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PODCAST

Scuffed | USMNT, World Cup, Yanks Abroad, futbol in America

Adam Belz and Greg Velasquez

An in-depth show about the U.S. men"s national soccer team, the players who could one day make it better, and American soccer in general.

sports soccer

All Episodes

00:49:55

Episode 65: A quick U17 roster discussion with Travis...

Scuffed | USMNT, World Cup, Yanks Abroad, futbol in... ·

2019/04/03

Travis Clark from Top Drawer Soccer joins us in our hour of need to discuss the latest U17 roster, the first called by new manager Raphael Wicky and the last before U17 World Cup qualifying in May. We run through the roster, the notable omissions and how we'd like to see this team line up. 0:30 housekeeping 6:30 Raphael Wicky's first U17 roster, omissions and discussion 32:15 our preferred qualifying XIs

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00:53:57

Episode 64: USA 1, Chile 1, and no Trinity, a bit of...

Scuffed | USMNT, World Cup, Yanks Abroad, futbol in... ·

2019/03/28

The U.S. played to a 1-1 draw with Chile on Tuesday night, and the match is actually kind of hard to summarize. It wasn’t horrible. It wasn’t great. We definitely didn't control the game. We were missing Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams and Christian Pulisic came off for reportedly precautionary reasons after a half-hour. We run through the timeline of key events, and pull out a bushel basket of takeaways.

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00:22:29

Episode 63: An interview with Paxton Pomykal, the...

Scuffed | USMNT, World Cup, Yanks Abroad, futbol in... ·

2019/03/26

Paxton Pomykal was a standout performer for the U.S. U20s at the Concacaf Championship, and the creative central midfielder has come out swinging in 2019 for FC Dallas. He's started 3 of 4 games for one of the better teams (so far) in the western conference of MLS, and he's drawn attention on both sides of the Atlantic as a midfield orchestrator and disruptor in the press. He joined the podcast to talk about what's driven his success over the past 6 months, advice he received from U.S. U20 coach Tab

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00:46:13

Episode 62: USA 1, Ecuador 0, and a low-block test of...

Scuffed | USMNT, World Cup, Yanks Abroad, futbol in... ·

2019/03/22

The U.S. beat Ecuador 1-0 in Orlando on Thursday night. It was not a match that quickened the pulse, but the U.S. out-possessed Ecuador, a generally respectable South American opponent, 62 to 38, and Berhalter now has 3 games and 3 wins since taking over the national team. We try to glean what we can from this friendly.

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00:46:13

Episode 61: Ecuador on Thursday, Berhalter’s...

Scuffed | USMNT, World Cup, Yanks Abroad, futbol in... ·

2019/03/19

Greg lays out his best rationale for the roster decisions that had us scratching our heads last week. I nod along. We try to predict Berhalter's starting XI vs Ecuador (we recorded before it was reported that Adams will play right back, but generally anticipated it). Then we go over the U20 roster with an eye to the World Cup in May. 0:25 "How Berhalter might have thought about constructing this roster," by Greg Velasquez 14:05 lineups vs Ecuador 21:50 U20 roster discussion

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00:49:08

Episode 60: Roster Reaction -- Berhalter shades...

Scuffed | USMNT, World Cup, Yanks Abroad, futbol in... ·

2019/03/13

This week, Gregg Berhalter announced and explained his 24-man roster for friendlies later this month against Ecuador and Chile. First big chance for him to have the full squad at his disposal and he left off Sargent and Weah, called Baird and Lewis back up. We get into all that, and also clipped a bunch of Berhalter quotes from the press conference. 0:30 Roster reaction 27:20 How we might lineup

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01:32:11

Episode 59: MLS rundown, March friendlies roster,...

Scuffed | USMNT, World Cup, Yanks Abroad, futbol in... ·

2019/03/06

Quick rundown of the youngsters in MLS on opening weekend, an abridged discussion of the March friendlies roster (due next week), and then Phill Grooms of the USL Show joins to discuss young Americans in USL. 0:30 MLS rundown and an abridged take on the March friendly rosters (child-rearing cut it a little short) 16:00 March friendlies roster discussion 27:40 intro Phill Grooms on USL youngsters 33:40 North Texas SC 44:00 LA Galaxy II 53:00 Tacoma Defiance 1:01:00 Real Monarchs 1:10:10 Others

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01:47:48

Episode 58: Young Americans in MLS preview with Matt...

Scuffed | USMNT, World Cup, Yanks Abroad, futbol in... ·

2019/02/27

The 2019 MLS season kicks off this weekend, so here’s a thorough look at which young Americans to watch in the league. Matt Doyle of MLSsoccer.com joins the pod to help invent some categories and work through a list of 50+ names. Everyone from Chris Durkin to Derrick Jones, Sebastian Saucedo to Omir Fernandez. (the categories are definitely not precise) 0:30 Great Expectations 24:30 Hopes and Dreams 1:07:45 Reclamation Projects, the Zero Expectations crew, etc.

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01:22:14

Episode 57: Mark McKenzie joins the pod, then a pool...

Scuffed | USMNT, World Cup, Yanks Abroad, futbol in... ·

2019/02/22

19-year-old (almost 20-yr-old) centerback Mark McKenzie joins the pod for a conversation about centerbacking, his breakout 2018 for the Philadelphia Union, January Camp, and the U20s' dominant showing in World Cup qualifying in November. Then Greg and Belz run through the player pool news, Fabian Johnson's revival (?), the USWNT She Believes roster, etc. , etc. 0:30 Mark McKenzie interview 42:10 Short Corners: Weston McKennie versatile, capable, but maybe injured Tyler Adams and his

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00:46:13

Episode 56: Mea Culpas, and three burning USMNT...

Scuffed | USMNT, World Cup, Yanks Abroad, futbol in... ·

2019/02/12

Belz goes under the knife for his garbage predictions about Miazga and Weah, and then the hosts discuss three key questions about the USMNT after January Camp. Will we see the inverted fullback system with a dedicated holding mid and dual 8/10s in March? Who will Berhalter play in the central midfield? What's going to happen with DeAndre Yedlin?

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01:02:10

Episode 55: Interview with Ted Kroeten, an evangelist...

Scuffed | USMNT, World Cup, Yanks Abroad, futbol in... ·

2019/02/06

Ted Kroeten is the founder of Joy of the People, a non-profit in the Twin Cities focused on free play as a way to develop more instinctive, resourceful soccer players (and people). A former player, long-time coach and current soccer parent, Kroeten now believes that up to at least the age of 14, the best way for kids to improve is by playing for fun with their friends, with minimal coaching and supervision. It's an interesting idea, one that a lot of people don't accept, and I tried to ask Ted as

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01:16:19

Episode 54: USA 2, Costa Rica 0, and January Camp...

Scuffed | USMNT, World Cup, Yanks Abroad, futbol in... ·

2019/02/03

The USA beat Costa Rica 2-0 on Saturday in San Jose, California, with a couple of goals in the last 10 minutes. This was a Costa Rica side that was a bit stouter than the Panamanian opponent a week ago, and another convincing Concacaf friendly win for Berhalter. 0:30 Daryl Grove's GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/team-daryl-grove 1:30 the lineup vs Costa Rica and what it means 17:00 timeline of big chances and goals, player-by-player chats (the defense, the so-so guys, and the ones who tried

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00:52:01

Episode 53: USA 3, Panama 0, and a positive start to...

Scuffed | USMNT, World Cup, Yanks Abroad, futbol in... ·

2019/01/28

Yes it was a Panama B team, but the U.S. is likely to face several similar sides at the Gold Cup in June, and the win on Sunday was a coherent, competent, even dominant, performance. Compared to USA-Bosnia in 2018, and January camps in previous years, this was a large step in the right direction. Plenty to discuss: Surprises in the lineup, and a new (and largely unknown) lineup hierarchy. The 3-2-4-1 attacking shape (or 3-4-3 or 3-2-2-2, whatever you want to call it). Individual performances,

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00:47:07

Episode 52: The Bundesliga returns! A look ahead to...

Scuffed | USMNT, World Cup, Yanks Abroad, futbol in... ·

2019/01/23

We run down the action in Europe over the weekend, mostly in the Bundesliga. Greg explains what worried him about the USWNT’s 3-1 loss to France. Then we talk about the upcoming Panama friendly, who the 6 is going to be, and we give our (half-hearted) starting XIs. Mostly we're just curious about the game.

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01:22:43

Episode 51: An interview with Brian Kleiban, the LA...

Scuffed | USMNT, World Cup, Yanks Abroad, futbol in... ·

2019/01/17

LA Galaxy's academy is one of the top talent centers in American soccer, and U19 head coach Brian Kleiban is in the middle of it. He's now got former players all over the U.S. boys' youth national teams, he's been to two straight Development Academy finals, and he joined the pod for a wide-ranging conversation on everything from the time he spied on Bielsa in the early 2000s, to the MLS draft, the U20 World Cup, the Development Academy, and his long-term ambitions as a coach. 0:30 Kleiban's

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00:58:33

Episode 50: Sergino Dest joins the pod, and then a...

Scuffed | USMNT, World Cup, Yanks Abroad, futbol in... ·

2019/01/16

Ajax and U.S. U20 right back Sergino Dest joins the podcast from the Netherlands for nice little chat. And then Greg and Belz gin up predictions mostly to honor this coming weekend's return of the Bundesliga. 0:30 Sergiño Dest, the 18-year-old attacking fullback who's a standout for one of the world's best academies and a U.S. youth international, talked about the upcoming U20 World Cup, where he needs to improve (in surprising detail), his ambitions, and going up against Diego Lainez. 28:45 spring

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01:51:09

Episode 49: Transfer season, January Camp, and an...

Scuffed | USMNT, World Cup, Yanks Abroad, futbol in... ·

2019/01/08

We talk about the Pulisic move to Chelsea and lots of other moves, run down what we’re looking for from January camp, and then (don’t miss it!) interview Martín Vásquez, the dean of the Real Salt Lake academy, which has been a factory of talent for the U.S. U20 team in recent years. Lots of detail in the show notes so make like a honey badger and take what you want. 0:30 Pulisic to Chelsea, Richards to Bayern, Weah to Celtic, Adams at Leipzig, Holmes at Derby County, etc., etc. 26:00 Belz rant on

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01:25:06

Episode 48: Interview with Brian Clarhaut, a young...

Scuffed | USMNT, World Cup, Yanks Abroad, futbol in... ·

2019/01/02

Brian Clarhaut (pronounced Clair-heart) is the 32-year-old manager of Nyköpings BIS (pronounced New-shoppings BISS) in the Swedish third division. He’s taken the road less traveled. Grew up in New Jersey, played college soccer, was an assistant at a few colleges in the Northeast, and then got an assistant coaching job in Sweden and was named head coach at the club mid-season in 2017. He gave a wide-ranging interview explaining his coaching path, his work in Nyköping, his views on the U.S. men’s

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01:45:20

Episode 47: The Future Draft — picking teams of...

Scuffed | USMNT, World Cup, Yanks Abroad, futbol in... ·

2018/12/26

Joey Anthone (@USAProspects), Matt Hartman (@MattSHartman) join for a draft of uncapped U-21 Americans with assembling hypothetical teams for the 2026 World Cup in mind. The three of us each pick a 20-player roster, and briefly discuss who came out best. Here were the rules: Only U.S.-eligible players born in 1997 or later are allowed. Anyone already capped with the senior men’s national team is disqualified. That excludes, for instance, Pulisic, McKennie, Adams, Sargent, Weah, even though they are

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01:08:05

Episode 46: Preseason player pool worst case...

Scuffed | USMNT, World Cup, Yanks Abroad, futbol in... ·

2018/12/18

In August, we recorded a catalog of worst case scenarios for USMNT players abroad in the first half of the European season. This week we check in on those (a disconcerting number came true), and then discuss Richie Ledezma’s pending move to PSV, the Champions League draw, and Dave Sarachan’s new job. 0:30 Worst case scenarios, revisited. In chronological order: Pulisic, McKennie, Weah, Adams, Acosta, Yedlin/Brooks/Amon/Saief, Wood, Sargent, Miazga/CCV/EPB/Moore/Richards, Robinson, Parks,

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