S1 Ep16 | Brad & Joe: THE WORLD IS HERE!!!

The final pre-World Cup episode of the Guuuzan show has Brad and Joe giving their full and extended takes on the tournament to come as they head off for international hosting duties. Will the USA prevail against Paraguay in their first match? Will Senegal get back at Morocco for the post AFCON fallout? Can England avenge Arsenal’s Champion’s league defeat and outlast France in the later stage? Can the Spurs comeback from a 2-1 deficit against the Knicks? Between the advent of the World Cup, the end of the NBA Finals, and new Love Island bombshells, this is shaping up to be the most dramatic week in TV history!

Looking for Miggy's Guuuz show send off? Head on over to our YouTube channel to catch an exclusive segment with Paraguay's 5-Striped #10

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:11

I think I'm ready. I genuinely think I could go for 60 seconds. We should try.

SPEAKER_03 0:24

Welcome back to another episode of the Goose Antro. I'm your host, Bragg Zan. Sat next to me as always, Mr. Joe Freihaufer. And Joe, it's just you and I in here, man. It's just the two of us. We are on the verge of an unbelievable summer. The World Cup is one day away. It is kicking off. It is here. It's real. How excited are you, man?

SPEAKER_00 0:46

I'm emotional, bro. We are literally 24 hours away. There's going to be 12 groups, 104 total matches for this. And I think back to 2014 when I was just a pup getting into the game, bro. I am overflowing with passion today. And we're putting it all into the microphone. USMNT, why not us, baby? Peep the kit, by the way. Peep the threads on Big Man. Let's go. He could still go. Give him the gloves. He's ready right now.

SPEAKER_03 1:09

I can't wait, bro. I'm excited, man. I love the passion. I am so pumped. I know we each have some exciting things that we're going to be doing for the World Cup. I know that we're going to be we're going to be on the road. We're going to be bringing you the Goozan show from all over. It's going to be an exciting few weeks. But man, when I think about the World Cup, when I think about watching World Cup games, right, the the first couple days, you're so into it. You're all in on watching every game for 90 plus minutes. And then life happens. You know? And I feel like because this tournament is so massive, I'm nervous that, you know, after like the first week, people are going to be like, I can't even keep up with so many games. There's so many games all over the all over North America, all over the continent. What do we do here?

SPEAKER_00 2:03

It's real, bro. And I feel like it's kind of the American fan is almost drinking out of a fire hose right now. There's so much football to be watched. We just got done with Champions League.

SPEAKER_03 2:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 2:12

Right? I mean, Champions, Premier League.

SPEAKER_03 2:15

Premier League's wrapping up. You know, MLS is has taken its break. But now it's it's all of a sudden, it's going to be all World Cup all day long, 24-7. Uh, I'm certainly here for it. I know you are. It's going to be an amazing time.

SPEAKER_00 2:32

It reminds me when I was little too. One of the best parts about being young and just getting into the game, especially the World Cup, is that there's uh a commentator named Tyler Terrence, who I love, he works for Fox now. Big shout out to Tyler. Hopefully you can tune into this episode. If not, I'll I'll send you this clip. And he has a phrase that he says at the beginning of every match. He says, Time to tune out the world and tune into the beautiful game. And that for me, as a kid, turning on the TV, no matter how crazy of a day you had at school, whatever was going on in your life, when you sat down on the couch and you were with your grandparents, you were a young you in Chicago, wanting to be the next Oliver Kahn, right? And when you sit down in that TV, you're on that pitch with those players. You're right there. You hear the horns in the stands, all these people with their flags chanting everywhere. It is the most beautiful thing humanity has ever created because it defines everything that we go through in life in football and changes lives. And right here to have it in Atlanta, to have a semifinal, which you're gonna be at in the mixer, dog, with the people in the stands right there. How pumped are you?

SPEAKER_03 3:34

I mean, it's it's it's amazing. That I mean, hearing you talking a little bit Roger Bennett in you, you know. You know, hearing you hearing you describe it in that way, uh I think you you can't help but feel excitement. You can't help but feel this energy uh about the tournament and about the game as as a whole. You know, you you touched on the 94 World Cup and being 10 years old, and I'm watching, I'm watching this, you know, tournament uh unfold in in Chicago, my mom and dad's house. And it's yes, you remember the games, you know, vaguely, but it's more so what what that left on you as a person, as as an individual, and the feeling that you had. And I remember the the atmosphere, I remember the crowds, the noise, and you're you're seeing these flags, you're hearing the the the excitement from from the uh from the stadium, the atmosphere, and you're like, that is something I want to be a part of because in American sport, we don't we don't have it, right? The the the beautiful game, uh international soccer match compared to say uh NF NFL game, major league baseball, NBA game, you're not having that same atmosphere experience. And and so I remember having that in '94, and then all the years afterwards, and you know, I remember waking up in the the wee hours of the morning in two you know 2002 to to watch the World Cup in South Korea. And I mean, that for me was was an unbelievable experience because you're like, okay, you're gonna set the alarm, you're gonna wake up at the crazy hour of 4 a.m. or or 3 a.m. to get up and and watch the US and watch those games. I mean, those are those are moments that at the time probably didn't feel very special, but looking back, you're like, that was that was pretty cool.

SPEAKER_00 5:12

There's a saying too that when you're getting to know somebody, you don't always remember exactly what they say to you, but you always remember how somebody makes you feel. I feel like football's the same way. You don't always remember how a result went, or you just see a moment, you could see it could be an old highlight, it could be a kit, it could be a boot, it could be a signature step over of a player, and you remember in that exact moment of life how you were feeling. Can you take me back to Chicago when you're a kid? When you're sitting on the couch, did you have football fever that early on? Like were you watching and being like, I want to be that goalkeeper, I'm gonna be there in 2010. Was it already that clear in your head, or what was it like as a kid?

SPEAKER_03 5:46

No, it was I remember watching it and and the atmosphere that was created, right? It was this unbelievable atmosphere, and and there was a big party, and of course, soccer was then happening on the field. But you have to go back to a time when you couldn't just turn on a TV and you know, you didn't have immediate access to to soccer games on TV here in the States. You know, it was so difficult, right? And that was part of the reason why, you know, I fell in fell in love with with a goalkeeper like Oliver Kahn, right? Because of his success at Bayern Munich and their team's success, they were always competing for Champions League finals and and in and around the final stages of the tournament. And because of that, their games would be on TV, you know, and I would have to rush home from school. I would catch the last five, 10 minutes because of the time difference. And so I would see them on TV, but it wasn't uh a case of, oh, I'm just gonna, I'm gonna watch this game and watch it for a full 90 minutes. And you know, if it just happened to be if if I was off of school that day and I was able to tune in at, you know, two o'clock in the afternoon and and now I'm home, it's like, yeah, I'm I'm not going out for a bike ride with my friends, I'm I'm not playing in the backyard. It's I'm watching this this Champions League game. And so that's how it was in terms of access and watching on TV. But then the World Cup comes around and it it changes everything. And so um for me to see the the city of Chicago just bursting with with pride, with the influx of of passion and and the the country's color, the the different the various countries' colors that kind of you know just overtook the city, yeah. That for me is is what I remember most and and something that I was like, this is different, this is amazing, and something I want to be a part of.

SPEAKER_00 7:31

Now you go from being that kid to your kids are gonna live that here exactly in Atlanta. Yeah, Atlanta being the host city all the way up until a semifinal, which is just insane. What do you think not only your kids, but kids everywhere in Atlanta are gonna feel like the butterflies that you have when you're getting off of the bus and you're like, Spain's plan today.

SPEAKER_03 7:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 7:49

In Atlanta. Yeah, I'm going, I'm gonna be around the stadium, I'm gonna go to Casa España that's gonna be right there with authentic Spanish food, flags everywhere, people chanting, and you don't even know what they're saying, but you just get sucked into that passion and that contagious belief and beauty that it brings. What do you think that's gonna do to our city?

SPEAKER_03 8:07

It's gonna inspire. It's gonna inspire an entire generation, uh, a new generation, right? You're going to have the the average soccer fan that now is going to experience this this World Cup in person, in the stadium, outside the stadium, at fanfest, uh, at watch parties, and they're they are going to take their love of the game to the next level, but you're gonna inspire an entirely new generation of kids that say, Why can't that be me? Why can't I play for the United States? Why can't I play for Spain or whom whomever, right? And they're gonna be able to now have this opportunity to be a part of this giant party. It's going to be a massive party 24-7 before the game, after the game, days when there, you know, when there's no game, there's going to be festivals and and watch parties and and all the things that bring people together. And I think for me, that is that's one of the biggest um exciting factors of a competition such as the World Cup. And so to have it in our backyard, they're gonna inspire a generation of kids that are going to say, I want to be a part of that. And and I know my kids are excited, um, you know, being able to hopefully get to a few games and and just as a family, as a dad, as as a former professional uh soccer player, you know, you you want to be able to pass along that excitement for the game, that passion for the game, and and there's no better place to do it than than a World Cup in your backyard.

SPEAKER_00 9:36

What do you remember about the very first call-up that you got from Bruce Arena back in 06, right? Yep, yep. What was that like?

SPEAKER_03 9:43

Yeah, uh I just finished my first year uh as a professional 2005 Chievous USA, uh, rest in peace. Um you know, in sport one out. Yeah, and uh I just finished my first year. Our season was terrible. I mean, I think in like top 10 worst teams in the history of the league. What? Yeah, we were terrible, absolutely terrible. And so um, you know, at the end of the season, I was thinking, man, you know, this was this was a brutal go. And you know, it was right before Christmas, and I get an email and saying, congratulations, you've been invited to the to the national team camp. And I'm thinking, wait, what? How does this work? You know, I'm like, they got the wrong guy, yeah. Yeah, I'm like, this they got the wrong, wrong brags then. You know, it's we just had an absolutely horrendous season, but then I I was in invited to the national team, to the January camp in January, and uh had a vacation booked with with Bree and her family at the time, and you know, had to had to tell their I was I was out and she she wasn't uh extremely pleased, and this journey was new for her as well in terms of like professional soccer, of course. Um, and you know, so got over that, but went to camp out in California. And back then, MLS didn't start preseason till I think the end of February or middle of February, but um the January camps were six, six, seven weeks, you know, and you know, from that moment, you know, I was thinking this is this is the best of the best. And and I'm training with all these MLS guys, European European players weren't called in at the time, but training with all these guys that that have been in the league, established players, and I was just over the moon of of being involved with that training camp. And then uh we went down to Dallas to to play Guatemala, and um, you know, he gave me the he gave me the nod and goal, and he said, right, you're gonna make your debut. And you know, fortunately, we we go on to win the game 4-0. Didn't have a whole lot to do. Clean sheet, baby. But I remember I remember listening to the national anthem in that moment, and my heart was beating out of my chest. When you when you think about what it means to represent your country, you you know, you think about military members that that go and and serve and protect and and allow us to to have our freedom here in the United States. You think about all the millions of kids that play soccer, um, and and thousands of kids that are playing at the highest level that are are so good um that could represent the United States. But in that moment, my name and number was called. And so when when I started thinking about it, like, holy cow, you know, you're you're representing your country on the international stage. It was a friendly, it was the only the the domestic players that were called into camp. But I remember that moment, and and that's something that I will forever cherish. Um, like I said, it helped that we won 4-0, so that was a positive. But yeah, man, it was that that moment that that's that's a moment that will stick with with me forever.

SPEAKER_00 12:42

Take me inside of a camp for some of these nations because the biggest FIFA tournament ever, right? So many different matches, 104 in total. You gotta imagine some of these guys are gonna be stir crazy. Yeah, never been to a uh America before, too. So like, gotta explore, we got a little bit of money, let's see if we can go out here too, do a little something. What is it like for a player being, I don't want to say trapped, but there gotta be days, dog, when you're like, I gotta get out of here, I gotta do something, right? Even if it's just a little walk around the hotel, or what's it like? How much freedom do you have?

SPEAKER_03 13:08

Yeah, I think I think I I saw an interview with Carlo Ancelotti, and he was talking about the differences between the the top, top teams in in a World Cup, right? The the top countries. And it's because the competition has expanded this year and and there's so many teams, there's so many games, now you're gonna have so much time together. And it's going to come down to who can who can deal with each other the best, right? Because in any setting, if if you're seeing the same people over and over again, if you don't have this brotherhood, if you don't have this camaraderie, that could become a real problem in terms of on-field performance because of all the the nuances that are going on off the field. And and you want to make sure you're able to manage those. And so as you go into a competition like this, yeah, you're thinking it's all business, it's all about making sure you're focused and ready to perform and and uh compete at the at the at the highest level. But at the same time, you you've also got to you know let your hair down a little bit and be able to unwind. And so you go into these camps and you know, we get a sneak peek and a glimpse into some of these these training camp environments and what they look like, what the setup is. Um and so I remember in 2010 in South Africa, we had a we had a game room, we had uh the ability for for guys almost like a little lounge that the Federation had created for us to to play video games, to play board games. Uh, I think they had ping pong in there, skee ball, uh Ski ball, bro. Yeah, I mean, proper setup, yeah. Yeah, I mean, but you know, they they had all the things, you know. Um we touched on this before, but you know, Clint Dempsey loved to fish, and they they got they got him uh a fishing pole and and and some tackle. And he was out fishing, but behind our our hotel, there was like a little pond, little lake, and and he was out there in a little, it was a canoe or like little some sort of little boat, and he was out out fishing. But you you want to be able to give guys this ability to put you know, relax and and and be at ease, and you're gonna be in this base, this training base for potentially another seven, eight weeks. And and you don't just want to go from the meal room to your room, back to the meal room, to the training room, to your room, to bet, you know, it's you it it becomes it becomes a a bit much. And so you want to be able to have these different areas of the hotel to to access and and just do other things. Um, you know, when I think about 2014 in Brazil, we were able to, you know, we were in the city, right? So you had all the noise of of Sao Paulo, um and it we were right in the heart of it. And that part was cool because in South Africa we were not. We were we were on the outskirts, we were outside of town, um, and so it was just us. And again, in 14, it it we were right in the middle of it. And so you could walk out the front doors and you were in downtown Sao Paulo, and you're you're walking past different you know shops on the streets, and you always knew when Brazil was playing because everything was closed, and if it wasn't closed, everyone was huddled around a TV as you're walking past bodegas and different shops and and restaurants, they all had the games on, and and that was really cool because being an American, uh you know, we're trying to become this this soccer country, we're trying to become a footballing country, yeah. But you go to a place like Brazil where you know it is life and death down there, yeah, and now all of a sudden you're watching the fans, the Brazilian fans watch their national team play, and you're like, that that passion is pretty sweet.

SPEAKER_00 16:44

How secretive do you have to be about? I mean, I've heard stories and videos of you know, away fans traveling to hotels, setting off fireworks, setting off fire alarms. Yeah, do you got do you have to be like undercover about where you're staying and stuff like that? How does that work?

SPEAKER_03 16:58

Yeah, we we when we went through the qualifying process down in Central America, right? Whether it's Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, uh, Costa Rica, Mexico, you know, you you go down to these countries and they want every advantage possible, right? So you you check into a hotel and it's it's never able to it's never been able to get to keep it a secret of where we're staying. So everyone knows all the US is staying in this hotel or or that hotel.

SPEAKER_00 17:27

The bellhop, as soon as they see you, like hey, who's ants here. Correct.

SPEAKER_03 17:30

Well, it's like all the USA, the USA's here. And so then it started to become where guys were getting calls in the middle of the night to their room, and it's the fans, and so they're calling your hotel room. So then all of a sudden it's hey, your name is now gonna be this, right? So you're changing, you know, the reservation is your room is not actually under your name because you're gonna have people calling your room, and you know, yeah. So you you you've got to now what was your alias? Do you remember? I don't I don't even remember what my alias was. That's a that's a really good question. I I'll have to to to reach out to to our old admin and say, like, hey, what what was what was what were their names again? But I mean it was like you had to go through those types of things because if not, right, then the phone's gonna be constantly ringing, or you're having to unplug the phone and take the phone off the hook. And yeah, you know, we've we've had to do that plenty. Um, but then the fans are like, okay, we can still get to you. We're just gonna light off a bunch of fireworks in the middle of the night at 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. And they're you know, right outside the hotel, you've got all these fireworks going off, and you're like, what is that noise? You know, what's going on? Or somebody comes in and pulls the fire alarm. And so now the fire alarm goes off, and now you got to evacuate. And the first question it would would always be, is this real? Is it real? Is this real? What are we doing? You know, oh no, and then you'd get a text on the on the group chat saying, Oh, it's it's not real. Go back to bed, you know, everything's fine. And but there's certainly uh an ounce of of doubt of is the building on fire? We are we good here, you know. Um, but yeah, man, it's you know, the the competitive advantage that that fans try to create for their country and for length people go.

SPEAKER_00 19:04

Yes, it's real. It's real. It's insane, man. So you almost missed the 2014 World Cup, right? Yeah, playing abroad in the Premier League, yeah, last match week of the season. Yeah. Am I right on that? You're playing Tottenham Hotspur. Yeah, away, White Hart Lane. White Hart Lane, yeah, RIP as well, no longer. In that moment, you take what? I mean, a flying knee to the forehead, right here, right coming off your line.

SPEAKER_03 19:28

What happened? So we so we secured safety the the week before, maybe two weeks before, and so we tip we make the trip down to London. Um playing playing Spurs away, young Harry Kane, out of your. I mean, good, good team. Um and I I remember it was a it was a long diagonal ball. I kind of came out towards the top of the box, I secure the ball, but I kind of I give like a half slide, but as I'm sliding or coming down to the ground, I catch a knee literally right in my eye socket, and I'm like, oh my gosh. And instantly I could I could feel the pain was was immense. And um, you know, I was just like, that's not right, you know. And I'm like, yeah, huge headache, there's no blood. I'm like, okay, I'm good. Finish the game. Afterwards, you know, you could start to see like the the indent uh above my you know in my in my eyebrow. And I'm like, oh my gosh, this not good. So talking to the physio, he's like, okay, he's like, listen, we need to get an x-ray of of essentially your skull and in your face and see what's going on. And so next day went and got an x-ray, or no, that, yeah, I think the next day one got an x-ray. Um, saw the specialist, they're like, Yeah, confirmation. You know, you've you've broken it. And basically broken what exactly? The or my orbital. And and but if I broken it down here, they were saying, listen, your World Cup's, you're not going to the World Cup. You need surgery, you're gonna have surgery, you're gonna put a metal plate in, and you're gonna be. My orbital here above my eye, right? And and behind it is a little sinus cavity. But um broke it. So then had to go see another specialist. They had to they had to fit me with a uh Batman mask, you know, and Batbrand. Yes, and so I had uh I had to wear a mask and they they sent me on my way and they said, okay, you're good to, you know, you're you're coordinating with the U.S. medical team, you're coordinating with, you know, at the time Aston Villa's doctors and and trainers and whatnot. And get on the plane, go to California, meet up with the team for training camp, and they're like, Yeah, you're good. You know, wear the mask for training, just try not to get hit in the face for, you know, for the first week. And I'm like, yeah, great, no problem. You know, I'm a goalkeeper, but that becomes a that becomes a bit of an issue, right? And the pain uh what you know after a few days had had subdued, and I wouldn't say Had gone away, but was was bearable again. And first training session, we're playing small-sided, bam, absolute take a rocket straight to my face, smashes off my forehead. And I'm thinking, you've got to be kidding me. I was like, I rem I remember lying on the floor and I'm like, really? Like the one thing the doctor said was, don't get hit in the face. Yes. And there, first training session, absolute rocket, um, straight to my forehead. Luckily, the mask held up, my my bone held up, and you know, I was able to carry on. But I remember thinking that week from the end of the Premier League season to the beginning of the camp to that first training session, I was thinking, ooh, this is the timing's gonna be close. I'm gonna be cutting it close if I'm gonna be able to partake in the group and with the group and and be ready to go. And um, yeah, in that moment, man, I after that I was like, take the mask off, I'm good. You know, there's no exactly. I was like, listen, if if I survive that, I'm I'll I'll be okay.

SPEAKER_00 23:03

I'm gonna make it. To tell everybody at home, by the way, how tough this dude is to polar bear. I want everybody, if you're listening, take your eye right and you put it just below your eyebrow. That bone is what you broke in a match, and you didn't think for a second, like, hey, maybe I should step off the pitch here for a second, see if see if I'm okay. You're like, let's crank out these 90 minutes. I'm ready, heavy.

SPEAKER_03 23:23

Um yeah, I mean, like I said, we still we still lost the game. Uh, so maybe maybe I made the wrong choice. Um, I think the score was either it was either two, two or three nil at that point. Um, but yeah, it's uh it's one of those moments, man, where you know, as a competitor, you you want to be out there, you want to help your team. Um, you know, you've got so much adrenaline running through your body. Um, and it's just a case of, yeah, like let's go. If I'm not bleeding, you know, back then there wasn't as much concussion protocol as there is today. But um, yeah, in that moment I was like, let's let's let's keep going, man.

SPEAKER_00 24:01

Let's talk some of the biggest storylines now heading into the 2026 World Cup. I want to start, Brad, with Memo Ocho. This will be his sixth World Cup for Mexico. To put this into perspective, he's just the third ever player to be named to six World Cups. Of course, he hasn't played in it yet, but Messi and Ronaldo are also in that company. His first call-up to a World Cup was in 06 in Germany. For some perspective, during the opening day of the 06 World Cup, the movie Cars had just been released. Hips Don't Lie by Shakiro was top of the charts. Gas, guys, 290 a gallon. Oh, would I do for 290 right now? No problem. Insane. What is it like, as a keeper, would you say, to have this type of longevity and also just the leadership presence that he's had for Mexico? What does he mean to that nation?

SPEAKER_03 24:48

Yeah, I mean, listen, you know, first and foremost, the the longevity, you you've got to have ability, right? To to to be in the game, to perform and compete at the highest level. You've got to you've got to have ability, you've got to be good, right? Plain and simple. And and he certainly is has had that over the years. Um, and then you talk about the the other attributes, the leadership, the ability to uh bring the group together, the ability to fit into a group, right? Because it's not just about him, it's it's about him going into a group of of other players. And at his age, whether really young or now on the older side of the group, you still have to be able to get along and and have that team camaraderie aspect. Um, and so for him, it's it speaks volumes about who he is, speaks volumes about his his ability to compete at the highest level and his ability to help his team as a goalkeeper, um, both on and off the field, that he adds value in areas where the manager says, Yeah, Memo HO is going to be important for us.

SPEAKER_00 25:53

Over the years, how good has that rivalry been, and especially for you, and how much you get up for a match for a Mexico USA?

SPEAKER_03 26:01

Yeah, I mean, it's it's massive. Uh, it's it's massive. It's you know, the the players before us, you know, before me that that came before and and set the bar and the dos of zeros and and all the iconic games and all the all the iconic moments. Um, you know, to then be part of the the team that went down to Azteca and first time we we were able to get a point and and and get a draw. And you know, those those moments are are moments that you appreciate because of the competitiveness, because of what that game means. Yeah. And so, you know, I mean, an entire city, dude, was was basically based off of that game. You know, Columbus, Ohio for the longest time was oh, U.S. Mexico, oh, we're going to Columbus, Ohio. Yeah. Columbus, Ohio. Um, and so I mean, it just it speaks volumes about the the two countries, it speaks volumes about the players before before me, um, the the players afterwards, you know, to be able to carry on that rivalry.

SPEAKER_00 26:58

First match of the World Cup is gonna be in Mexico. Can you give people some perspective about how daunting that crowd is? A Mexican home crowd for a World Cup in their own home nation. What how on top of you can they be?

SPEAKER_03 27:12

Yeah, I mean, you know, the the the venues that you know are gonna be used down in Mexico. You've got Azteca in Mexico City, you've got Monterey, and you've got Guadalajara. Um, you know, obviously Monterey and Guadalajara, two newer stadiums. You've got Azteca, that is this iconic stadium in world sport. And and you go back uh to previous World Cups, um, and and the games and and the individuals that had competed in that stadium. And so to be in that stadium with all the different things, the altitude, air quality, the atmosphere that's created, um the whistles, bro. Yes, the last thing you want is a hundred thousand whistling their their head off at you. Uh and it it just it I describe it as almost like this beehive feeling. You've got this buzz, this constant buzz and noise that turns into almost like a white noise, if you will. Um, but you look around, you're like, this is a country that's behind their team.

SPEAKER_00 28:12

Let's talk about everybody's been saying the last dance. Messi, of course, is gonna turn 39 during this World Cup. Ronaldo is 41. Namor, crazy enough, he just turned 34, but it feels like he's way beyond that due to a lot of injuries, his form and stuff, too. What is it gonna be like if those players, I mean, going into this competition, you've got to imagine they're thinking this is my last dance. They know their age. Of course, they're ultimate competitors, they would never admit it, just like you, down to your last match, even right now, I'm sure you could still go. But what does that do to a player's mental going into this and what that could mean for their legacies, too?

SPEAKER_03 28:46

Yeah, I mean, I I think it'll be it'll be huge for their legacies, of course. Um, you know, one way or the other, just because they're they're so iconic in the world's game. But, you know, when you talk about them going into it, I almost have this this doubt that they're actually thinking this is their last one because their mentality is always about, yeah, I can keep going, I can keep going, right? And um part of me almost says maybe they would find a way to do another four years. But the reality is if there was anybody though, it'd be him. Why not? You know, and so um, you know, when you look at the way the the the the groups are, the potential for you know, finishing top, finishing second, all the things I'm pretty sure I saw a bracket where there's a pa potential for them to face each other. And I mean, can you imagine how iconic that game would be? Imagine Argentina, Portugal, Messi versus Ronaldo. I mean, it it would be it would be massive uh for for world football. Um and so those two players uh I think have done so much for the game in terms of popularity, in terms of you know the success that they've each have had um in their own respective ways. And uh to have that game on US soil, I I can't think of anything bigger.

SPEAKER_00 30:13

Messi, 34th minute, skips past five defenders, yeah, chips it over the goalkeeper. Ronaldo, 91st minute free kick, does his signature knuckle in its tide. What is gonna happen to social media broadcasting if this happens? Is the world gonna explode? Yeah. What would happen, bro?

SPEAKER_03 30:31

Everything's just gonna, you know, light up and fire and flames, start smoking. Phones are gonna become obsolete. Um, it'd be wild. It'd be wild.

SPEAKER_00 30:41

Insane, man. Let's talk about Spain, who's gonna be coming twice, plant at Atlanta Stadium, of course. Lamin Damal is recovering from a hamstring injury that's got him set back, it looks like to possibly miss their opener, although nothing is certain yet. How cool is it that the world number one is coming twice to Atlanta during the group stage?

SPEAKER_03 30:58

Yeah, it's massive. You know, when I talk about Atlanta United fans and and the atmosphere that's created at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, um, you know, they're they're true soccer fans, they're true footballing fans, and and they they understand the game, and they've created this atmosphere at the stadium for for us as Atlanta United players, um, that is world class. And now you're bringing a footballing country like Spain to this stadium, mixing with with the Atlanta United fan base, mixing with the international flair of a World Cup. Um, it's it's two perfect worlds colliding in such a good way. And and I think for them to then be able to represent Spanish football, to represent Spain with their fan base, with their colors, with um their hospitality, meeting with southern hospitality of the Atlan United fans, I think it's gonna be absolutely tremendous, and and it's gonna be a sight to see.

SPEAKER_00 31:56

Before we hit on the US MNT, real quick, Paraguay. Our very own Miguel Almiron, Matías Calaza as well. They both got named to the final squad. First World Cup for Paraguay since 2010, who, by the way, head coach at that time was Tata Martino. They fell to Spain, who ended up winning that entire World Cup, of course. So it's been 11 years for Miggy. As a player, is it safe to say it's like a weight removed off of your shoulders, like a backpack gets taken off to know that you have a chance to go to the biggest stage you've been working for for 11 years of your life. Could we see perhaps an unlocked Miggy in this competition and beyond?

SPEAKER_03 32:31

Yeah, I mean, you know, there's there's a there's a certain sense and a feel, right? As you go through a qualifying process, as you go, you know, for the US, we didn't have to qualify. So you go through this this process of playing these international games, and nobody knows what could happen, right? There's potential for injury, for for illness, you know, just not selected by the by the manager. Um, and so when your name is announced for that final roster to be a part of a World Cup team, there's no better feeling. There's a huge amount of relief that that is felt uh on an individual basis, on a collective basis with your teammates, um, that okay, we've we've made the team, we're we're now going. Um, and you go into it with this sense of pride and um you know almost this confidence of yes, I deserve to be here, I belong here, I want to be here. Now it's about going in and performing. And whether you're you're playing, whether you're not playing, you're on that that group, you're on that team, and and your name and number is forever associated with with that World Cup, with that group of players, with that coaching staff. And so, you know, I I hope that Miguel is certainly able to be unlocked and and show how special he is of a of a player, just not in game one against the U.S.

SPEAKER_00 33:50

Exactly, which brings us perfect segue, USMNT. We have Tim Rehm, guest of the show, by the way, as the captain. We have Maurizio Pochettino, all of his European prowess coming to the helm now to lead us, to take us above, get a bump, right? Move on further than we've ever felt like we could on home soil with an impact that's gonna last generations. I still, these nights leading up to this competition, I'm seeing flickers of Clint Dempsey's goal against Ghana in 30 seconds. So I can still see that first touch he took where he had the step over, brought it on to his right. It changes lives watching this. What do you think is gonna be that final team talk from Maurizio Pochettino before that first match against Paraguay?

SPEAKER_03 34:32

You know, I I I don't know. I don't know what what he's gonna say, but what I would say is is embrace it. Embrace it and enjoy it. Um they're gonna have an entire country here in their backyard, right, on home soil, cheering them on, behind them, supporting them. Um, and and that matters. That matters because I I remember in in in 2010 and 14, we've talked about it before, a bunch off camera. You know, it's it's having this um awareness of what's happening back in back in the US, but with the competition here in the United States, the players are gonna know everything, they're going to hear everything, they're going to hear about the the different talks, good and bad, 24-7, around them as individuals, around them as a team. And you know, from a manager perspective, Mauricio Pochettino will know that they've done everything they can to prepare for game one, for game two, for game three, and to go and perform. And to do that, you've got to enjoy the moment, you've got to embrace the moment, um, trust in your ability, trust in your teammates, and and and go out and do it. It's as plain and simple as that is just go out and do it and and play to the level that you know you can play at. Um, and so that part is what excites me, that they have the opportunity to have a Clinton Dempsey moment, to have a Landon Donovan moment. And if we're able to have one of these these iconic moments, then guess what? This guy's the limit, man. I'm ready to flip this tape. Let's go.

SPEAKER_00 36:05

Let's go, baby. Let's go. Why not us? US MNT, unbelievable impact. I think I'm just so excited to see Atlanta, too. See how you know you see the Marta cars, everybody's getting ready, five striped out, um, all the different watch parties right outside of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Decatur, too,'s gonna have amazing stuff going on. It feels like the great footy awakening is gonna happen. It feels like this is an eclipse of impact that I truly believe in my lifetime, soccer will be bigger than the NFL. One day in my lifetime. Book it right here on the Goose Bay and Show.

SPEAKER_03 36:37

You heard from your lips to God's ear. Let's go.

SPEAKER_00 36:39

Amen, bro. Let's go. And so, what do you hope this World Cup comes to be in every sense for everybody listening?

SPEAKER_03 36:46

Yeah, I hope it's exactly what you just said. I I hope it it launches us to another stratosphere of support, of success, of popularity. Um, you know, I I want this sport to continue to to climb the the popularity ranks and and notoriety uh amongst the American sports fan. And and I think this summer has the has the potential and the ability to do it. And so it's gonna be it's gonna be exciting. We know that it's gonna be busy, it's gonna be chaotic. Um, so embrace the chaos, sit back and enjoy.

SPEAKER_00 37:21

Take me into your playing mind right now. If I put you in the USMNT locker room right now, and I said you get to give the final team talk before that first match, anything that comes to mind, give me something.

SPEAKER_03 37:35

Oh, I think there's gonna be a few cuss words, uh, probably. Um probably gonna be hyped up on a few energy drinks, a couple coffees. Um your eyes just switch right now. No, where'd you go right there?

SPEAKER_00 37:47

Looking at the table.

SPEAKER_03 37:48

No, that was crazy. You know, you you listen, when you represent your country, man, you know, you leave everything on the field. You leave everything on the field. Um, and and I know these guys are gonna do that. I I know they're gonna feel the support uh of an entire country behind them. Um, but yeah, man, just get ready to run through a wall.

SPEAKER_00 38:09

Uh say, you essay, you essay.

SPEAKER_03 38:11

I'm ready. Let's go. Let's go. And Joe, we got another special guest uh talking all things world cup, someone that's gonna be partaking in the tournament itself.

SPEAKER_00 38:20

Um, none other than our El Dies, Miguel Almiron speaking a whole lot more English than we're used to hearing say as well. Guys, if you're listening on Spotify to the Goose and Show, we ask that you head on over to YouTube for this exclusive listen of Miguel Almiron pre-World Cup. Let's take a listen.

SPEAKER_03 38:37

Well, Joe, we are now prepped, we are now ready for the start of this World Cup. But before we go, we've obviously got the Home Depot mailbag. Yes, sir. Um, you know, it's uh it's exciting time, man. Uh I've always said I'm uh uh number first and foremost, I'm a number one fan of the game. And show it off. Show it off. I mean, listen. Bro is kidded out. Let's go.

SPEAKER_00 38:58

If you had gloves on right now, I'd say he could still go.

SPEAKER_03 39:00

100%. Um he still can. I need to know. Some boots, some shin guards, you know. But uh, but yeah, man, we're we're pumped, we're excited. It's gonna be an awesome summer ahead. So looking forward to it.

SPEAKER_00 39:10

Look at this. We got a question from Cheryl over there in Decatur. Speaking of kids, she says, Brad, from all your playing years, what have you done with all of your different gloves, kits, cleats, anything special that you've decided to do with all of your playing attire?

SPEAKER_03 39:25

Yeah, um Cheryl, great question. I mean, it's you know, when you when you play with the national team, there's I think a fine balance of wanting to, you know, the the the traditional thing to do with with soccer matches and at the end of the games, swap shirts and and whatnot. I think there's a mutual respect there uh between players. And then when it comes to keeping certain items, you obviously, you know, whether you're a part of uh a World Cup roster, whether you're a part of a Gold Cup, um, your debut jersey, things like that, you know, that that carry a little bit more meaning, you tend to hold on to. And so I've got I've got a room in the basement. All this all this stuff is is is there. And um, you know, my wife's constantly, you know, she is extremely supportive, uh, as you know, but she's like, what are we doing with this? What we've we've got so much stuff. And every time she's like, Well, let's get rid of this, or would do we really need that? And I'm just like, I always have an answer as to to why we have to keep it, and she just kind of rolls her eyes at me and is like, all right, I guess we'll hold on to it.

SPEAKER_00 40:28

You know, uh I've always wondered too, are you the kind of guy do you wash stuff or do you leave it as it like you know what I mean? Yeah, does that add more value by like having the it's the game stage still?

SPEAKER_03 40:38

I I try to I try to give the jersey a little bit of a wash. Now, obviously, you know, I've I've got a few pieces um that I think went straight into uh into a frame. Um, and you know, I apologize to to the individuals that had to frame that. But um yeah, man. That smell is horrendous. Um, you know, especially because you you wear a shirt after a game, and say you, you know, you swap shirts with somebody. I'm playing in England, for example, we're playing in Central America, you put it in a little bat like an ice bag, right? Because nobody carries bags right after a game. So you go to the you go to the kit room, uh uh the medical room, you get like a plastic bag that you would put uh ice in for an injury. Oh yeah. But you put the jersey in there, knowing that you've just come off the field and it's a hundred degrees outside, super humid, sweating like crazy, and it it stinks. So you're like, all right, well, this is gonna go in my suitcase. So you then put it in there. So then for the next 12 to 15 hours, it's in this bag. Marinating. Yes. And then you take it out and you're like, uh, and you gotta let it dry because it's still sopping wet. Um, but you gotta let it dry. The stench coming off of it is horrendous.

SPEAKER_00 41:56

You rip that puppy open for the first time.

SPEAKER_03 41:57

It's like you're like, just needs to go straight into the wash. Nah.

SPEAKER_00 42:00

Um but that's what makes you too. If it's got some like grass stains on the side and stuff, too. That's what gives it the aura. It it does, but I'm telling you, the entrance to football.

SPEAKER_03 42:09

You open that bag and you're like, oh my gosh. I you know what? I'm gonna pass, I'm gonna pass on the grass stains, I'm gonna pass on the on the on the aura of it. It's it's going straight into the wash.

SPEAKER_00 42:18

Well, speaking of kits, you're not the only one who's fully kitted out today. Let's cut now to our team in the control room and see what they got. Let's go. Showing off the bat. My first question, movie. How far did you have to go to find that?

SPEAKER_02 42:37

I went down an even rabbit hole, and uh this is great. That I I was gonna ask you, Brad, you've got to it's gotta be tough as a keeper to, you know, everyone's got all the USA kits, you know, the the new ones, they've got their favorite player in the back, but yet no one goes and gets the keeper kits. So I went down an eBay and I found I was Googled, you know, US uh World Cup goose and jersey, and this was sitting for me to get. Um, you know, and and actually the giving them out for free, probably pretty good amount of money. It wasn't wasn't uh you know, wasn't on sale or anything. Jeez. But um dedication. I I I like this so that we've got the fever in here. We wish you guys both really good luck in your World Cup endeavors. We're excited to watch you both. But this was our way to send you out because number one in our hearts, baby. I love it.

SPEAKER_03 43:34

One out of us, baby. One out of us. Do you have a view?

SPEAKER_02 43:37

Do you remember this kit?

SPEAKER_03 43:38

Uh I do. I mean, you know, and that's the thing too. You know, the the kits change, I would say, every two years, maybe. Um, and as they change, you know, you you you you take notice of obviously, I think, color, kind of design, but it's not something that is you know leaving a lasting impression. Um, but the the logo, that logo is the newer version of the US logo um from when I first started. And so I want to say that is probably from 15 or 16, maybe. Um maybe 17, but yeah. It's uh, you know, in those moments, you know, you you see those kits and you know, you you you don't collect them just to collect them, of course, you know, but at the same time, then people just assume that you have an unlimited amount of jerseys stashed away somewhere when they're like, Oh yeah, can I get a shirt? Can I shoot? Can I get a jersey? Can I get this? Can I get that? And I'm like, I I don't just have a warehouse of jerseys. You don't get to keep them. Yeah, you know, like you you get like one a game, and it's sometimes you swap that out, and you know, if a player comes up to you and they're like, Oh, hey, you know, I want to swap shirts, and uh I'm like, in the back of my head, I'm thinking, I don't, I don't really want your shirt, but sure, you know, like you, you don't, you know, there's there's a respect level there. You you I'm sure we've all seen the the different social media clips of someone saying, Oh yeah, like here you go, here's my shirt, but no, I'm good. I don't I don't want yours. Yeah, and it's like ooh, that's a that's a slap to the face, you know. You you you you don't want that, so you just say, Yeah, sure. I'll I'll take it and bring it home and put it in the wash and probably never to look at again, but you know, it's it's all part of the the the process. Um but yeah, Maddie, uh I appreciate the support, man.

SPEAKER_02 45:24

Yeah, I feel like when you look at this kit, like if I was just looking at my arm, I feel like it like feels like something you would buy at like a men's store with a polo collar shirt. But then you look down here and it's like the full kit and you got the and everything. So yeah, man, this is cool, and we're gonna try to find some more goose and um paraphernalia and some memorabilia out there. I've enjoyed my my hunt for this, and I'm not done.

SPEAKER_00 45:50

I love it, I love it. Big thank you to Cheryl and big thank you to the Home Depot, always delivered on time.