What Pochettino personally confirmed in this excellent interview: 1) It is/was a tough job reversing the broken and chronically ill ship he inherited. 2) The difference between "soccer" and football everywhere else in the world? In the US it's about entertainment since there's no consequences like relegation in MLS. Overseas it's NOT merely entertainment. 3) People lose perspective and show a lack of respect for those with expertise. To boot, pro American soccer coaches also demonstrated this lack of respect [to me]. 4) US Soccer is not interfering in his roster decisions. 5) The American European-based players had a posture of entitlement, and were treating call-ups as unimportant. One main reason is (unlike the earlier generations) they didn't/don't need the USMNT platform to get to Europe and, crazily, believed their spot on the World Cup was already secure. Nowhere else in the world is there that entitlement. "I've never heard of even Messi, Maradona, Ronaldo, saying a year before the world cup 'nah, I'm gonna rest so that I'm fresh for the WC next year.'" Even the media/fans were justifying that rationale, that culture. 6) Copy the best in the world. Don't try to invent something new. 7) The USMNT generation from the 90s, who now have media jobs, had to fight in a very different way for what they earned. The current generation is different in that respect as well. 8) Elsewhere it's team first, not player first. We've got to get to that here in the US as well. This doesn't just go for the player posture, but the media/fans as well. 9) Proper culture: Players need to take all these friendly games as if they are world cup games. 10) There are players who we [the technical staff] fell in love with, and others we became disappointed in. Every player is unique and must be analyzed as such. 11) It's silly to work for "legacy", with the exception of being remembered as a good person and good professional. 12) The goal is to WIN the World Cup. If one doesn't think that way, what's the point? x.com/AndresCantorGOL/status…

Brazil has no magic

Maybe a contender x.com/3four3/status/20659259…

Definitely not a contender. x.com/3four3/status/20659183…

Let's hope Brazil shows it is a contender.

Lopetegui is a genius

The takeaways from the 4-1 USMNT victory over Paraguay.

THAT'S why Gio is there. For those of you who thought he shouldn't go.

Bro, if Paraguay can somehow sneak in a 2nd, you're all going to be shitting yourselves. 😂

Great decision to take Pulisic off.

Forget the score. That's the best 45 minute performance by the USMNT in over 7.5 years.

Canada's draw a just result as well. So far, 3 of 3 matches have just results.

What I'm hoping for tonight's game.

What a FANTASTIC match! South Korea just winner.

The ONLY English-language broadcast moments to listen to is when Zlatan or Henry speak. Everything else is trash which, if you are not inoculated, will absolutely lower your football IQ. Careful out there, friends.

This world cup will likely reach peak levels of pussification. SOFT

Questions for my Mexican friends. 🇲🇽 With the expanded format, does reaching "el quinto partido" count, or should it now be "el sexto"?

Correlation is not causation. That said: 1) The Mexican fans communicating their displeasure while leading 1-0. 2) Substitutions then made - with their "crown jewel" 17yo Gilberto Mora 3) The team goes forward, instead of chilling. 4) 2-0 :) x.com/3four3/status/20651696…

61st minute, winning 1-0, and the Mexican public is whistling at their own team. Indication of a proper soccer culture.

Hope you guys are watching Spanish-language broadcasts. Even if you don't speak the language. For those of you who do speak Spanish but are listening to English-language, shame on you.

Directionally correct. One caveat: There are people who like MLS - casual entertainment consumers, the uninformed, those on the payroll (one way or another), those aspiring to be on the payroll (one way or another), and media/influencer types who know the grift. This group constitutes the minority of 🇺🇸 soccer households. The vast majority of soccer-first households and heritages know or sense it's inauthentic. And every day, more are starting to realize there's something much darker associated with it. x.com/WritesCoco/status/2064…