USMNT beats Canada 1-0! Four Wins, New Stars, And Why This Camp Was So Successful For U.S. Soccer!

Marco: huge win for USA, out of all the teams that perform from the CONCACAF I think they are the most solid

Project 90 Soccer: They're truly like making an impact. They're getting goals.

Marco: let's give Gio Reyna some credit. Ricardo Pepi didn't really get called up a lot. He got snubbed quite a bit,

Project 90 Soccer: who does USA have right now? They have Freeman, they have Trusty, they have Albert, Serginio Dest

Marco: Downs didn't get the opportunity, but who's to say that he doesn't go on a run?

Project 90 Soccer: That name right there, Diego Luna. I did didn't even cross my mind, bro. the next generation is going to be full of talent, Welcome to the Project 90 Soccer Podcast. My name is Antonio, and I'm here, as always, with the one and the only Marco Antonio Munoz. Marco, how you doing today, brother?

Marco: Let's cra what's cracking, Project Ninety Fam. I'm doing good, man. Just finished the USA game and I'm ready to dive in.

Project 90 Soccer: Ready to dive in, you know. We're just gonna get straight into it. Today we saw the United States defeat Canada one to zero. saw a lot of new faces out there today. And I have to say, Canada put up a tough, tough game, right? They were very physical. Came out, and I have to say that Canada probably played better the first fifteen to twenty minutes, or at least made it difficult for the United States to get involved in the game. But some notable mentions, some new players we saw today. We saw Reigns start in the midfield. we saw Campbell start in the in defense today, which was a new face we hadn't seen. We saw Albert start out on the wing, which I was excited to see him play. And then we saw Justin Ellis up top, who unfortunately took a knock, but was able to bounce back, get a goal, come off at half. I'm not sure why he ended up staying on as long as he did, but

Marco: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Project 90 Soccer: I'm gonna send it your way and see what did you think of this game in this first half in particular?

Marco: Speaking of new faces, I mean, let's give the the goalie some credit. His first official start

Project 90 Soccer: Yes.

Marco: in a second cap. So he I think he did a solid

Project 90 Soccer: Schwaki.

Marco: yeah, Schwaki. I think he did a solid job, especially those first 15 minutes you were talking about where Canada and the guy with the mullet, I forgot his name.

Project 90 Soccer: Shuffleberg.

Marco: yeah, Schrofferberg. They were just getting at it and going after it.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: And the first half, man, just showed that Canada has some like annoying players. The guy from Toronto, Larray, Larie, whoever you say his name, he's pretty annoyed.

Project 90 Soccer: Laraya, yeah.

Marco: Yeah, he's always on your ass. He's always like sticking his nose where he doesn't need to. But that's the type of player that you want. he's

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: in his 30s, but that's the type of player that you want. That's just like just annoying. He's always on you. So but that only lasted for so long, Anton, before USA started make its mark on on the game and commandeer it. but speaking of other faces, if it weren't for the results. Or the type of game it turned out to be. I would have liked to see the guy from St. Louis, Downs, get some playing time. I feel like

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: it's warming up the entire game, and man, poor guy just didn't go in and Pochettino. He ended up going with his usual guys or the usual guys for this camp, going into the last minutes of the last game of this stretch. But yeah, man, a lot of the a lot of the new faces they performed. And I'm really happy, and it's a really good, really good camp for USA. when all three youngsters, all three young bloods end again ending up finding the back of the net Ellis,

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: Alberts, and the All-Star right now, Julian Hall and Kevin Sullivan. So really huge, huge win for USA, huge win for whatever takeaways they have from this four-game stretch. And out of all the teams that perform from the CONCACAF I think they are the most solid And that looks strong going into these next couple games and qualifiers.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah, you know, and a shout out to Cole Campbell, I believe his name is. He came in number twenty-three, made his debut today for the United States as well. would have been nice to see downs, like you said, but you know, he can only make so many subs. And I'm sure he'll be back in the camp for the next one. They do have Nations League games coming up in November, which I fully expect to see Pulisic back, McKenney back, some of those names. but yeah, Julian Hall, Kevin Sullivan, Albert, Memedi. seeing Justin Ellis get in there and get a goal. It's it's very promising for the United States because, you know, they have they have a lot of depth, like I've been saying. And you can see it now with all these youngsters. They're coming in the game. They're not just getting minutes. They're truly like making an impact. They're getting goals. They're making a difference, which is a good problem to have now for Pochettino because he has so many options. We saw Musa get back in the starting lineup, which he's another person right in the midfield that can

Marco: And he was a he was a little he was a little he was trying to have a hard time find his place in the first half.

Project 90 Soccer: He was, man. And and Malik Tillman was the past two games, three games, man. These other teams are really getting on him. They're not giving him a lot of time on the ball, a lot of space. But he still can

Marco: Rightfully so. Yes.

Project 90 Soccer: continues to link up. He continues to link up. Alex Freeman made a good run down the wing. Who MVP shout out to Freeman, man? The guy's really cemented his spot. I think he has like

Marco: We move a solid. Mm-hmm.

Project 90 Soccer: 25 consecutive starts for the United States now, which is massive for the guy. but that one two with Malik Tillman linking up, getting the cross in, Justin Ellis doing what any forward needs to do, just being in the right spot at the right time. I think Freeman, quite honestly, was going for the shot. He was going to shoot it. Yeah.

Marco: I gonna say, keep a shooting. Mm-hmm.

Project 90 Soccer: He was definitely shooting for that. And he kind of whiffed it a little bit. And there was Justin Ellis to clean it up, barely on side, but it was good to see him get on the score sheet and and pretty much limp for the rest of the half. But overall, this what's up? No,

Marco: It's go ahead. Go ahead.

Project 90 Soccer: no, go for it.

Marco: It's always crazy. Like this guy was limp limping before he scored, but they always find that extra gear when it's time to put yourself a position to score.

Project 90 Soccer: yeah, that adrenaline kicks in and probably didn't feel nothing for those five seconds. He saw the ball coming and that hunger just turned on for him. So it's good to see, man.

Marco: Yeah.

Project 90 Soccer: And there was also Pierre came in, the center back. he believe he's 18 years old, Philadelphia Union. He looked a little shaky, a little nervous. I want to say it was his debut. I'm not a hundred percent sure on that, but seeing him in there, tall guy, big frame on him, next to Chris Richards, but I'd I'd like to believe that Chris Richards is not going anywhere, obviously. Austin Trusty, solid performance. The guy's a solid player. He kind of got ran over there at the end. I think it looked like he might have got a little bit of a concussion of some sort. I don't want to say anything like that, but he looked a little out of it after, and they were checking him on the bench afterwards. So hopefully everything's good for him. But to get a one-zero result after, you know, three very good games, I'd say previous games. And and the end it four games and four wins, I think is just it's amazing for the United States. This camp was a lot more than just four wins and four games. For them, it was all about getting new faces out there, seeing them make an impact. And I think it's it's a very hopeful camp. Now everyone looks forward to these these nation league nations league games coming up. And I fully expect the United States to come back and quite honestly, really just shake things up, man. Julian Hall. Kevin Sullivan's gonna grow into his role. Seeing Pulisic come back, I think that's the next thing to really look forward to is how does Pulisic and McKenny sort of mesh in with these new players. What do you think about that and how that's gonna go?

Marco: Let's not forget, let's let's give Gio Reyna some credit. Gio Arena started.

Project 90 Soccer: Him as well, yeah.

Marco: Started all four matches and Antho that change of teams really, really did did something good for him because a guy who was fighting for his life getting minutes two World Cups ago, but still makes six squad. There's controversy while he's at the World Cup, and then that noise reduced significantly going into this last World Cup. And now that he made the ch the change of scenery and he's getting playing time, you could tell the talent that this guy has and the the ki the the capabilities he can he he has and and what he can create on the pitch. I mean you saw him today. He was kind of playing a little bit, he was dropping back a little bit and playing with the defenders or bringing the ball up in the first half. So he was trying to be involved.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: So excited for him as well. looking forward for him to can get to continue getting that consistently playing time overseas so he can come in for him to each camp. And to your second question, yeah man, Pochetino's gonna have a task on his hands trying to figure out who he places up top. If Who plays with Police, who doesn't play with Police, and what games, what players get called into. Because I know we always say it when there's different tournaments going on, when the Olympics are happening, hey, this is Mexico and USA's B squad, this is Mexico and A's and and USA's A squad. If anybody that plays USA's B squad, if we want to call it that, but just think, just imagine you're playing their A squad because the talent that they have right now, the The depth to what you're alluding to, what they have in in the cap right now is dangerous, Antho. I see this team, man. they're gonna be a tall task for everybody. For anybody

Project 90 Soccer: Have a lot lot going for them. Yeah.

Marco: that gets in front of It's gonna be a tall, tall task, just like the defenders.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah, man, they have he's got Pochettino's got a good problem on his hands right now. It's to the point where there were names that were tossed around pre-World Cup that you're not even hearing anymore in the conversation, like Ricardo Pepi, Brendan Aronson, names that were, you know, thrown around as as people wanted to see them on the team and on the field playing. And many others, to be honest, other names that are just no longer really in the conversation, especially after seeing these young players come in and make an impact the way they have. So I'm really excited to see now again when Pulisic kind of makes his way back because I know he, you know, he's coming back from his injuries, coming back from not the best World Cup, but it's undeniable the guy's going to be in in the United States national team. He he's he's a generational talent. Go ahead.

Marco: And and for those that are gonna say, well, Ricardo Pepi didn't really get called up a lot. He got snubbed quite a bit, cause he did get snubbed even when he was in form, when he was playing well with PSV. But Anton, whenever he got an opportunity to come in, he wasn't creating the impact that these young guys are doing. He wasn't

Project 90 Soccer: Right.

Marco: bagging goals after right. So huge difference in in In how he plays at the club level and at the national stage. Right? It could be a system

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm.

Marco: thing, it could be a chemistry thing. But when you make things happen on the pitch like this camp, they're making it happen. And yes, a lot of the followers, shout out to y'all, appreciate all 68 of y'all. we're gonna say, you guys are getting ahead of it. Yes, we are, but also it's exciting. It's exciting to see what we

Project 90 Soccer: Mm.

Marco: saw these last four matches. And to your point, the Ricardo Peppi's. and all these other guys that didn't get called up, you may not get called up anymore unless there's an injury. I'm I'm putting it straight out like that.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah, well s especially them being so young and scoring goals already, right? there's there's who is there? There's Ricardo Pepi, there's Haji Wright, there's Flo Balogun. Now you have Justin Ellis, you have Xavier Gozo, you Julian Hall. You have more forwards than the USA's ever Josh Sargent never even got a if you want to talk about someone never really getting a chance, excuse me, I

Marco: True.

Project 90 Soccer: would say it was Josh Sargent. I mean, he had a he had a hell of a couple seasons in With Norwich City, right, in the championship. He never, he really never got the opportunity to really come in for the United States and just prove himself.

Marco: Well.

Project 90 Soccer: I think Ricardo Pepi got far, a far greater opportunity than Josh Sargent ever did. But now as I see

Marco: Think job.

Project 90 Soccer: it, neither neither one of them are in the conversation now.

Marco: Nah, and I think the pinnacle for him was Gold Cup.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah. Fair enough. Yeah. Yeah.

Marco: or Nations League for for sergeant. And you know what? He he kinda did to himself coming back domestically. So

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm.

Marco: I mean who like like I said, Downs, right? Downs didn't get the opportunity, but who's not who's to say that he doesn't go on a run? Let's say he's scoring goals after right. And he does he gets in consideration and gets called into camp and maybe doesn't play, but he still gets called up. So that gives him a boost of energy. But the Diego Lunas of the world, anybody at that level? Forget about it. You are not getting called up.

Project 90 Soccer: man. That my God. That name right there, Diego Luna. I did didn't even cross my mind, bro. This entire camp. Diego Luna did not even cross my mind. And

Marco: Clip top.

Project 90 Soccer: honestly, afterthought, I mean, he got snubbed for the World Cup. You can say that I mean the guy was in every single commercial. He was in everything United States men's soccer except for the actual national team, which is you know, it was it's sad to see for him, but At the end of the day, man, USA is moving forward, right? Pochettino's moving forward. He's got no mercy. He's bringing in the players that he thinks are going to make the difference. In 2028, there's the Copa America, right? Which I believe they're playing in. They got Nations League games coming up. And I think he wants to win some trophies. And and as you should, right? He should always be aiming to win some trophies with the ultimate long-term sight and vision on the 2030 World Cup. And I think if these youngsters And the veterans, if you want to call them that, the Burr Halters, Pulisics, McKenney's, these guys stay informed. They stay healthy. You're gonna have a nice combination of youthful talent with experience and veteran talent that that has plenty of experience by that point. So I think 2030

Marco: Anton.

Project 90 Soccer: is gonna be really, really exciting for the United States. What's up?

Marco: Anto based on what we saw in the World Cup,

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: let's say these kids continue to have a run, continue to do what they're doing, they continue to every time they get called up, they continue to perform. What do we think about the guys are overseas? And a name that comes to mind outside of Musa is Tim Weham. He's he's the captain of his team right now, but this last

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm.

Marco: World Cup it showed that hey man, we're not You're not actually one of our go to guys anymore like you were in the previous World Cup because we have Balligan, right? What do you think

Project 90 Soccer: No. Yeah.

Marco: about that kid potentially again the cold shoulder in the next year or two?

Project 90 Soccer: Flo Balligan, I I could see it happening. I think he's one of the players though that

Marco: No, no, no. way.

Project 90 Soccer: Tim Wayat, yeah. Well, you look at the United States, look, they have he's more of a winger, outside back. He moved up to the winger outside forward position, right? He gets used all along there. And who does USA have right now? They have Freeman, they have Trusty, they have Albert, Serginio Dest I mean, they have players that you know, Dest was the starter. At one point. Now he's on the bench. So you have a lot of youngsters now. You have newer faces. You got Freeman, who to me is the starting right back for the United States at this point going forward, the way he's been playing. He's producing, he's getting assists. He's he's really making an impact. He's good at defending. I mean, today against Shaffleberg, he's one of the one of the better wingers out there for Canada and in the MLS, right? And I think he handled him as good as he could have, to be completely honest. You know, Shaffelberg was a big problem for the other teams in Canada's previous games that we just saw. And he shut him down today. So to see Tim Wayao break make his way back into the team, I don't think it's impossible. I don't think it's you know, he's never gonna get looked at again because he might have a hell of a season, right? He might have another good season or even two seasons and

Marco: Okay.

Project 90 Soccer: get that opportunity to come back into the camp and sort of get some minutes and prove himself again. But As of right now, with what we've seen for the United States, I don't think Tim Wea is is really a player that Pochentino is considering calling up, but who knows, right? He might have he might have just left him out just like he left McKenny out, just like he left Pulisic out to give new players an opportunity.

Marco: Intentional, intentional.

Project 90 Soccer: Intentionally, yeah. You can never you can never count out Tim Waya, but you know, it's it's a good problem, like I've said, because now there's a lot of competition. There's a lot of competition in the camp. There's a lot of players fighting for positions, and I think that's only gonna raise the level for the United States, to be honest. What's that?

Marco: And you know what's the best thing? You know what's the best thing? All these guys were born in the US. Ellis,

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: Albert, Hall, Sullivan.

Project 90 Soccer: Zo yeah. Xavier gozo, all of Mm-hmm.

Marco: Anto Des not born in the USA Balogun

Project 90 Soccer: Nope.

Marco: Timwea Tillman

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm.

Marco: should I keep going?

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah, I know, Trisha. I know where you're going. Yeah.

Marco: So shout out to the constant, constant debate, the pay to play. But apparently the their the development is whatever we're doing right now, the the US, and I know I root for Mexico, but I say we because obviously I was in the youth system. You played in the youth system, right? So whatever's going on right now and those programs are are helping push these kids to get to the next stage and man continue doing what you're doing. All the MLX, MLS, MLS next. all

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: those kids are signing USL contracts because more and more kids are playing USL Antho.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah. Yeah.

Marco: at a very young age. playing with LA Galaxy 2. And we have a guy from Stockton that went from LA Galaxy Two. He got purchased by Man City. Ultimately he ended up in

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: Mecc East right now. I think he's 20 years old. But still the the the process and the developments. And the path is there as long as you can help guide these guys in the right direction and give that opportunity versus focusing on that moolah.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah, no, I mean, you're completely right, man. thinking about when we grew up playing, I mean, to now, let's give it 10, 15 years ago, even. I mean, it is a night and day difference with the amount of academies, the MLS next, all these different programs that have sort of come up, and the amount of players, like quality players that are out there now. And it's starting to show now this is maybe the first generation where it's really starting to show that, you know, the Pulisic, McKenney, they kind of went overseas, right? They went to Dortmund, Schalka, they went to Germany. But these players now in the camp are coming straight through a lot of the MLS academies. Of course, Albert's at Dortmund. There's a few players maybe not, but a lot of the top talent is coming through MLS clubs, MLS next, United States youth soccer. So I think that aside from the wins that we just saw, aside from the team

Marco: USR.

Project 90 Soccer: they have now, USL, everything. Aside from all that, it's just a good indicator that, you know, the next generation. I know we're looking too far ahead now, but the next generation is going to be full of talent, just like the Kavin Sullivans, the Julian Halls, Mimedi, all these kids. So I think that's that's one of the greatest takeaways you can have from from this United States camp that we just saw as well, is to to now really see the product of the MLS next, of the USL, of the youth systems here in America. And realize that they're finally starting to pump out some like elite level talent. And we're starting to see them now trickle their way into the United States. So I think that's really exciting to see.

Marco: And I know this is a different story, and I don't want to get too caught up in it. I just want to mention it now that we're talking about the past that can get you to being a pro. Who is playing with Real

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: Madrid right now that went to a US

Project 90 Soccer: yeah.

Marco: college, went to the USL, and eventually ended up on the world stage?

Project 90 Soccer: Dude, he he got a bag, by the way, as well. Yandi Amande. Yandi

Marco: Yeah. So

Project 90 Soccer: Amande. I mean, that's amazing. That's an amazing

Marco: Yeah.

Project 90 Soccer: story. Yeah. look, we're getting ready here. We're gonna watch the Mexico game starting shortly versus Chile. We'll be back with another match recap for that game. before we sign off though, Marco, any last words for the audience?

Marco: Mexico, you better look good. If not, you already know me. I'm gonna rip yo ass.

Project 90 Soccer: He's gonna he's gonna lose it. He's gonna lose it. All right, guys. If you're watching this on YouTube, please, please like, subscribe, turn on the notification bell, leave a comment, tell us what you think, send us your questions, we'll review them here on the show. We love hearing from you guys. Go to project90soccer.com. You can find all of our links to Spotify, to Apple, to TikTok. and yeah, this has been another episode of the Project 90 Soccer Podcast. We will be back. shortly after the Mexico Chile game. But until then, peace.