, you know, and I can attest to it from us going to the 1994 World Cup through to 98 in France, you and me in uh Japan and Korea in 2002, me and your whole family in 2006, South Africa 2010, uh Brazil 2014. Maybe there's someone out there that will hear your story and give you access to tickets for the US national men's team's upcoming games, because that would be a brilliant end to what's been uh uh an up and down period. Now, knowing you, Cookie, as well as I do, you were on Cloud 9 when you woke up this morning. Um, did you get straight onto Amazon uh to price out having a Pochettino makeover and invest in a new Poch like toupee or wig and the more relaxed Russell Crowe Pablo Escobar wardrobe? Because you could probably do with a bit of a makeover.

SPEAKER_02 14:20

And and I I really think I could pull that off too. The the mostly unbuttoned shirt would fit my physique perfectly. So um I'm really thinking of going with that, Declan. Thank you. You think it'd be a good look for me? I really do.

SPEAKER_00 14:33

Well, it's it's it's take it from me. It's free advice, Cookie. You might as well look go go the whole way and go the Poch look because uh it's been a big topic of discussion on our previous podcast. Not only Potch, but some of the other um uh coaches and some of their different outfits. But he's definitely getting a lot of uh coverage right now. So um, Cookie, I know you're going off to do some sightseeing today. Um, safe travels. See you back in Orlando soon, and thanks a million for your time today. Give my best to everyone.

SPEAKER_02 15:03

All right, keep up the good work. You know, the thousands and thousands of people are hanging on every word on this one, so uh keep up the good work.

SPEAKER_00 15:11

It's not it's not it's actually not just thousands and thousands, it's because of the contributions of the the Gordon to this world and the cookies to this world, it's actually getting up to tens of thousands, so we do appreciate it.

SPEAKER_02 15:22

Excellent, excellent. We'll speak to you soon, Declan.