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

Greg and Belz on the Nation's League loss to Canada, the 2019 U20 World Cup, Weston McKennie's exit from FC Dallas, and seven other turning points since we failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. ---- Scuffed is an ad-free podcast. Support that and get exclusive episodes (more than 50 this year) by signing up for our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/scuffed Skip the ads! Subscribe to Scuffed on...

The founder of Alternative Wales, Ryan March, talks about the Welsh 3-4-3, the need for a healthy Joe Allen, says he's unconcerned with Gareth Bale's lack of competitive minutes, and explains the song that Welsh fans will be singing in Qatar. To see March's writing, visit Alternative Wales , and to listen to his podcast, which I recommend, go here . ---- Scuffed is an ad-free, listener-supported p...

This is the fifth installment in our historical recap series, which is mostly just for patrons, and in this one we look back at a match against an opponent we face later this month in Qatar. In 2010, we got a draw! But our heroes weren't actually heroes (according to Greg), average players can do a job at the World Cup, and Jamie Carragher is still embarrassed after that Jozy Altidore run. Also th...

It's a Conca-Catchup with Jon Arnold. We also talk a fair amount about the USMNT. Canada and Costa Rica in difficult groups, the U.S. and Mexico less-so, and that's really the big differentiator. Sign up for Jon's newsletter: https://getconcacafed.substack.com/ ---- Scuffed is an ad-free podcast. Support that and get exclusive episodes (more than 50 so far this year) by signing up for our Patreon:...

A midweek review from Greg and Belz. Also McKennie scored, Tillman was pretty good, Sargent was physical but not dangerous, and Mexico called up none of the dual nationals who one-time-switched to El Tri. ---- Scuffed is an ad-free podcast. Please support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/scuffed Skip the ads! Subscribe to Scuffed on Patreon and get all episodes ad-free, plus bonus episodes....

There was also some bad news, for Leeds, to cover from the weekend, and a lot of middling stuff. Another fully-public Monday Review with Watke and Vince.  ---- Scuffed is an ad-free podcast. Please support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/scuffed Skip the ads! Subscribe to Scuffed on Patreon and get all episodes ad-free, plus bonus episodes. Patrons at $5 a month or more also get access to C...

Greg and Belz talk through the USMNT roster for the World Cup, which begins in exactly one month, and the decisions that still need to be made. Striker and centerback remain deeply intriguing.  ---- Scuffed is an ad-free podcast. Please support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/scuffed Skip the ads! Subscribe to Scuffed on Patreon and get all episodes ad-free, plus bonus episodes. Patrons at...

The Racing Louisville midfielder spoke with Sanjay Sujanthakumar in Spain last week. She didn't start playing soccer until she was 8! The southern California native and USC alum scored 4 goals and got 2 assists for Louisville in her rookie season, and received her first senior USWNT call-ups in September and October. ---- Scuffed is an ad-free podcast. Please support us on Patreon: https://www.pat...

TUDN reporter and producer Michele Giannone joins the pod to talk with Watke and Belz about Berhalter on the sideline, as a person and as a manager, the USMNT's chances in Qatar, Darlington Nagbe as Neo from the Matrix, growing up in Venezuela and much more. ---- For the full episode, join Scuffed on Patreon for as little as $2 a month: https://www.patreon.com/scuffed Patrons get a private feed fo...

Vlatko out? Yeah, but it won't happen. So he should buckle down and ban crossing, hire a final third coach and get this team to start playing soccer in the attack. This needs to be fixed. Join Scuffed on Patreon for as little as $2 a month: https://www.patreon.com/scuffed Patrons get a private feed for the Monday Review, which is, among other things, a run-down of club action for national team pla...

A jam-packed public Monday Review with Watke and Vince and Belz. Full weekend rundown, including Aaronson's mazy, buttery run, volleys struck into the ground, dubious reportage on Scally's place in the XI, and much much much more. Join Scuffed on Patreon for as little as $2 a month: https://www.patreon.com/scuffed Patrons get a private feed for the Monday Review, which is, among other things, a ru...

A scintillating contest at Wembley. The US came up short, but was plenty threatening. Still lacking final third choreography and composure, and the ability to build sustained possession out of the back. We got robbed of a big Trinity Rodman goal by a ref who had a shocker. Girma was excellent. Join Scuffed on Patreon for as little as $2 a month: https://www.patreon.com/scuffed Patrons get a privat...

Sanjay Sujanthakumar interviewed Chris Richards for Scuffed in a cafe in central London. Enjoy the ambience. They talked about hanging with Jason Sudeikis, the choice to join Patrick Vieira at Palace, looked back at the Bayern Munich experience and discussed whether this national team can help get more Black Americans interested in the sport. Join Scuffed on Patreon for as little as $2 a month: ht...

CBS correspondent Jenny Chiu joins Watke and Belz to discuss growing up in El Paso, inciting a brawl by clowning on boys her age in youth soccer, the jump from Orlando City to CBS, the craft of sideline reporting, covering World Cup qualifiers, World Cup predictions, playing for Anson Dorrance, the ethics of pruning houseplants, and much more. Jenny was a good sport. Highly recommend. Get the seco...

The last friendly before the World Cup is another stinker, pretty much. We talk about some hopeful reasons that these games aren't predictive of how we'll perform in Qatar, but also give full-throated voice to the doomsday sentiments, and then work our way through the action of this game, mostly the first half. Join Scuffed on Patreon for as little as $2 a month: https://www.patreon.com/scuffed Pa...

Hoo boy. Feels a little like 2019. Berhalter says we need centerbacks who can hold a high line but we couldn't establish a high line because we couldn't possess the ball in part because one of our centerbacks isn't a good passer. Add in a brutal performance from the midfield and this was a bad one. Mixed zone audio courtesy Sanjay Sujanthakumar. Join Scuffed on Patreon for as little as $2 a month:...

Greg on the high floor and the "stupidly high ceiling" of this group, the lack of rhythm and patience in the final third, and how Vlatko needs to "manage the ambition" of his players to hit the hopeful home run ball. Belz does what he can to help. Join Scuffed on Patreon for as little as $2 a month: https://www.patreon.com/scuffed Patrons get a private feed for the Monday Review, which is, among o...

Greg and Belz work through the roster, and Berhalter's press conference, ahead of friendlies vs Japan and Saudi Arabia. support Scuffed on Patreon and get all kinds of benefits: https://www.patreon.com/scuffed Skip the ads! Subscribe to Scuffed on Patreon and get all episodes ad-free, plus bonus episodes. Patrons at $5 a month or more also get access to Clip Notes, a video of key moments on the fi...

The former USMNT defender discussed how to cope when your goalkeeper might be match-fixing, beating out Gregg Berhalter for World Cup minutes, getting nutmegged by children in pickup soccer, and managing disputes with coaches and teammates surnamed Bradley. Some of that is in the second half of the interview, which is for patrons only. Interview conducted by Watke and Belz. Get the second half of...

Vince, Watke and Belz work through the weekend's action, which was limited somewhat by the death of Queen Elizabeth. Musah and Reyna both lose but play ok. Jordan Pefok and Union Berlin are top of the table in Germany. Jesus Ferreira scores a brace against LAFC. Pepi debuts and gets an assist for Groningen. Full rundown. 0:30 intro and Queen Elizabeth 5:00 Reyna 10:50 Ferreira 17:30 Pepi 22:45 Pef...

Greg and Belz work through the mid-week Champions League action in some detail, and talk about the forthcoming roster for the upcoming September friendlies. support Scuffed on Patreon, and get the Monday Reviews every week, the historic recaps, access to the Discord which will include participation in our live call-in shows, and a recent bonus episode with Bob Morocco: https://www.patreon.com/scuf...

Greg and Belz discuss some news of the week through the lens of the ever-evolving World Cup roster discussion. Pepi perhaps falls out of the picture, but then gets a loan to Holland. Scally's case gets stronger with every minute Dest doesn't play, and now maybe Dest to Villareal? The ReSargence. Etc. etc. Join the Patreon and get the Monday Review every week: https://www.patreon.com/scuffed Pulisi...

Greg and Belz try to answer a bunch of questions from patrons of the podcast. Who actually starts at the World Cup? Gio Reyna as a false 9, minutes vs injury risk, how many goals Sargent needs to score to get on the plane and many other questions asked, and answered. 0:30 intro, etc. 2:15 does the 2nd straight crash-out from the U-20 Women's World Cup in the group signal the beginning of the end o...

A pretty sad night in Costa Rica. The U.S. bowed out in the group at the U-20 Women's World Cup. Belz and Tara commiserate, talk through the action, and name their list of 6 players from the team who could some day make national team noise. support Scuffed on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/scuffed Skip the ads! Subscribe to Scuffed on Patreon and get all episodes ad-free, plus bonus episodes. Pa...

Arya Allahverdi, who runs the Gol Bezan podcast, joins the pod to discuss an Iranian national team that's had its share of controversy, mostly surrounding the coach, Dragan Skočić, who was sacked and then un-sacked this summer after a poor friendly against Algeria. But Iran has several talented players, particularly in the attack, and Allahverdi thinks they'll come out and play at the World Cup, e...