- 15 hours ago
The USMNT's World Cup run ended with a thud in a 4-1 Round of 16 loss to Belgium, but could the good feelings from their run leading up to that put soccer back on the map in the US?
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00:00Soccer coverage here on WJFK is presented by Xfinity.
00:04Score the most reliable Wi-Fi, one price, five years guaranteed.
00:07Xfinity, imagine that.
00:08And let's get back into some of the World Cup discussion, Beamage.
00:11How dialed in have you been for this World Cup outside of the United States?
00:16I've watched multiple games.
00:17It's been fun to watch.
00:18Because, listen, this game right here, Argentina-Egypt.
00:24Egypt beat, I forgot who they beat the other day.
00:27Australia, wasn't it?
00:28Yeah, and at first I didn't know which was which.
00:31Because, you know, I was expecting Egypt to be in the colors that Australia was in.
00:36But they are physical, dog.
00:38Yeah.
00:38I keep looking up seeing guys from Argentina laying on the ground
00:42and taking a while to get up.
00:45Ref just running right past them, man.
00:47And you watch, man.
00:49Egypt will check you.
00:52We'll see how it finishes up.
00:53The goalie so far for Egypt has been unbelievable.
00:56Made a couple of great saves.
00:57Egypt up 1-0 at half after a great header to give them the lead about 18 minutes in.
01:03You saw that big red spot on his face.
01:04Yeah.
01:05Yeah.
01:05That ball hurts.
01:06It's been fun to watch because it feels like all of the games have been close.
01:12Yeah.
01:12But you've seen, I think, multiple games.
01:16You've got smaller countries, teams you didn't expect to play.
01:19They're pushing some of these bigger powerhouses.
01:23And this might be one of the most exciting, I think, overall we've seen.
01:27Oh, yeah.
01:27100%.
01:28And I think it's been a blast to see just the – usually I'm not a fan of expanding tournaments
01:34to include more teams.
01:35I think they got it right on this one because they included more teams this year.
01:38And I think the competition has been fantastic.
01:40It's been fun to watch.
01:41I always love seeing the fans of different nations and the way they embrace their teams.
01:47And to see all of them coming over here to the U.S., Canada, Mexico, but especially here
01:51in the U.S., it's been kind of cool.
01:53Yeah.
01:53Yeah.
01:53I've been liking it.
01:54I like it.
01:55But I'll tell you, but Cape Verde, they had fun.
01:57They were having fun.
01:58And it was another group.
02:00Was it Congo or something?
02:01Yep.
02:02They danced from the moment they got here.
02:04Well, they were losing, but they were still dancing.
02:07They had a lot of fun.
02:08They were like, we're going to enjoy this.
02:09It started with a C. I don't know if it was Congo or not.
02:13So I don't know how you say this guy's name, but there is a Congo fan that he stands still
02:23for the entire game.
02:24You see this?
02:25No.
02:26Like a statue.
02:27He literally stands still.
02:29I'll turn this around so you can see.
02:31This guy literally stands still like a statue for the entire game.
02:36He must really go to the bathroom before the game starts.
02:41I don't know how he does it.
02:41You got to take a break every once in a while, don't you?
02:43I don't know how he does it.
02:44I guess his name is...
02:46Statue.
02:47Lumumba Vea.
02:49That's his nickname.
02:50His nickname is his real name, Statue.
02:53And he literally just stands there for the entire match.
02:56And I guess his point is, I can be strong for the team or something.
03:00I don't know.
03:01But he literally stands there like a statue.
03:03Like if you're walking around Vegas or something, sometimes you see these people that are like
03:06painted and sit and do it.
03:08Don't do that at a game, man.
03:10Go somewhere else and do that.
03:11I'm just saying, bro.
03:14Man.
03:15But how do you feel about this U.S. run?
03:17Do you think it maybe grows to sport here?
03:19800-636-1067.
03:21Because I think that is something that it feels like because the World Cup was here and this
03:27U.S. team was exciting, it feels like there was almost an embrace for soccer in this country
03:34that is even more than we'd seen in previous World Cups.
03:39Because we obviously get behind the U.S. when they're playing.
03:42But the last World Cup in Qatar, I don't know that people were as dialed in as they are to
03:47this World Cup.
03:48Well, the reason is they were coming on at such times we couldn't get up and watch them.
03:52That's true.
03:53You know, a lot of these things were starting early, early in the morning where you're like,
03:57I'm not getting up for that.
03:59I tried to get up for some of them.
04:01And, you know, you got to wake up at 3 in the morning, things of that nature.
04:05Like now it's on our time.
04:07So we were able to see a lot more of the games.
04:09It's been fun seeing different people experience the U.S. as well.
04:14Just seeing the way that they go around and do different things.
04:17I love seeing, I think I saw some Norwegian fans walking through Bass Pro Shops.
04:22And they were amazed that there were fish inside the store.
04:27People are...
04:28The things that make people lose their minds.
04:30You know what has been the thing that people have lost their minds about?
04:33What?
04:33Ranch dressing.
04:35Have you seen this?
04:36No.
04:37They're losing their minds over ranch dressing to the point that I think Hidden Valley Ranch
04:42is now selling ranch dressing at airports so that way they don't have to try to take it
04:46through security.
04:47Wow.
04:49Ranch dressing.
04:51And it's been fun to watch.
04:52But I'm curious what type of momentum we'll see this have for the country.
04:58Do you think this is something, at least in terms of soccer, do you think this is something
05:01that going forward we'll see a little bit of a boost in terms of participation and maybe
05:07the level of play for the men's national team?
05:10Or is this just kind of a one-off fun experience we'll talk about for a long time?
05:14You know what?
05:15I think it may be, and it may not be because of the American team.
05:19It may be just somebody young watching this and they're looking at all of the teams.
05:26And they get now to see a guy like Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappe, all these type of guys where
05:33now they go look them up and like, I want to be like that.
05:37And since it was held here, you know, it may spark somebody.
05:42You know, we may be a guy out there right now, 10, 11, 12, that was like, okay, I was
05:51thinking about it and thinking it was great, but now I can see this playing on the world
05:54stage.
05:55And in the next four to eight years, maybe somebody running them down that field right
06:01there.
06:02Yeah.
06:03And that's kind of what you hope for if you're the U.S., right?
06:07It brings in a whole new crop of players that maybe you hadn't reached in the past.
06:12And I do think that this World Cup being here in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico has grown just
06:18like the casual fandom.
06:20Now, you know, I've heard so many people on social media say, oh, now I'm going to watch
06:23soccer.
06:24We'll have to see if that actually follows through after this World Cup.
06:27But I'm interested to see if that is something that continues.
06:30It'll be something interesting to watch with the ratings for the Premier League.
06:34Because I do think one of the fun parts for the Premier League is like Saturday mornings
06:39are pretty much open unless you're watching College Game Day before College Football
06:42Saturday.
06:43Yeah.
06:44But now maybe more fans are tuning in to watch some English Premier League soccer ahead
06:50of a College Game Day and getting set for a College Football Saturday.
06:53So I'm interested to see if that carries over.
06:56It may.
06:57I mean, I would say this.
06:59It's been, like you were talking earlier about the games, how fun they've been.
07:05That level of excitement normally sparks stuff.
07:08And I can see it happening.
07:09Like people say, well, they want to see more of it now.
07:12You know?
07:12I normally would be flipping through a channel and I'll see it because I got five
07:16million channels on my TV.
07:18And I'll go, oh, cool.
07:19I'll stop and I'll watch.
07:20Because I'm amazed at what they can do with their feet, though.
07:24It's an incredible sport.
07:25I am amazed at it.
07:27And then watching these damn goalies, like, this dude, man, he is all over the place.
07:34What is he laying down now?
07:35Well, and doesn't that baffle you that the U.S. couldn't have a better goalie?
07:38That really bothers me.
07:39Shouldn't that be the spot that of all the spots the U.S. should have somebody?
07:44Mm-hmm.
07:44You would think so.
07:45Because I wonder last night, if they had Tim Howard in goal, remember what he did in
07:522014 against Belgium, do you think there's a chance you still win?
07:55Because if they had somebody in goal...
07:58It makes a difference.
07:59It makes a huge difference.
08:00It changes everything.
08:02Totally.
08:02So it's just, it's going to be interesting to see the impact that this World Cup is
08:06going to have long-term for this sport in the U.S.
08:09And, you know, it's been a blast watching it.
08:12Who's been your favorite to watch outside of the U.S.?
08:15Mbappe?
08:16Yeah.
08:16The same one I was watching when coming into this?
08:18Yeah.
08:18I will say that.
08:19That's the one thing...
08:20And it is his counterpart.
08:21I've been...
08:23He's good, too.
08:23What's the guy?
08:24Dembele?
08:24Dembele, yeah.
08:25He can play.
08:26He can play as well.
08:27One of the things that I was frustrated...
08:29I haven't watched the Game of the Thrones guy too much.
08:32One of the things...
08:32Erling Haaland?
08:34Yeah.
08:34One of the things that frustrated me about the schedule is I wanted to be able to,
08:39when we went to Madrid last year for the Commanders game, I was hoping to be
08:42able to at least watch a soccer game.
08:44They were on an international break.
08:46It seems like they're going to be on the international break again when the
08:49Commanders play in London.
08:50But that's something that I want to see happen, is go over there and watch a game
08:54over in Europe.
08:56800-636-1067.
08:58Chuck is in Reston.
08:59Chuck, what's going on?
09:01Yeah, we will not see an increase in interest in soccer in this country.
09:06There are too many sports that are native to the United States of America.
09:10I mean, football, baseball, basketball, hockey.
09:13Those come prior to that.
09:15If these other countries around the world, soccer's predominant.
09:19But you don't see these other countries participating in American football.
09:23You see some of them participating in basketball.
09:26Very few, if any, in baseball and hockey.
09:30They participate in American football.
09:32Their league's over there.
09:33We don't see them.
09:34Because my nephew right now is playing over in France.
09:38And he's been over there for the last six years.
09:40He played in Germany.
09:41Now he's in Germany for three years.
09:43Now he's in France for his third year.
09:45So they have all the sports.
09:46We just don't see them here.
09:48But most kids play soccer early.
09:51Most kids.
09:52And I think what's going to happen is, if we start letting our kids understand,
09:57these guys in the Europe leagues and stuff like that,
10:01the millions that they make are astronomical.
10:04You know?
10:05And if you think about it, there's somebody out there right now
10:10that may not be very good at basketball.
10:11Might be 6'5", 6'6", 6'7".
10:14He could be in that goal.
10:16He's very athletic.
10:17Go become a goalie on one of these.
10:19You might end up over there making a ton of money.
10:21We got to let kids know it's more than just our four sports.
10:26We have tremendous leagues for children in this country.
10:31But it doesn't translate once you get past high school.
10:36It just hasn't.
10:37You've had Beckham.
10:38You've had Pele.
10:39You've had MLS.
10:41You've had a lot of stuff here.
10:43And it just hasn't taken over.
10:44I think it's because of all the other sports.
10:47Yeah.
10:47And maybe that is the case.
10:49It may be true.
10:49But, I mean, it could get bigger than what it is.
10:52So one of the things that I think is interesting here is it does seem like
10:56fewer parents are as on board with letting their kids play football
10:59because of the dangers that follow it.
11:01And do some of those transition to more of soccer?
11:05You would think.
11:06But when you start looking at all of the statistics, as many concussions in that
11:13as any sport.
11:14Yeah.
11:15So, yes, it looks like it's not dangerous.
11:17But every five seconds you see somebody laying on the ground, but then they get up
11:21and run full speed.
11:22So, yeah, I mean.
11:24They might be laying on the ground just because they need a break or something.
11:27I don't know.
11:28Richard is in Shadyside.
11:30Richard, what's up?
11:31Hey, what's going on, guys?
11:33What's up, man?
11:34Hey, I'm thinking, you know, soccer, I've been hearing, I'm 68 years old.
11:38I've been hearing for years and years that soccer is going to be the next
11:40greatest sport in America.
11:41But I think the problem is that they don't, Americans want scores.
11:46They don't want to watch 90 minutes of a sport, end up 0-0,
11:49want maybe a penalty kick.
11:50There's got to be a way we can figure out how to make soccer with more scores.
11:56Well, I'll be honest with you.
11:59Soccer and hockey are basically the same, too.
12:01They don't score a lot.
12:03Soccer got to stop faking like they hurt all the damn time.
12:06That's why I think Americans don't like it.
12:08You see somebody rolling around the ground, you kick him in the right ankle,
12:12he grabs his left ankle, he rolls around the ground, then he gets up and he
12:15runs away full damn speed.
12:17That's why we don't really like it.
12:19It looks like they've been shot with a cannon.
12:21Yeah, we let him fight.
12:22I bet you we'll start loving it.
12:24Appreciate it, Richard.
12:26I think when you look at hockey, you're right.
12:29Not as many goals, but I think that one's obviously a much faster pace.
12:33It's faster pace, but I just think that flopping crap, that turns a lot of people off.
12:40I think a lot of why this World Cup has been as popular as it has to is referees have
12:45let
12:46them play a lot more this year, too.
12:47Like, they're still giving some fouls that are annoying to the casual fan that's watching
12:52going, you know, that guy's flopping around, but they have not rewarded it as much in this
12:57World Cup as previous seasons or previous iterations.
13:00Yeah, I call in and say, well, if you don't lay on the ground and flop around, you don't
13:04get the call.
13:06But it should be a deterrent somewhere in it.
13:09Yeah.
13:09If you flopping around, like if I'm the reference, I see you get kicked in the right leg or they
13:14hit towards your right leg, and then you grab your left leg, you should be able to get a
13:20yellow card or a red card.
13:21You know what I'm saying?
13:22Yeah.
13:23And listen, I understand that it's like this because they allow it.
13:27But if you find a deterrent to it, you can stop it.
13:30And because it, my thing, don't tell me, oh, our sport is continuous.
13:36You go 45 minutes, and then you play extra minutes, and you go 45 minutes in, and you
13:42play extra minutes.
13:43You always got something left at the end of the game.
13:46So really, you're still adding on that stuff when you're stopping.
13:49So it's not continuous per se.
13:52You know, just, I mean, if you're going to go 45 minutes, and when they start laying
13:57around, have a penalty for them somewhere along the way.
14:00Please.
14:01Did you watch the Mexico-England game the other night?
14:03Yeah.
14:04See, if soccer was more like that all the time, I think it would be much more
14:10That was the third game they lost there in 53-3-11, 12.
14:14In electric atmosphere in Mexico City.
14:18Nonstop action after, once they finally scored in the 30th minute or whatever, it
14:23was nonstop the rest of the game.
14:25It was back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.
14:28And then for the final bit, when England was down to 10 men, it was Mexico
14:33constantly just playing.
14:36Attacking.
14:36Yes.
14:37Yeah.
14:37And I think if there were more of that, I don't know how you can implement those sorts
14:40of things.
14:41But I think the tough part for America to try to capitalize on this generally...
14:46My buddies just text me and say that they do penalize them for faking hurt, just not in
14:51the...
14:51I haven't seen anybody getting...
14:53Yeah.
14:54Very, very few.
14:54I've watched a lot of these games and I haven't seen one person get anything for flopping.
15:00Yeah.
15:00And I'm going to tell you, I've seen a lot of flopping.
15:02I've seen more flopping in the last two weeks than I've seen in the last 10 years of the
15:08NBA.
15:09And the NBA is a flopping crew.
15:11Yeah.
15:11This flops way more than the NBA.
15:13Yeah.
15:13And I think the interesting part is the league here in the U.S. just isn't that great.
15:19Like, you can go see Messi and when...
15:21Messi just got hit in the neck and he grabbing his mouth.
15:26So, you know, when Messi comes to town, that's obviously a big thing.
15:29But I don't know.
15:31I just don't know if you can also grow it enough if you're not going to have high-level soccer
15:35in the country that you can go watch.
15:37When Messi comes to this place, goes anywhere else, we go out in droves to see him play.
15:47If we love him as much from the way he was playing in Argentina before, we didn't start
15:53liking him when he got to Miami.
15:54We were liking him when he was playing in the U.S. league and all.
15:59So, we watch it.
16:01So, why is it that we don't get behind him here?
16:04We don't have the better players.
16:06As I stated earlier, somebody here, one of these rich, rich people, got to get a team
16:12or two, maybe three, four.
16:14So, you can have a lot of playing here and you got to go play over there.
16:18You can't just have it.
16:19And if we go, like, let's be real.
16:21So, in hockey, most of the people from somewhere else, Sweden, Norway, Russia, Germany, they're
16:26from all over the place, Czechoslovakia.
16:29We love hockey.
16:30If we had other people playing here, then we will get more into it.
16:34We'll see the sport at a higher level.
16:36Then you can see it picking up.
16:38But if we don't have the best of the best, because whenever you hear the kids get involved
16:43with soccer and they start hearing about the best players, they're always from somewhere
16:48else.
16:49What if Mbappe was playing for the L.A.
16:52whatever or the New York something, but they play across, play with the teams from over there?
16:59It'd be a world of difference.
17:00Yeah.
17:01And I think that has to happen.
17:02Just like we're trying to get a basketball team, a football team over in Europe, they
17:07should be trying to do the same thing with soccer here.
17:10800-636-1067.
17:12How can you keep some of the momentum that the United States is seeing with soccer in this
17:17country?
17:17How can you keep some of the things that the United States is seeing with soccer in the
17:17How can you keep some of the things that the United States is seeing with soccer in the United States?
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