GIL MORA Has Arrived! Cavan Sullivan's Debut & International Recap + SJ Earthquakes 3-1 vs Portland

Project 90 Soccer: Hello, and welcome to the Project 90 Soccer Podcast. My name is Antonio wearing the azurri shirt, as you can see, and I'm here as always with the one, the only wearing the green of L Tree Baby. Marco Antonio Munoz. Marco, we've had some international games these past few days, and I am excited to get into it, brother. How are you doing today?

Marco: I'm good man. I'm drinking my non alcoholic beverage and ready to talk some international football.

Project 90 Soccer: Talking ball today. We got a few games in particular we want to go over USA versus Peru. Then we have Mexico, Colombia, and Italy playing Belgium the other day. Didn't look too hot. And today, beating Turkey in Turkey four to one. But I want to start off here with USA versus Peru. Marco, there were 11 debuts in this game. All of them, a majority of them, I believe eight of them were teenagers, all right, under the age of 20. It's it's I wanna say one of the first times in history for US men's national team that we've seen something like that. It seems like Pochentino is really leaning into the youth, rebuilding. He's obviously here for the next four years, for the next the next cycle. what did you take away from this game? Who stood out the most? Obviously, Kevin Sullivan's only sixteen years old, second youngest player ever to play for the United States. But really what really stood out to you this game for the United States?

Marco: Good game. definitely a good opponent to play with against, being that there was gonna be so many young athletes out there on the pitch. But just like I'm gonna say here soon with Italy, man, let the young kids play. the

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: talent the talent is there. Now they just need to get the experience. they had some vets that Adams at Burr Halt, you can Burholter a vet. But

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: overall, I mean I I liked what I was seeing. Right. Kev, I know I was talking to you about this, but Kevin Sell Levin Man, he he plays like he has a chip on his shoulder. This guy is a hundred percent all in on every attack, every pass. And at times it felt like the ball was going through him every single play. So

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: the the crowd was behind him, a lot of Peruvian fans out there, so shout out to them as well. the whole stadium was white and red, but who stood out to me? Burr halter man, Burr Halter is gonna be a very, very important piece going into twenty thirty.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah, I completely agree with everything you just said. Obviously, saw a lot of the youth players, Justin Ellis, give him a shout out. First goal for the US, first appearance for the US. Another one of those teenagers getting on the scoreboard. So it's good debut for him. Malik Tillman had a good game. I didn't think he he performed super outstanding, you can say, but I agree with Burrhalter. And I think going forward, Burr Halter is gonna earn a starting position. I know it's hard to do when you have McKenny and you have Adams in there. But regardless of playing in the championship, I think Burr Halter continuously shows and consistently shows that he's he plays for the United States, man. That guy gives everything. You can count on him. He's good on set pieces. He's one of the few players these days, it seems like, that really just like lets it rip from anywhere on the field. And he's got a hell of a shot on him. So shout out to him. He obviously got a goal as well. But like you were saying about yeah, go ahead.

Marco: And and real quick, just to quickly touch on that, and Pochettino has proven with with Matt Freeze, like he'll put a domestic guy in the starting lineup. Turner

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: being overseas, then coming back domestically. that that didn't matter to him, right? So who's to say that he won't play this guy over over McKinney, which is gonna be very hard, right? I gotta see it. I gotta I

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: really gotta see these outstanding games. But even if he doesn't, he'll be for sure that second guy in the totem point.

Project 90 Soccer: I agree. I agree. I think Pochentino's really just goes with who he can count on at the moment, who's just performing better. I don't think he looks at club or where they play necessarily as the deciding factor for his starting lineups, which is good for some of these players because some of them really deserve to be, you know, in the team and in the starting lineup. Kevin Sullivan, though, as you were saying, he plays with some fire, right? That kid's got he's got an attitude to him. He really is competitive. And you can see it in his eyes, like he really wants to get involved. He wants to be on the ball. He wants to make things happen. And one thing that I noticed with Sullivan though is that yeah, he he's doing well on MLS. This is maybe his first full season where he's really getting a lot of time. you can kind of get the feel that he's a little still still needs more time to develop, right? He's not ready to just play 90 minutes, he's not ready to start the biggest games that the United States is gonna play for. But again, granted, he's only 16 years old. But another player that I really see for the United States being a superstar, not just not just a good player for the US and the MLS, is Julian Hall, right? Plays for the for the Red Bulls. He's a striker. And when I see him play in the MLS this season, he's really just taking off this year. He's really just getting it done. He's putting the ball back in the back of the net. And when I when I think of Julian Hall, though, I think of an all and out, just all around striker. This guy's a finisher, bro. The ball that got into the into the box that he scored off of was purely a striker's finish, what he did there. And I think that's something the United States has been lacking. Obviously they have Balogun up there, but they're completely different players, in my opinion. When I see Julian Hall, I just think of a guy that you get the ball into the box in and around the goal area and he's going to be there to create chances or to finish and score goals. So I think the United States has a lot of young talent and this next four years building into the World Cup is going to be it's going to be really exciting to watch because it's a good mix of veteran even though they're still young for the most part. But veterans to like truly teenagers, young players. So I'm excited to see where things go with the United States. But good game overall, I thought.

Marco: Did you did you read into or did you notice that he was using I think his mother's maiden name?

Project 90 Soccer: Yes, I did see that. He's Polish. So he he

Marco: Yeah, so

Project 90 Soccer: he he stru he not to interrupt real quick, but he he said that he really looks up to Lewandowski and tries to model his game after him. Yeah.

Marco: And here's one thing I'll add, and Landon Donovan says a lot of outlandish things sometimes, right? But it comes from a good place, just like it comes from a good place with me. But I agree with him, man. He the US national team, that's

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: his national team. He should just play for his national team. Because

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: in previous conversations leading up to these matches, he has left the door open in case he decides to go play with Poland. So

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Marco: That's something that the US is gonna have to I'm not gonna say tread lightly, but like really have these conversations with them and and and continue calling him up, continue giving him playing time. I mean he's he scored on his debut game, right? So just continue that interest that hey you have a a a spot with us leading into twenty thirty as long as you stay consistent on on your end, because Poland, man.

Project 90 Soccer: They'll take him.

Marco: They'll take

Project 90 Soccer: They'll take him. If he keeps up what he's doing in MLS, considering he's as young as he is still as well. I mean, the kid he has the potential to be one of one of the one of the great strikers, I think, around the world, to be honest, in his career. I don't know how what heights he'll reach, but so far since he's broke out onto the scene, the kid is nothing but but a goal scoring machine. So

Marco: And and this is not the Georgia and Clinsman class to where they're born overseas and then bring them bring him to the yet. These guys are being born here.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: Right. So that's that's very important. But I just wanted to touch quickly on on Sullivan. One hundred percent agree on what you were saying, that he's not he's still a little green, he's not ready for ninety minutes. He lost quite a bit of balls. as as many of balls he was playing into as guys, he did lose by doing a little bit extra, a little that one extra touch. that that you just can't be doing, especially when you go up in in competition. When they play Colombia, for example, you can't do those things. You can't

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: you can't lose that ball so easy easily because they have guys, they have some dogs on that team.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: and and vice versa with with with other countries. So but yeah man, overall good showing for them and exciting to see what happens this week.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah, last comment for the US that I have is Pochentino. I heard him on I believe it's the late run, right? With Ocho Cinco. And he was saying how, you know, all these players, for them to be this young and performing and playing at the highest level requires like an elite level of just confidence in themselves. And I think I think he does see what we're what what we're saying here about Kevin Sullivan, but I think I think he's sort of changed the mentality here in the States of you know what, man, they're professional. They have the mentality, they're hungry. Give them the opportunities, let them get the experience now because it's only going to benefit the national team and the long-term project of the national team going forward. So yeah, I'm excited to see how all these players develop. But moving on here, Marco, your team, Mexico versus Colombia, one to one. Obviously, Colombia went up early, right? They went up early in this game. But then the the wonder kid

Marco: Channel.

Project 90 Soccer: of Mexico, the number 10, Gilberto Mora, getting the equalizer. Beautiful goal. 17

Marco: European.

Project 90 Soccer: years old, youngest player to ever score. for Mexico for the national team. what do you think about this performance for Mexico overall? What do you think of Hilmora? what do you think of just the team building into this this next World Cup cycle under Rafa Marquez?

Marco: youngest ever Don the number 10 at a senior level so shout out to him such a special player but

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: hey man there's just like the US right a lot of different collops coming into the the this team a lot of domestic guys came on board and some older guys right like a yardo on the left on the left hand side and eric lida with cruz azul so some some some of the guys fresh off the world cup as well but unfortunately the the the media mexico man They they were more focused on hey Rafael Marquez. What were those conversations with Javier Aguirre, when you guys were eliminated, like still focusing on on the World Cup and not moving forward, right? So shout

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: out to Rafael Marquez. He was like, Hey man, I let's I'm moving forward. I'm talking about if you have any questions about what's going on in this game, let's talk about that. I don't want

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: to focus on what happened before, but I thought I went into this game like thinking that hey Mexico's probably gonna lose.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: But in my opinion, I was okay with that because of the amount of new faces we were gonna see on the squad. Now

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: Rafa Marquez went with some usual guys. Like I mentioned, Gallardo on the left side, Jorge Sanchez on the right side. And in my opinion, stop calling up Jorge Sanchez. He plays

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: hard, right? But you got Mateo Chavez, right? The

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: guy's playing overseas in the Dutch league. The guy scored in the World Cup. He's young. Start him. He's our starting right back. I don't I don't know w what's the debate there. I don't know what Rafa Marquez needed to see. I'm not sure. Right, but they played against a very good Colombia team, and when they went up right away, I was like, All right, it's gonna be one of those games where they may score two or three goals, but Mexico is able to adjust. the young guys were were were able to to to hold it down and ultimately if it weren't for that special player on the squad, right, Gilmora, who knows the game would have been potentially one one zero. So competitive match and I I'd like to see the new squad that he's going put out tomorrow against Peru, because I anticipate a lot of changes going into the next starting lineup.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah, I agree. I think I think Hill Mora, man, I think he's the real deal. I think it's safe to say that the kid really is the real deal. It's just a matter of his his personal development at this point and the coaches and and the teams that he's with, if they really take their time and let him express himself and grow into his role as a true number ten because he's still so young. but but looking looking at what we see from him now wearing the number ten shirt, it looks like Marquez is putting a lot of confidence in him. Which I think is good for him as a player. I'm I'm assuming the kind of coach that I think Marquez is, is he's giving more a lot of freedom to express himself on the field and ultimately make mistakes. If he makes mistakes, you're not you're not I'm not gonna bench you. I'm not gonna do you what I mean? You you're so young, you're just gaining experience. And the fact that he really doesn't make that many mistakes, to be fair, right? He's really earned his spa. And I think he's really earning that number ten shirt. So I think for for Mexico, I think Hilmore is gonna be around in the picture for a long time. But I wanted to ask you as well. I saw Chuck Chucky Lozano back in the team, Herving Lozano, right? What did you think about him getting called back into the team? Obviously after, you know, not being on the team for the World Cup, and sort of that that sort of lull and he he had in his career when he was with San Diego and now LA Galaxy.

Marco: J just just to close it, I just wanna comment on on Gilmora. It's probably fake news. Like Trump says, fake news. Fake news. But

Project 90 Soccer: Fake news. Fake news.

Marco: word around the street, and I've read on a couple of different outlets that there is ongoing negotiations with Real Madrid and Gilmora. So I know Gilmora has a very good agent. she's an agent for quite quite a few players, not only domestically but but overseas. So If if that's true, and supposedly when he turns 18, that's gonna go into play. He's gonna be making that move. I really hope that's the case. because that's such a big club. And although I know he probably is not gonna get the playing time, let's look at the development that Arda Gulet has has had

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: with with with Real Madrid. It's one of those things where either you make it or you don't. And if you make it, they'll they'll they'll they'll keep you around.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: so just wanted to mention that. But as far as Chucky. Refreshing to see him back. I don't see him as an a a very important figure going into twenty thirty. I think he's in a good moment right now. I think he's he he is playing with a chip on the shoulder based on what happened with San Diego, FC and the the the type of caliber of of play that he's been demonstrating with LA Galaxy. So I think he's he got called up for the moment that he's having right now, but I honestly don't see him in the long term, and not even let's say even next year, things can change.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: Right. but the fans really enjoyed it. They were they were ch shouting this name. typical chooky play, right? He he tries to just make things happen. He even though he sees a guy on the right side, he's gonna throw try to shoot. And even when the guy's not a bell on the right side, he's gonna give you a pass, right? So he plays with aggression, he's fast, and it was it was it was nice to see him out there.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah, I agree. I think it was, I think it's more of an in the moment thing. He's performing well. Marquez is going to give him that opportunity and see what he can do with it. Cause ultimately he is a good player. Maybe he has he still has a lot more to offer for for Mexico. but yeah, looking forward to how things move forward with them. Now we have Italy. Okay. Obviously, the whole debacle, the director and the coach and all these things, they've settled on Mancini. Now, first game back here. Italy played Belgium and Jesus Christ was it just a terrible game, man? And it was in Rome. Okay, so everyone's excited, of course, as Italian fans. We've fucking we've had we've had a terrible call it 16 years since we've won the World Cup, essentially, even though we won the Euros. And I see this game, man, and man, am I disappointed? Right? Tragic, terrible performance. We had just no energy. It felt like no urgency. You guys saw a lot of new faces on the team, a lot of new faces on the field that just did not live up to the to the standard needed to compete, especially against a team like Belgium, man. It was under a new coach as well. I thought Belgium had a great game, but Italy was just subpar, man. We had zero identity. The the only identity that Italy really has these days is just not qualifying for the World Cup. That's Italy's identity at this point. So you see Belgium coming to Rome, absolutely destroy and rip apart Italy. Now, after this game, everyone's, you know, obviously, obviously already questioning Mancini. What are we doing? It it was almost worse than what we had previously seen with Gatuzo. And it's just kind of like felt like we were going downhill, so more, more than we already, you know, have been. And then today, bro, Turkey. Four to one in Turkey. And man, they opened the game up hot, dude. Bastoni back on the field. Fratesi scored a goal. Coyote, the right back, right? Got his debut goal today, made his debut, got a goal. And then Pio Esposito, who his younger brother, Sebastiano Esposito, also started this game. And the two brothers were playing. So much better game. But seeing the highlights of this game, you saw that Turkey made a lot of mistakes, bro. A lot of mistakes that really helped out Italy. So it's obviously

Marco: Is that

Project 90 Soccer: a better result, better performance. But Turkey's, you know, kind of shot themselves in the foot. But now for Italy moving forward, they got France up next. That's gonna be the ultimate test, right? for for Italy at least in this initial set of games, match day one, two, three of the nations league. But what do you think about Italy with these with these first two games under Mancini?

Marco: Not to take anything away from Italy, but I I'm seeing this Turkey A as they just gonna continue rolling downhill and that they're gonna be one of those unfortunately average nations moving forward. I just don't see that that that they have the the quality in in the play or I don't know what's going on, right? Because they have the players.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: so I'm not entirely sure what's going on with them, what happened at the World Cup. That was a huge, huge flop. Nobody w saw that one coming. But yeah, man, to to echo what you're alluding to the first game, Italy versus Belgium, they were flats. Donoruma was the MVP, right? If it weren't for him, it would have been four or five goals, right?

Project 90 Soccer: yeah.

Marco: scored on. De Bruyne, man, they convinced him to come back and he had such a good game with Belgium.

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm.

Marco: able to make things happen. And obviously he's playing in Italy now, so he understands the atmosphere. He understands what it takes to play. in Rome and with with with the fans there but tossing that game away the game that they had today against Suriki A. I Coyote man you just gotta keep him as a as your starting right back. But

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: I think you just need he just needs to stay there. He's your guy. I know it's one game but he's your guy. Bastoni, another guy. Don't move him. Leave him out there.

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm. Solid.

Marco: and the the guys were just able to make it happen. When's the last time there were three goals scored in the first half

Project 90 Soccer: I can't even I can't even tell you, man. I really can't even tell you. The amount of opp

Marco: Last time

Project 90 Soccer: the amount of opportunities they had too and just oper the possession and just they were creating chances is what felt different today for Italy. Yeah.

Marco: Last time I saw them score three goals was when I was playing them on FC twenty-six. Right. They we

Project 90 Soccer: Damn. All right.

Marco: I I scored three goals on on on Argentina. So

Project 90 Soccer: man.

Marco: but nah man, it was solid performance. The kids were able to get it done. hopefully the the adjustments were made, Mancini saw where were they flat, what needed improvements for the first game, and hopefully they can continue moving forward and advance in the nations league. We want

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: to see these guys get back into those winning ways. Because honestly, Antho, we miss Italy in the World Cup. We miss Italy on the world stage. They have a tremendous league. They have players. The young guys are sh are demonstrating it. The young guys are demonstrating the US. The young guys, let's just let the young guys play. Right?

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: Let's away with the old regimes. Away with the old guys. Let's let these guys develop. Get that experience. Get the chemistry. Cause man, the way they play today is like they've been playing together for a while, for a long time.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah, it's like a night night and day almost from from Belgium, the Belgium game to the Turkey game. again, just what I saw from from Italy is just a lot of creative, a lot of chances created, right? A lot of good link up play between Pio Esposito, his brother Sebastiano on the wing, Tonali, the center defenders getting in there, Ruggetti and Bastoni. And again, there were mistakes from Turkey that helped lead to these goals. But you know, you see Raspadori who needs to be playing, I think. He he's a firecracker out there. Reminds me of like of of a Lorenzo Insignia almost, you know. And

Marco: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Project 90 Soccer: it's very fast, very quick, good link up play. So for Italy, man, I think they need to sort of start to dial in on these players, right? Create this sort of, you know, starting 11, but also 14, 15 players that you're gonna rely on the most. And from this point on, moving forward into the Euros and qualifying and the rest of the nations, like you got to keep using these guys. You got to let them get experience together. I know we were in a phase of testing out players and bringing in new players and constantly doing that. but I think Italy needs to really decide, focus in on these guys, and start rotating maybe two or three players as opposed to pretty much the entire squad, right? Is what's been happening. But it's understandable for Mancini, right? There's a lot of players, a lot of criticism in Italy. And like you said, man, everyone misses seeing them in the World Cup. And it's about time that they get their shit together and just get it done, man. So looking forward there. They got France coming up next, which you know, good luck there. It's

Marco: It's gonna be tough.

Project 90 Soccer: gonna be tough, but we'll see what happens there. Last game we want to go over, Marcos, San Jose Earthquakes again, the three one win versus Portland. And it's like the earthquakes are back, dude. We stopped going, we just left them alone. Earthquakes are back, getting shit done. Preston Judd looks dangerous, bro.

Marco: Yep.

Project 90 Soccer: Two goals again. Early on in the game gets one, gets a second goal. And then the new signing, Edward Leuven, bro, coming from St. Louis. One

Marco: Baldwin's

Project 90 Soccer: goal, two assists. Timo Werner coming back in. Boluru having a good game. The def defenders having a good game. and we saw the goalie, man. He sat gun,

Marco: Lakes.

Project 90 Soccer: he saw he sat gun down, man. And overall

Marco: think gun was in the I don't think Gunn was a sub. No, no.

Project 90 Soccer: He wasn't even on the squad, was he? Maybe he's hurt. Is he hurt?

Marco: I thought he was just playing the got called up for the international week.

Project 90 Soccer: dude, I'd even that didn't even cross my mind, bro. That even cross that's too bad because I tell you what, dude, it almost looked better that he wasn't playing. But I'm just being a hater at this point. But I mean over

Marco: Yeah, you ju you just don't like gunmen.

Project 90 Soccer: I just I don't, man. I'll be completely honest about it. Gun, look, I like you, man. Angus Gunn, you got a sick name. You're Scottish International from the World Cup, but I don't know, man. I just don't know about you yet. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. But Preston Judd, bro, I love seeing this guy. This guy's like a bash brother, bro. He's out there just banging in goals, creating opportunities. He's very rugged, very rough, very aggressive. It's the kind of guy that just I to me just really does well in a league like the MLS. Edward Leuven, I mean, it's really turning into a real deal playmaker for the San Jose Earthquakes. They Shakiris as well. I think Shakiris, Leuven, and LaRue should be their starting center midfielders, right? I think all three of them together. You have good holding midfield presence with Bolaru, and then you have good attacking options between Shakiris and Luvin. And seeing Timo Werner out on the wing, and then you got Benji Kikikonovich on one side coming up from the right flank on the back. I think their attack is it's great, right? They just need to create the chances and finish them like they've been doing and hold these games, you know, not concede goals, which is what we're seeing now. So they move up after this win to third place now in the Western Conference. It looks like they're walking their way into the playoffs. We're gonna have to see what happens. But I mean, I don't I'm gonna ask you, like I mean, I see a complete turnaround here in the earthquake season post-World Cup.

Marco: Well, when I saw the lineup, I was like, all right, some guys got called up to to their national squats because a lot of guys were missing. Right.

Project 90 Soccer: Yep. Yeah.

Marco: And something that I also noticed is something that you and I have talked about that I had brought up. I get I think when we're we went to the game against Orlando, see them like they just need to stop playing every single bot to Timo Werner. Right.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: They need to create chances from other areas. And that's what they were doing. And who's the guy that was doing it? Louven. Such

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: a such a good signing from St. Louis. This guy, man, he he knows where to put the ball and he obviously knows how to score. such a good game. I mean, I also Portland, right? Not crazy, crazy top team right now.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: they came to they came to get smacked. But I'm glad to see that that Judd is over his dry spell that he had for let I would say like a month or so of not being able to score. He was able to get a brace at home in in in front of the people. So What a perfect time to get the ball rolling again.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: because we're getting deep into Anton, you like you said, they're in third place. And I think that this is the start of a streak. What do you think?

Project 90 Soccer: I think so, man. I ex fully expect them to continue this streak and make it into the playoffs. And I actually see them having a little bit of a deep run. If they can just keep their form, if their players can stay in form, if their players can stay healthy, that's another big thing with the earthquakes. A lot of their players have been getting injured this season. So as long as all that stays together, I think they don't win the Western Conference, but I do think they make the playoffs. And who knows, man? We might be shocked. They might make a deep run into the playoffs and This might be the year, man. Maybe we see them lift an MLS cup. Might be dreaming when I say that, but but we'll right. red. Okay. Fair.

Marco: you're you're probably dreaming, like I said, if you wanna if you if you wanna lift it, we can play FC twenty six next time you come over and then we'll we'll get something going and they they they can win the chip. I'm telling you, 'cause already did it, 'cause I wanted to see I wanted to see how it looked

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah. Hmm.

Marco: with with them winning it. But I wanna throw some auto revenge. I know they weren't on the schedule today, but

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah, go ahead.

Marco: Germany off to to a sketchy rocky start and

Project 90 Soccer: Yes.

Marco: And to what I said, Anto, don't call CR7 back. That we don't care. He cares a lot

Project 90 Soccer: I didn't.

Marco: about the record, but it's just gonna be a bad luck when he's just sitting on the bench. And Gonzalo Ramos

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: is chipping goals over. And it just looks like a totally different team out on the pitch. And I just don't think that squad right now is is gonna benefit Ronaldo and his play.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: yes, he's slower. Yes, he's not that guy from Real Madrid, Manchester United. But just wanted to mention this is starting to look bad. It's just been one game, but it's starting to look bad.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: I don't want to see him go out that way. I get it, CR7. You're my idol. Thousand

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: goals is thousand goals, but no one's ever gonna forget who you were, what you did, and your name is in the history books forever. A thousand

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm.

Marco: goals or not. So Portugal, they look good. And I just don't see Ronaldo getting in there a lot. And to go back to Germany, maybe this is a transition phase, right?

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: But what it's showing me is if Klopp is having these issues and the previous coach has had these issues, is it a coach issue or is it quality in the players issue? Are they not up par are they not that elite German squad that that we can s always say, hey, these guys are contention any tournament?

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah. Yeah, I'd say it's probably for Germany. I don't think this is one of the strongest Germany squads we've ever seen. I think that's really the main issue. They have good players, obviously, but this is not the strongest Germany if you look back at the 2006s and tens and the the late 90s. And you know, the players that they had were elite, like they were high top caliber players. And nowadays they're good, they're good players. But again, Germany's the kind of team now where before If they had to sit someone out, the person they're bringing in is just as good and elite in their own way. Nowadays, though, you see Jamal Musiala sits out and it's like you got a hole in your team now because he's such a world-class player. And I think they're starting to to sort of lose the depth that they once had. That was what Germany, I always saw Germany as the team that had just had was just stacked, similar to like a France, right? Where they're just stacked all the way through the bench. So yeah, I think Jurgen Klopto is gonna find I think he's really good at finding the strengths of the team with the players he has. We saw it at Liverpool. And I think he's going to pull something out special with this German team. I don't know if they're going to win any titles, but obviously losing to Greece the way they did, it's not a good start. It's not a good start for Germany. So yeah, man, I just want to see them sort of get it back together. Kimmick's getting old. Some of these players are gonna get rotated out and obviously building into the next Euros. I think we're gonna see the last tournament for some of these players probably. So That's what I think for them. But in terms of Portugal, as you mentioned with Ronaldo coming back, I was shocked to have seen that. Honestly, I was not expecting him to be on the squad. And to me, the problem with that is, you know, it gets to a point, man, where it's Ronaldo, like you said, no one's gonna forget the legacy what he's done. I mean, the guy's one of the goats. He's literally Ronaldo, it's Christian Ronaldo. But now everything is focused on Ronaldo. All the attentions on Ronaldo, Ronaldo, Ronaldo. It's like this it's drama for the team. It's just Ronaldo, Ronaldo, Ronaldo. If you're building for the future of the Portuguese national team, I can't even believe that I'm hearing right now that Ronaldo's speaking of potentially going to the next Euros. And it's like, come on, man. Like, you know what I mean? Like, give Ramos the opportunity. Like, put these new players out there that are going to be there way beyond the Euros, man. for Ronaldo, it's almost like you know, he still expects to start, he still expects to be that guy, like to be out, but it's like, You're just not you're not doing it anymore, dude. It's not working. The type of play, the speed of play, whatever it is, man, it's not Ronaldo. It's just all of it as a whole. It's not the same. He's young or he's not young anymore. He's older. Maybe he's slowed down. Maybe the style of play, maybe whatever it is. But dude, you gotta hang the boots up for Portugal, man. And if you really love Portugal, I'd imagine that's what he would do. Similar to what Messi's doing. He's just he's calling it. And he could he keep playing for Argentina? Would they let him keep playing? Probably. Of course they would. It's lean all fucking messy, right? They're gonna say, You wanna play for us? Of course you could be on the team. But he's hanging it up because I think he knows it's time for the next generation to come through, gain the experience, and go on to win new titles without

Marco: And

Project 90 Soccer: them.

Marco: I thought and also I'm gonna say it's a little easier for him, right? He won the World Cup. A lot easier.

Project 90 Soccer: That's true. No, yeah, you're right. You're totally valid. Totally valid.

Marco: and an analogy for Ronaldo, it's a boxer. When they I watch a lot of boxing.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: when they're when they're done, they're they're done with their prime, they retire, they always all a lot of these guys come back for another fight. And

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: It could be for the money. They they they say because I just don't have anything else to do. Boxing was my whole life. It consumed me. Right. I mean, you got many Pacquiao, who's like fifty-one. Right.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah, he's still trying to get after it.

Marco: And there's talks of him fighting Shakur Stevenson, which is gonna be a massacre on on his end, right? So all these greats, man, they just they they think they still got it. And

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: I read something a couple days ago, I was gonna send it to you, how at fifty-two years old. Como was calling Toti, and Toti started training like a pro again, and he thought about coming back. I I

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: don't know if you have read read into that, but ultimately he decided not to betray his love for for Roma, which is

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: ultimately the deciding factor for him, according to the article that I read, right? But just one of those things where the greats think they they just they got it, right? That the touch never

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: leaves them, but the game moves on. The the game, The evolution of the game happens every year, right? It's young right now, it's a young man's game. And

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: the younger and younger kids are on the pitch.

Project 90 Soccer: I agree, man. The game's evolving. And some of these older players, I think they still feel like, I still got it. I still got it, until they sort of get humbled. There's many times where people have been like, Yeah, I still thought I still had it. And then I played against Messi in his prime and he just zoomed right past me. I knew right then it was like it's time to hang up the boots. So what's going through Ronaldo's head right now, to be honest, I couldn't tell you, man. But we're gonna see what happens with Portugal and Ronaldo. Wish them the best, obviously. It's time to see them maybe win and really kind of compete and try to win a World Cup. I think it's time for Portugal to really challenge for that. But before we close this out, Marco, I just want to go over USA's next matchups. USA versus Chile, September the 29th, then versus Mexico, October 3rd, and Canada, October the 6th. Mexico plays Peru next on the 29th, then obviously versus the United States. Then they play Chile on October the 6th. Italy, France October 2nd, and then they play Turkey again on October 1st. and then last but not least, Colorado Rapids versus San Jose Earthquakes. Next game, October the eleventh. A lot of good games, a lot of big games to look forward to here. Marco, before we end this episode, do you have any last words?

Marco: Tune in next episode because we're going to go over all these results and touch on some other miscellaneous things. But Anto, I think that does it for me today.

Project 90 Soccer: That does it, man. if you enjoyed this episode, like and subscribe to the channel. We really appreciate all the support. Forty-one subscribers now. We're having a lot of fun doing this. Head over to Project90Soccer.com to find us on all of our so our platforms, YouTube, Spotify, Apple. Like it, leave a rating, leave some comments. until next time, though, this has been another episode of Project 90. Peace.

Marco: Keep killing me in the TikTok comments. I love it.

Project 90 Soccer: Do it, do it all day. Peace.