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00:00The United States men's national team is one win away from a World Cup quarterfinal,
00:05and just when we thought we knew the biggest storyline entering USA-Belgium, everything changed.
00:10After a 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32,
00:14the conversation around the U.S. centered on Falarin Balogun's controversial red card,
00:18the automatic one-game suspension, and what his absence would mean against Belgium.
00:23But now, Balogun's ban has been suspended.
00:27The United States' top goal scorer in this tournament is available,
00:29and the whole feel of this round of 16 matchup has shifted.
00:32So, to help break it all down, we're joined by a three-time All-American,
00:36also a Soccer Hall of Famer, sports anchor, and analyst for ESPN, FIFA, and NBC Sports.
00:41It's the one and only Renee Washington joining me now.
00:44Renee, how are you doing?
00:47I am great. I'm so happy to be here.
00:49Thanks for the lovely introduction,
00:50and thrilled to be talking about U.S. men's national team's games
00:55that are still happening in the knockout stages.
00:57I know, right? It's so good. It's still happening.
00:59They're still playing. They're here in the round of 16.
01:02It's an exciting time for U.S. soccer,
01:04and I know you've been watching a lot of it, Renee.
01:06And so, we've got to get to the major news before U.S. Belgium.
01:09Falarin Balogun's one-game ban has been suspended.
01:12As I just mentioned, he's now available for this round of 16 match.
01:16So, after days of this game being framed around his absence,
01:19and that's initially what I thought we were going to talk about,
01:22how much does this change the emotional feel of the matchup between USA and Belgium?
01:28This changes everything, honestly,
01:30because when you think about when the red card was issued,
01:33very controversial in its nature,
01:34there were questions not only about the U.S. being able to close out
01:38and protect their lead to advance,
01:40but to know after watching Belgium's incredible comeback versus Senegal,
01:44I know we'll get into it,
01:45that they had a really talented Belgium team waiting on the next round.
01:48The question was, can they win without him?
01:51Your leading scorer in the World Cup,
01:53the emotions behind it, the controversy behind it,
01:56and also just psychologically.
01:57So, it's a massive boost for the U.S. to be able to get this news.
02:01They heard it on the team bus.
02:03It actually broke on social media,
02:04reports indicated before they officially heard it as a team.
02:07And so, they were just as excited as we were,
02:09and were just saying it's so well-deserved.
02:11You know, now they can shift their focus
02:13instead of now focusing on how to play without him
02:15to now be at full strength going into this matchup.
02:18Yeah, that has to be exciting news for everyone.
02:20You can only imagine the team's joy
02:22of hearing that he is back in the fall.
02:25So, he's back.
02:26Balogun is back.
02:27He's been the United States' top goal scorer in this tournament.
02:30Does his availability immediately change
02:33how we expect the U.S. to attack Belgium?
02:35And does this now take some of the pressure
02:37off of Christian Pulisic and Ricardo Pepe,
02:39who we would have thought would maybe be asked
02:41to step in for Balogun?
02:43So, do you think this changes
02:44how the U.S. now may attack Belgium?
02:47The key for the knockout stage is you do need depth,
02:50but you need to make sure you're not asking
02:53and taxing more on guys.
02:55So, someone like Ricardo Pepe,
02:56who's a great player off the bench for them,
02:58would have been asked to have to step in
02:59and replace Flo Balogun.
03:00So, it wasn't impossible,
03:02but you can't truly make up the three goals
03:04he's been scoring, the attention he draws,
03:06the way Belgium's going to have to defend him.
03:08He's a true nine.
03:09He's a true player that holds balls up top for them,
03:12links play, connects with their midfield,
03:13and also does a great job of making the runs.
03:15That's how he finishes goals.
03:17He's also great with the ball at his feet, 1v1.
03:19So, you can't truly replace
03:21what Flo Balogun brings for this offense.
03:24And now, players around him,
03:25you mentioned Christian Pulisic and Pepe and others,
03:28they can just focus on playing their game,
03:30doing what they've been doing best.
03:32Because for the U.S., the depth has been key.
03:34Nine goals going into the round at 16.
03:37Balogun has three.
03:38You have a couple of players that have a goal,
03:40and then, of course, you have also a brace as well
03:43that is for Malik Tillman.
03:45So, it's been by committee.
03:47It's just Balogun attracts so much attention,
03:49draws a lot of defenders to him,
03:51and against this Belgium team,
03:53now the scouting report changes.
03:55U.S. goes back to what they've been doing every game,
03:57and for Belgium, they now have to figure out
03:59how to account for it and try to slow down Flo Balogun.
04:02Yeah, they've got to try to figure that out
04:03if you're Belgium.
04:04And I wanted to go here next, Rene,
04:06because let's talk about Belgium,
04:07because they look dead against Senegal.
04:10They were down 2-0 late,
04:11then they came back to win 3-2 in extra time.
04:15Does that comeback make them more dangerous
04:17because of the belief that it created,
04:20or are they more vulnerable
04:22because of the flaws that might have been exposed with them,
04:25seeing them go down 2-0 in that matchup against Senegal?
04:29I think one of the best storylines for this match
04:31is you have, for the U.S. men's national team,
04:33a lot of confidence knowing
04:34they're getting their leading score back.
04:36For Belgium, a lot of confidence knowing
04:38that they were able to come back
04:39after being down two goals.
04:40You scored two goals in a span of three minutes.
04:43Starting in the 86th minute, at that point,
04:45for most people, you're counting the team out.
04:47Maybe one goal, they scored two,
04:49and they win the game.
04:50So, I think the reality is,
04:52what we've seen across the entire World Cup fleet,
04:54a number of goals happening in stoppage time
04:57in the final seconds.
04:58We even, of course, saw it with Turkey against U.S.
05:01in that awful last-second goal that USA gave up.
05:05So, we've been seeing dozens of goals happening
05:09late in the game.
05:10And it is just a reminder that
05:11not only is depth important,
05:13momentum matters.
05:14Keeping your foot on the gas,
05:15putting chances away when you get them,
05:17and then also making sure
05:18that you're never underestimating an opponent.
05:20They're fighting for everything they've got.
05:21And Belgium to have the biggest comeback we've seen.
05:24We've seen one-goal comebacks,
05:26but to score three goals to win after being down 2-0,
05:29they absolutely have belief.
05:31They're another team, though,
05:32with a very balanced attack, Dexter.
05:33And I think that's what makes this matchup
05:35really interesting,
05:36of the clash of two teams
05:37that don't just rely on one player.
05:39That's a great point, Renee.
05:40And I like two of the words
05:41that you've used here in this conversation, right?
05:43Depth and confidence.
05:44And depth is something I think
05:46I'll transition to right here with Belgium
05:49because Romelu Lukaku, fantastic player.
05:51He's become more of a super sub for Belgium.
05:53He scored in back-to-back games.
05:54He changed the Senegal match.
05:56When you look at his performance there,
05:58when he came on, if you're the U.S.,
05:59how do you prepare for a player
06:01who might be the most dangerous for their team
06:03after the 60th minute?
06:05How do you prepare for that?
06:07Well, something that I heard
06:08Lana Ibrahimovic mention
06:09on the Fox Sports broadcast
06:10that I think echoes so accurately
06:12is in the World Cup, it's not just about talent.
06:14And we're seeing that.
06:16It was Argentina against Cape Verde.
06:17It was, we can go game by game,
06:19Portugal, Croatia, so many teams
06:21where it's beyond just
06:22who has the most talented roster.
06:25It's can you put together a full game?
06:28These teams across the World Cup slate,
06:30and I know we had an expanded 48 team.
06:32It's been one of the best World Cups,
06:34in my opinion, that we've seen.
06:35It's because every team has the belief,
06:37the confidence,
06:38and they are truly leaving it all on the pitch.
06:40So I think someone like Romelu Lukaku
06:41is a prime example of that,
06:43a player that wherever he is needed
06:45for Belgium is going to step in
06:46and make an impact.
06:47He's also been one of the leading scorers.
06:48They have a number of players
06:49with two goals coming into the round of 16,
06:52and Lukaku is one of them.
06:54He scored back-to-back games for them.
06:56He also scored in late games,
06:58in clutch moments, high-pressure situations.
07:00That gives you so much confidence
07:02to put not just your team on your back,
07:04your country on your back,
07:06in big moments to keep their run alive.
07:09So he's someone that I think for USA,
07:12it's not only a matter of being aware
07:13of him coming off the bench,
07:15it's understanding Belgium's going to put together
07:17a full game.
07:18We saw that against Senegal.
07:19We've seen that against the entire knockout stages
07:22of overtimes, penalty kick shootouts,
07:24late game drama.
07:26So if you're winning at this stage,
07:28you don't just have to be the better team,
07:29you have to be tactical,
07:30and you have to be consistent
07:32to put together a full game.
07:33I don't doubt about that.
07:35And Lukaku, he is absolutely
07:36a game-changer for Belgium.
07:39Now, back to the United States,
07:40they are playing another World Cup knockout game
07:42on home soil in Seattle.
07:44Do you look at that, Renee,
07:45as pure advantage for the U.S. men's national team,
07:48or does the pressure of being at home
07:49make this moment in the round of 16
07:52feel even heavier in this situation?
07:54How do you look at them playing at home?
07:56I think it just gives you extra pride.
07:58You want to defend your home field.
08:00Canada was the first of the three host nations
08:02to get eliminated from the World Cup.
08:04And I do think there's also some extra pride
08:06and competition of being the last
08:07of the three standing.
08:09Not to mention it is an advantage.
08:10You know, we are now seeing more
08:12American fans that are maybe
08:16learning about the team,
08:17knowing faces, knowing names,
08:19cheering for them,
08:20the same way I've been seeing countries
08:22getting a great return home
08:24and having their airports and their fans
08:26waiting for them when they return home.
08:28USA is still home.
08:30They don't have to worry about a flight back
08:31when the World Cup ends.
08:32They can still get that excitement
08:33while they're playing.
08:34So I do think for this team,
08:36they've got a great blend of youth
08:37and experience.
08:38That's also partly why they've been playing so well.
08:41These are players that have been playing
08:42in European leagues at the highest level,
08:43getting meaningful minutes,
08:44have been in a World Cup before,
08:46understand what it takes,
08:47and now have the backing of American fans
08:50where they didn't always have that.
08:52There's been a lot of, unfortunately,
08:53because of the success of the women,
08:55the men have been kind of like the black sheep
08:57of the soccer family.
08:59So I do think there's an advantage
09:00because there's so much belief right now.
09:03There's that 12-man energy around the country,
09:05and also they know they have a chance
09:07to keep winning at home,
09:09giving their fans a great game
09:10and a great match like this.
09:11So I do think the X factor has been
09:14just the way everyone's been bought in,
09:16repping, excited, cheering,
09:19fan fest getting sold out,
09:20all the little things that they see that.
09:23They notice that and they're carrying that pride.
09:25All right, so playing on home soil
09:27should be an advantage
09:28for this U.S. bench national team.
09:29We're going to see how it plays out.
09:31Speaking of seeing how it will play out,
09:33you know I can't let Renee leave
09:34without asking her this.
09:36Final thing for me, Renee.
09:37When people look back at USA Belgium,
09:40what do you think will decide this match?
09:43And then what is your prediction?
09:44Got to get your prediction
09:45for this round of 16 matchup
09:47between USA and Belgium.
09:48Who do you got?
09:50Well, I was just at the France Paraguay
09:53game here in Philly on July 4th
09:56and just every game I've seen
09:58has been a consistent theme
09:59of what's been a difference.
10:01It's your big players
10:02stepping up in big moments
10:03the same way Killian Mbappe did for France.
10:05I believe it's going to be
10:05Flo Balogun doing that for USA.
10:08It's also making sure
10:09that you are continuing to put together
10:12that late surge.
10:13I've talked about it so many answers now
10:15but I can't hit on it enough.
10:17That late surge of the game
10:18is what's going to be the difference.
10:20If the U.S. can withstand that,
10:22I think they're winning this game.
10:23I do think Belgium is going to score
10:24so I'm going to say it might be
10:26a 2-1, 3-1 victory for USA
10:28and I think that we're going to get
10:29an exciting on the edge of your seat
10:31fight to the finish
10:32because it's the round of 16.
10:34Everyone knows they are so close
10:36to continuing their journey
10:38and this game is going to be
10:40possibly and should be
10:41one of the most challenging
10:42of their tournament runs so far.
10:44But I'm going to go
10:45my final answer, 3-1
10:46USA wins over Belgium
10:47and Flo Balogun, Christian Pulisic
10:49are going to have to step up
10:52especially because this team
10:53is going to need to lean
10:54on them heavily.
10:54All right, so 3-1 prediction
10:56people from Renee here.
10:57Renee, one follow-up on that
10:59because we got the fingers crossed.
11:00Let's see, you got the fingers crossed.
11:02I think for many people,
11:04many soccer fans,
11:05many of us, people like you
11:06and I who love this sport,
11:07I think if we looked
11:08at this tournament,
11:09we would have said,
11:10okay, if the U.S. can make it
11:12to the round of 16,
11:13that is fantastic.
11:15Anything past that
11:16is, I'll say it's gravy for them.
11:19If they are able to win this game,
11:213-1 of your predictions right
11:22and I will be texting you
11:23if your prediction is right,
11:25what do you think
11:26this is going to mean
11:27for this country in U.S. soccer
11:28if they are able to get this win
11:30and advance to the quarterfinals?
11:32Oh, it's a great question.
11:34Honestly, I was one that even said
11:36getting to the round of 16
11:37in itself would be a success
11:38for this team.
11:39But the reality is
11:40this is not the same
11:41U.S. men's national team
11:42that we've seen
11:43any time in the previous.
11:44I mean, this as a whole,
11:46when you look at history
11:47is uncharted territory.
11:49From the very first game,
11:51scoring four goals
11:52was something that
11:53we've never seen
11:54a U.S. men's national team
11:56do in a single World Cup match.
11:57So they're making some new records
12:00in history and momentum.
12:01And I think it's very fitting
12:03that it's the same World Cup
12:04that we're hosting,
12:05that we're one of the host nations,
12:07that we're also getting,
12:08I feel like,
12:09American soccer taking a big step.
12:11We're introducing people
12:13to our fields,
12:14our cities,
12:15our, you know,
12:16all of the talents.
12:17We're getting more.
12:18And I've been seeing it
12:18on the ground
12:19with working with FIFA.
12:20Just the excitement.
12:22I've met people
12:22from all over the world
12:23that are raving
12:24and surprised in a good way
12:25about what American soccer
12:27and what the culture
12:28and just the way
12:29that soccer is welcomed here.
12:31That has not always
12:31been the case.
12:32So I do think
12:33it's not only great
12:34for the team itself,
12:35but for American soccer.
12:37So then you add
12:37the cherry on top
12:38of at least a round of 16 run,
12:41possibly further.
12:42They did have
12:42a very favorable path.
12:44The last game
12:45was the first game
12:46they played
12:46in a knockout stage
12:47where they were not
12:48the underdog,
12:49but the favorite.
12:50This is very new
12:51for all of us
12:52to see the U.S.
12:53men's national team
12:53in this spotlight
12:54on the big stage.
12:55So I think we're seeing
12:56a turning of the corner
12:58for the USA.
12:59And I feel like
13:00it's going to be a moment
13:00we look back on
13:01probably many years from now
13:03and really recognize
13:03just how big
13:04the magnitude of
13:05the success of the tournament,
13:07but also the team
13:08together just really
13:10put USA in a position
13:12now be taken seriously
13:13and be taken a lot more
13:15as one of the
13:15prestigious countries
13:16when it comes to
13:17men's soccer
13:18the same way
13:19it is for women's soccer.
13:20Yeah, feels like
13:21a big moment
13:22for U.S. soccer
13:22here with the World Cup
13:23and how everything
13:24has been going on.
13:25You've seen it up close
13:26and personal
13:27with the work you do.
13:28Everybody,
13:29that is Renee Washington.
13:31Please check her out.
13:32Hall of Famer,
13:33three-time All-American
13:35in terms of soccer.
13:36Also does fantastic work
13:37for ESPN,
13:38FIFA,
13:38and NBC Sports.
13:39Check her out there.
13:40Renee,
13:41always a pleasure
13:42to see you
13:42and also now
13:43talk some soccer with you.
13:44We've got to do it again soon.
13:47Yes, very much soon.
13:48Hopefully we're talking
13:49more USA men's national team
13:51as they're continuing
13:52going to the World Cup.
13:53Fingers crossed
13:53on that too.
13:54But thank you so much
13:55for having me.
13:55It's always great
13:56working with you.
13:57Anytime, Renee.