🎙️ Men in Blazers •September 27, 2026 •⏱️ 45 min

USMNT 4-1 Peru Reactions With Clint Dempsey: The Deuce Live 09/26/26

1. Executive Overview: Core Theses & Key Revelations

The dawn of a new international cycle presents a decisive juncture for national team programs seeking to redefine their identity, rebuild tactical frameworks, and calibrate supporter expectations. Following a disappointing 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign on home soil, the United States Men's National Team (USMNT) entered autumn 2026 with a dual mandate under head coach Mauricio Pochettino: execute an urgent tactical overhaul and initiate a thorough evaluation of the talent pipeline. The formal curtain-raiser to this process arrived in September 2026 with a 4-1 friendly victory over Peru—a match that served less as a competitive test against an aging South American opponent and more as an open laboratory for systemic experimentation.

Following the fixture, former USMNT icon Clint Dempsey joined host Roger Bennett on the Men in Blazers platform for an exhaustive, unvarnished debrief. Across an expansive conversation, Dempsey articulated a series of foundational tactical and philosophical principles that directly challenge conventional American soccer orthodoxy. Rather than indulging in superficial celebrations over a comfortable scoreline, Dempsey leveraged his experience across 141 international appearances and three World Cup tournaments to deliver a sharp masterclass on squad mechanics, player psychology, and international tournament survival.

Five central analytical theses emerged from Dempsey's discourse during the broadcast:

  • Progressive Audacity Over Sterile Retention: Dempsey articulated an uncompromising critique of safe, side-to-side possession. He argued that a team operating at 70% to 80% passing accuracy while constantly probing forward and attacking defensive lines is vastly superior to a team achieving 95% pass completion through low-risk horizontal and backward recycling.
  • Squad Augmentation Over Core Extermination: In response to fan speculation regarding a sweeping "change of the guard" and the abandonment of the "Golden Generation," Dempsey clarified that introducing elite teenagers is an exercise in squad expansion and competitive pressure, not an immediate purge of established European-based leaders.
  • The Superhero Fallacy and Phenom Protection: Addressing the sensational start given to 16-year-old Philadelphia Union sensation Kavan Sullivan—the youngest senior debutant since Freddy Adu in 2006—Dempsey rejected the destructive habit of framing adolescent prodigies as singular national saviors. He stressed that Sullivan's survival depends on maintaining raw joy while supported by a hungry, hard-working collective.
  • Decoupling Leadership from Symbolic Captaincy: Reacting to Pochettino restoring the captain's armband to Tyler Adams, Dempsey demystified the physical armband, explaining that dressing-room authority and pitch leadership are distributed responsibilities shared among multiple senior figures regardless of ceremonial roles.
  • Tournament Pragmatism and Defensive Realism: Balancing his infectious viral optimism regarding the 2030 World Cup cycle with stern operational warnings, Dempsey underscored that no team can advance deep into knockout competitions while leaking soft goals, identifying transition defense and clean sheets as the absolute benchmark for progress.

This feature essay provides an exhaustive editorial analysis of Dempsey's revelations, contextualizing his tactical commentary within modern positional trends, squad construction analytics, and the broader commercial landscape facing US Soccer as it embarks on the long road toward 2030.

2. Context & Background: The Landscape Leading to This Conversation

To fully grasp the resonance of Dempsey's commentary on Men in Blazers, one must first dissect the structural backdrop of American soccer in late 2026. The 2026 FIFA World Cup was long heralded as the watershed moment for soccer in North America. However, the national team's premature exit highlighted lingering tactical stagnation, structural rigidity, and a depth deficit when competing against elite international opposition. The subsequent appointment of Mauricio Pochettino signaled an intentional departure from domestic comfort zones, bringing a world-class manager tasked with instilling high-intensity pressing, positional fluidity, and ruthless accountability.

Pochettino's arrival coincided with an unprecedented inflection point in domestic youth development. The MLS NEXT Pro and club academy ecosystems had begun yielding highly sophisticated technical prospects at younger ages than ever before. Leading this vanguard was Philadelphia Union attacking midfielder Kavan Sullivan, whose extraordinary technical package and pre-arranged future transfer to Manchester City had generated intense international scrutiny. When Pochettino named Sullivan to the starting line-up against Peru at 16 years and 363 days old—alongside an array of under-20 talent including 19-year-old goalscorer Justin Ellis—it represented a clear operational statement: reputation alone would no longer guarantee squad selection.

The international landscape surrounding youth integration has evolved rapidly across world football. European powerhouses have increasingly validated the early deployment of elite teenage talent, from Barcelona's reliance on Lamine Yamal to Arsenal's careful integration of Max Dowman. However, American soccer history is littered with cautionary tales of prodigies consumed by premature media hype and unrealistic structural burdens. The ghost of Freddy Adu's 2006 debut hangs over every domestic prodigy, creating a volatile tension between narrative hype and athletic development.

Furthermore, the media environment in which this discussion unfolded reflects a transformed industry. Platforms like Men in Blazers have evolved from niche podcasters into influential media networks capable of shaping public narrative. When Dempsey sits across from Roger Bennett, the dynamic bridges two distinct pillars of American soccer culture: Bennett's theatrical, romantic narrative-building and Dempsey's pragmatic, battle-hardened player perspective. This setting provided the ideal crucible for evaluating whether the 4-1 win against Peru represented genuine tactical evolution or merely an entertaining curtain-raiser in a friendly window.

3. Deep-Dive Thematic Breakdown

3.1 The Geometry of Risk: Progressive Passing vs. Sterile Retention

Modern tactical analysis often fetishizes possession percentages and overall passing accuracy as proxy indicators of tactical dominance. However, Dempsey launched a direct assault on this statistical illusion, establishing what can be described as the "Dempsey Risk Metric." In one of the episode's most striking moments, Dempsey stated: "I would rather you have 70, 80% pass completion and play forward than be 95% pass completion, and then you're playing sideways and backwards."

This statement encapsulates a fundamental debate in contemporary coaching theory between low-risk possession maintenance and high-intent vertical progression. Under previous managerial regimes, the USMNT frequently suffered from sterile possession—monopolizing the ball across the back four and double-pivots while failing to unpick compact low blocks. Opponents routinely allowed the United States to complete hundreds of non-threatening passes in non-dangerous zones, waiting patiently to launch lethal counter-attacks upon turnovers.

Dempsey's advocacy for 70–80% completion aligns precisely with high-tempo, direct transition models popularized by elite pressing managers. In Pochettino's tactical framework, ball progression relies on inner-channel passes, aggressive half-space overloads, and courageous line-breaking ground balls. Achieving these high-value pass completions inevitably incurs higher risk and a greater volume of lost possession. However, the expected threat (xT) created by penetrating passes far outweighs the artificial comfort of 95% sideways distribution.

Furthermore, Dempsey emphasized that international friendlies represent the ideal tactical laboratory for cultivating this risk-seeking mentality. In high-stakes competition—such as World Cup qualifiers or knockout tournaments—players often regress into conservative, self-preserving habits due to fear of failure. By establishing an environment in friendly matches where vertical risk is rewarded and mistakes are accepted as the cost of ambition, Pochettino and Dempsey argue that players build the decision-making muscle required to break down top-tier opponents under pressure.

3.2 Managing the Phenom: Kavan Sullivan and the Superhero Fallacy

The centerpiece narrative of the Peru fixture was undeniably the starting debut of Kavan Sullivan. At 16 years and 363 days, Sullivan became the youngest player to feature for the USMNT since Freddy Adu in 2006. The immediate reaction across media channels was an explosion of hyperbole, with commentators prematurely proclaiming the arrival of a revolutionary era. Dempsey, however, provided a vital counterweight to this media frenzy, drawing upon his own non-traditional path to international football.

Dempsey recounted his own developmental path, recalling his days playing high school soccer for the Nacogdoches Dragons in East Texas, followed by collegiate play at Furman University, before making his senior USMNT debut at age 21 in November 2004 against Jamaica. The stark contrast between Dempsey entering the national team at 21 as a relatively unknown prospect and Sullivan starting at 16 under intense global scrutiny highlights the psychological pressure facing modern elite youth.

Dempsey warned directly against the "Superhero Fallacy"—the cultural tendency among American supporters and media to project unrealistic savior expectations onto isolated adolescent talents. "You want someone that's going to come and save the day. Who's going to be that superhero?" Dempsey remarked. "I think the good thing for Kavan in this situation is he has other young, hungry, talented players that are around him."

The presence of a broader cohort of emerging talent—such as 19-year-old goalscorer Justin Ellis, Alex Freeman, and Max Austin—is vital for Sullivan's long-term trajectory. Rather than bearing the entire weight of national expectation on his shoulders as Adu was forced to do two decades prior, Sullivan operates within an ecosystem of shared accountability. Dempsey's core counsel to Sullivan was fundamentally psychological: maintain raw joy, refuse to absorb external media noise, avoid buying into self-hype, and treat elite professional football as a continuous, daily process of adaptation.

3.3 Roster Architecture: Evolution vs. Extermination of the Core

A central point of friction during the broadcast emerged when caller Angela from Naples, Florida, posited that Pochettino's inclusion of multiple teenagers signaled a definitive "change of the guard" and the discarding of a "Golden Generation" that had ultimately flopped at the 2026 World Cup. This sentiment reflects a pervasive narrative among frustrated fans who demand sweeping roster housecleanings after major tournament disappointments.

Dempsey firmly rejected this binary interpretation. "I don't think it's the change of the guard," Dempsey asserted. "I think it's a chance to strengthen our squad and add some more youth and excitement and some hunger and try to find a little bit better balance."

From a squad architecture perspective, elite national teams rarely execute wholesale exterminations of their established core. Successful international programs—such as France, Argentina, and Spain—maintain structural continuity by blending experienced core figures with constant injections of dynamic young talent. Established leaders such as Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, and Gio Reyna remain in their prime physical years heading toward 2030. What the USMNT lacked during the previous cycle was not baseline talent among its starters, but genuine rotational depth and intense internal competition for matchday spots.

By wide-net testing teenagers and fringe domestic standouts during early-cycle friendly windows, Pochettino accomplishes two essential objectives: he expands the pool of viable options for a 26-man tournament squad, and he sends a clear psychological signal to established veterans that starting berths must be continually earned. Dempsey highlighted that when the top 18 players convene for high-stakes official matches—such as the CONCACAF Nations League, Gold Cup, or World Cup qualifiers—the roster will naturally condense around the most reliable performers. Early-cycle experimentation is thus not a replacement strategy, but a mechanism for sharpening the entire player hierarchy.

3.4 Leadership Dynamics: The Armband vs. Dressing Room Authority

The restoration of the captain's armband to midfielder Tyler Adams served as another major talking point during the episode. Adams had famously captained the USMNT during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, but subsequent injuries and managerial rotations led to the armband shifting among various senior figures. Pochettino's decision to hand the band back to Adams against Peru re-ignited discussions regarding the nature of team leadership.

Dempsey offered a sophisticated, insider perspective on dressing-room mechanics, deconstructing the media's disproportionate fixation on the physical armband. "Tyler Adams was the captain for the team in 2022, and for some reason, just because you don't wear the captain armband doesn't mean you're not one of the captains on the team," Dempsey explained.

Reflecting on his own tenure as USMNT captain, Dempsey pointed out that his leadership was executed alongside other formidable figures who held immense vocal and operational authority, such as Tim Howard, Michael Bradley, Carlos Bocanegra, and Landon Donovan. In a modern high-performance environment, leadership cannot be monopolized by a single individual. While the designated captain serves as the formal communicator with match officials and media, functional leadership is distributed across positional groups:

Leadership Tier Primary Operational Function Key Structural Responsibilities
Symbolic Captain (Armband) Formal Match Representation Coin toss, official referee dialogue, post-match broadcast media obligations.
Tactical Anchors On-Field System Execution Organizing defensive pressing triggers, managing tempo changes, directing rest defense.
Cultural Custodians Dressing Room Standards Enforcing training intensity, mentoring adolescent debuts, maintaining locker-room harmony.

Dempsey's analysis highlights that Pochettino's gesture toward Adams was an acknowledgment of his intrinsic authority rather than a slight against other senior leaders. A robust squad relies on a multi-polar leadership matrix where veterans hold one another and younger players accountable regardless of who wears the fabric band around their arm.

3.5 Tournament Pragmatism: Clean Sheets and Defensive Vulnerability

While the 4-1 victory over Peru provided ample offensive highlight material—including 19-year-old Justin Ellis meeting Gio Reyna's pinpoint free-kick delivery with a powerful header—Dempsey refused to allow offensive satisfaction to obscure defensive deficiencies. Peru, ranked 51st in the FIFA World Rankings and languishing near the bottom of South American qualifying, managed to exploit central gaps and generate high-quality chances against the American backline.

Dempsey issued an unsparing warning regarding tournament reality: "It would be nice to start seeing some more clean sheets there because as we built into the World Cup and through our play during the World Cup, it's kind of difficult to go far in competitions when you're leaking goals."

This observation taps into a fundamental truth of international tournament football. While expansive, high-scoring victories generate optimism in friendly windows, knockout tournament success is overwhelmingly correlated with defensive solidity and clean sheet frequency. Elite international teams rarely out-score structural flaws once they encounter top-10 opponents in World Cup elimination rounds.

Under Pochettino's aggressive pressing model, full-backs are instructed to push high up the pitch to provide breadth, leaving center-backs exposed to rapid counter-transitions if the counter-press fails. Dempsey's emphasis on clean sheets signals that as Pochettino integrates young offensive talent, equal tactical attention must be devoted to rest defense organization, transition tracking, and set-piece communication. Scoring four goals against a depleted Peru side is a welcome display of attacking flair; keeping clean sheets against elite CONMEBOL and UEFA opposition is the non-negotiable metric for international success.

4. Speaker Perspectives & Analytical Contrast

The dialogue between Roger Bennett and Clint Dempsey on Men in Blazers provides a fascinating study in analytical contrast. The two figures approach football through distinctly different lenses, creating a compelling intellectual friction that elevates the editorial quality of the broadcast.

Roger Bennett functions as the theatrical narrator and cultural instigator. His analytical style is anchored in narrative arc, historical romance, and vivid emotional metaphors. Bennett frames match events through sweeping dramatic constructs: describing the team as smelling like "teen spirit," coining the term "Kavanisphere" to capture the hype around Sullivan, and comparing the post-2026 World Cup recovery to transitioning from "Hello Darkness, my old friend" to newfound euphoria. Bennett frequently pushes questions toward grand, definitive conclusions—asking whether Sullivan's start represents a complete change of the guard or a symbolic middle finger to the established veteran core.

Clint Dempsey, by contrast, operates as the ultimate pragmatic realist. Grounded in the lived experience of 141 international caps, Premier League battles with Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur, and three World Cup tournaments, Dempsey consistently grounds Bennett's dramatic inquiries in practical sporting reality. When Bennett attempts to label Sullivan's start as a revolutionary statement, Dempsey calmly reframes it as a sensible, low-risk experiment suited for a friendly window. When callers ask whether the Golden Generation should be tossed aside, Dempsey defends squad balance, continuity, and internal competition.

The table below summarizes the key analytical contrasts between the two commentators across major discussion points:

Discussion Focal Point Roger Bennett's Narrative Framing Clint Dempsey's Practical Analysis
Kavan Sullivan Debut Sees a seismic cultural shift and the launch of the "Kavanisphere" era. Views it as a low-pressure friendly experiment; focuses on process and protecting the kid.
Roster Evolution Asks if this is a complete "change of the guard" replacing a flopped generation. Defends roster expansion, squad balance, and creating competition for top-18 spots.
Passing Style Focuses on fluid attacking entertainment and youthful excitement. Enforces strict tactical criteria: 70-80% progressive forward passing over 95% sideways retention.
Captaincy Assignment Views Tyler Adams regaining the band as a major managerial statement. Demystifies the physical armband; emphasizes multi-polar leadership across the dressing room.
2030 World Cup Outlook Captures the emotional swing from despair after 2026 to hype for 2030. Combines infectious hype ("We're going to win 2030") with pragmatic warnings on clean sheets.

This dynamic ensures that the conversation avoids falling into either blind boosterism or cynical dismissal. Bennett provides the evocative questions that mirror fan anxiety, while Dempsey delivers the authoritative, technical breakdown that grounds the discussion in professional realities.

5. Strategic & Industry Implications

The insights articulated during this episode of Men in Blazers extend far beyond tactical board adjustments; they resonate across the broader landscape of American sports business, broadcast media, and global talent acquisition.

First, the rapid ascension of Kavan Sullivan highlights the maturing commercial and sporting architecture of Major League Soccer academies. The Philadelphia Union's ability to construct a development pathway that includes senior first-team minutes while negotiating a multi-million-dollar future transfer to City Football Group (Manchester City) establishes a new benchmark for North American talent monetization. MLS clubs are no longer merely domestic entertainment entities; they have transformed into highly efficient talent incubators capable of feeding global elite pipelines. Pochettino's willingness to cap a 16-year-old Union player validates the domestic academy ecosystem, incentivizing further capital investment in youth infrastructure across North America.

Second, the broadcast format itself illustrates the rapid evolution of sports media consumption. The episode served as a promotional and analytical bridge for the Men in Blazers altcast partnership on truTV and HBO Max (presented by Marriott Bonvoy). As traditional linear television audiences decline, direct-to-consumer platforms rely heavily on personality-driven, informal altcasts that offer viewers unvarnished tactical analysis paired with real-time fan engagement via QR codes and Discord interactions. Dempsey's presence as an authentic, unfiltered analyst gives streaming platforms a distinct competitive advantage over rigid studio setups.

Finally, from a global sporting perspective, the USMNT's transition toward 2030 takes place within an increasingly competitive CONCACAF and CONMEBOL ecosystem. As South American qualifiers demonstrate, traditional powers are continually challenged by disciplined, highly organized opponents. For the USMNT to capitalize on its expanding player pool, US Soccer must navigate complex scheduling matrixes—balancing high-value international friendlies against tier-1 European and South American nations with grueling regional competition. Dempsey's emphasis on progressive risk and defensive clean sheets establishes the exact operational standard required if North American football is to make a genuine leap into the global elite by 2030.

6. Looking Ahead: Unresolved Questions & Next Milestones

As the initial euphoria of the 4-1 victory over Peru subsides, Mauricio Pochettino and the USMNT face an intense series of developmental tests designed to calibrate squad progress. The autumn 2026 international calendar transitions rapidly from low-pressure friendlies to hostile, high-intensity environments that will rigorously test the tactical principles championed by Dempsey.

The immediate fixture list presents three distinct operational challenges:

  • Chile (Friendly): A secondary opportunity for Pochettino to continue wide-net testing, giving fringe domestic standouts and secondary youth prospects valuable international minutes before squad condensation begins.
  • Mexico (State Farm Stadium, Arizona): A marquee rivalry showdown played in a high-capacity venue where Mexican supporters will comprise up to 80% of the crowd. This fixture will serve as the ultimate pressure cooker for integrated teenagers like Sullivan, testing their composure under intense environmental heat.
  • Canada (Coached by Jesse Marsch): A fierce regional clash against a tactically aggressive, high-pressing Canadian side. Marsch's system will direct test Dempsey's demand for progressive passing under heavy pressure, forcing the USMNT to execute vertical line-breaks without surrendering transition clean sheets.

Moving forward, several key operational metrics must be monitored by technical analysts to measure genuine systemic evolution:

  1. Progressive Pass Ratio: Tracking whether the USMNT maintains Dempsey's target of vertical forward progression rather than reverting to high-percentage horizontal retention against compact defensive blocks.
  2. Clean Sheet Percentage: Measuring defensive stability and rest-defense organization against top-30 opponents to ensure leaking goals does not compromise tournament viability.
  3. Integration Sustainability: Monitoring whether adolescent talents like Kavan Sullivan maintain physical durability and mental hunger as they return to club competition amidst skyrocketing media scrutiny.
  4. Core Retention and Balance: Assessing how senior leaders (Pulisic, McKennie, Adams, Reyna) respond to internal competition from emerging youth as Pochettino narrows his primary 18-man matchday hierarchy.

Clint Dempsey's viral declaration—"We're going to win the 2030 World Cup, yeah? Yeah, man. That's how it goes, man. I got to hype them up"—may carry the swagger of an American soccer legend, but his technical commentary provides the exact pragmatic roadmap required to make that audacious vision a reality. As Pochettino's squad navigates the long journey toward 2030, the principles of brave vertical risk, squad balance, multi-polar leadership, and uncompromising defensive discipline will dictate whether the USMNT achieves historic greatness or remains trapped in cycle after cycle of unfulfilled potential.

💬 Key Quotes & Speaker Breakdown

Tactical analysis

"I would rather you have 70, 80% pass completion and play forward than be 95% pass completion, and then you're playing sideways and backwards."

— Clint Dempsey

"I think he is protecting the players by playing in friendlies. I mean, that's where you take risk. And that's where you can be creative."

— Clint Dempsey

Kavan Sullivan development

"I'm not going to say what the ceiling is in this and that. But just as long as he doesn't lose who he is, the reason why he loves the game and why he plays it and keep his creativity and stay taking risk, it's a process."

— Clint Dempsey

World Cup 2030

"We're going to win the 2030 World Cup, yeah? Yeah, man. That's how it goes, man. I got to hype them up."

— Clint Dempsey

USMNT youth movement

"I just think that's everybody, right? You want someone that's going to come and save the day. Who's going to be that superhero? I think the good thing for Kavan in this situation is he has other young, hungry, talented players that are around him."

— Clint Dempsey

USMNT defensive form

"It would be nice to start seeing some more clean sheets there because as we built into the World Cup and through our play during the World Cup, it's kind of difficult to go far in competitions when you're leaking goals."

— Clint Dempsey

USMNT squad selection

"I don't think it's the change of the guard. I think it's a chance to strengthen our squad and add some more youth and excitement and some hunger and try to find a little bit better balance."

— Clint Dempsey

USMNT leadership

"Tyler Adams was the captain for the team in 2022, and for some reason, just because you don't wear the captain armband doesn't mean you're not one of the captains on the team."

— Clint Dempsey

USMNT upcoming matches

"I'd probably say Mexico, just because of the rivalry over the years. And it's a chance for a lot of the new, younger, hungry players that we have to experience that."

— Clint Dempsey
📜 View Full Episode Verbatim Transcript 45,534 characters
The one question I get most after all that football memory making we experienced across America this summer is, how do I keep the magic going? Let's start by saying, articulate what you love the most and then build on it. First, find a team that will most probably break your heart and then add all the supporting necessities to build your weekend tradition, the key to so many of mine. It's Walmart, the place that has it all, the snacks, the coffee, the pies, you can also get the TV at Walmart, the hoodie to wear on your couch, get the couch if you need it and wait, it gets better. Because they're expressed delivery can get it right to your door, so you're all set for kickoff. Whatever you match they need, you can find them at walmart.com slashsocker. Delivery timing varies by order size, traffic, weather and demand, subject to availability fees and terms apply. You're listening to the Men in Blazers media network, suboptimal radio. The American Road to World Cup 2030 begins with a 4-1 win. Over, well, big in Peru's Peru, feel good palette cleanser after that World Cup disappointment. As Chris Vos said in our discord, you get balled by the Eagles. 18 ages made the debut. We smell like teen spirit now. Most hyped. The Kavan Sullivan era has begun. Only one saying concludes me, can draw from tonight, Clint Dempsey. We're going to win the 2030 World Cup, yeah? Yeah, man. That's how it goes, man. I got to hype them up. It's amazing how the mood can just completely flip from Hello Darkness, my old friend to with doing it all. Let's start with a big story. Kavan Sullivan got his debut 16 years, 363 days old, became the youngest player for the squad sense. Oh, Freddie, you do got to whisper that in 2006. Honestly, Clint, how shocked were you when you saw Potschini was throwing him right into the starting lineup? I just think it's exciting, honestly, that he's given a lot of these young players an opportunity to get their debut. You think about where you were at 16. I mean, I was in high school playing for the Bar City Nackadotje Dragons, you know? Yeah, man. I just think it's cool to see the talent that we have, to mix that with some of the experienced players. And that's what a cycle is about is figuring out new talent that's going to come in and push these experienced players and create a stronger lineup for us. So I'm excited. I'm not going to lie. I thought it was a surprise to give him the start as thrilled as we are by everything he's doing in MLS. Talent this young 16 year old, they're kids. I mean, you have to ease them in. You've got to protect them. A little bit like Arsenal have done with Max Downman. But you've been in this squad. You've been in the beginning of a new cycle. What do you think Merit Joe Potschini was trying to say? And he was trying to say something to start Cavanaan and almost say, whole new world, you know, what was is not what will be. And all you big names who've been squad members by right, we're going to change everything. Yeah, I think he is protecting the players by playing in friendly's. I mean, that's where you take risk. And that's where you can be creative. And it's not in a must win situation. Obviously, it's different if you're playing in nation's league, gold cup or Copa America or World Cup qualifying and stuff like that. So this is where you take make risk. This is where you give people that experience to go out and try stuff. And I like it. I like shaking things up with this roster and seeing what like potential stars are going to be the next big thing for the US. You made it, Debbie. Do you know how old you were, by the way? Do you even remember these Clint Dempsey bios? Yes, sir. I was 21 and I think it was in November in Columbus versus Jamaica. Yes. Yes, it was. Sir, I started I started late, man. I didn't go pro. I was 20. Somebody's working on the biography. It's happening. By the way, I would read the Clint Dempsey biography. I really would not say London Donovan's was not a great page turner. But you got to get on that. Can you describe the pressure? You were 21. He's 16. Just just point towards the pressure that you feel pulling on that US jersey for the first time. I mean, as a kid, being a young player, I didn't really feel that pressure. I was it was more just excitement than pressure. I'm getting an opportunity to live my dream, to represent my country. Like we talk many times, it's what I prayed about as a kid, wanting to represent my country, and then a lot to me. I just think that when you're young, you don't know what to fear. And you get to see people go out and take risk and play brave and try stuff. I mean, that's what it's all about. I think too many times people play safe, you get into a good position, and then you just play the ball back or sideways. I like when people are taking players on and playing forward, and look, I would rather you have 80, 80, 70, 80% position past completion and play forward than be 95% past completion, and then you're paying sideways and backwards. I'm saying, I think you got to have that mix, right? But no, it's, you don't know what to fear. So you go out there and you get some of these players' raw emotion and it makes things happen. Going to say, you talked about how you prayed to represent your nation. I still praise your representative agent at age 87 years old. I did feel tonight with like every teen pretty well getting a start, then I'm getting further and further down the depth chart. But really, what Clint is saying, pressure's having to perform in front of Duke the Dragon at Nackadotje's high school, right? On the varsity. Yes, sir, yes, sir. I mean, look, pressure really is playing World Cup qualifying games, and playing in World Cubs and stuff like that, and big competitions for your country. I mean, playing in friendlies and being able to get your feet wet, it's not there so much, but I mean, I just think it's exciting. Man, yeah, I can't, I love you. And I can feel the difference in the stadium in those big games. You've been there, though, man. You know the hype around this kid, man. That's the difference, though. It wasn't, there were a lot of teens that made their start tonight, stated them, but the hype around Kevin, flinging them in now, it means that will he start the, the hype train is going to now be in 11 around this kid, whereas if he'd been one of the second half substitutes, you know, it would have been more, just a more blended start. Do you not think like every, the seven other teens tonight that we can and will be the US soccer fan bubble will be, will be Kavan Kavan Kavan. We're in the Kavanis fear now. I just think we look, a lot of cultures do the same things. They, they, they, they really hype up the young talent and, you know, make it almost unrealistic expectations that you put on them, right? So all you can do is, is a player in that position is be excited about the opportunity to control what you can control and go out there and keep doing what's got you in this position. I think the worst thing that can happen is you believe in the hype and you don't stay focused and grind it and stay hungry. And that will always kind of see you through it in tough situations that have more of that type of mentality. So as long as it keeps you speed on the ground, stays hungry, the rest with all those other, you know, team players that made that made a big difference tonight. Just, just keep that mentality, stay focused, enjoy the opportunity to, to, to, to be living your dream and representing your country and keep improving. Keep, keep adding more and doing more in the games that you get because you got to be trying to push other players out to make the roster for the big games that matter. When you have the top 18 players that come in to camp, it's going to be a different story of who's going to be on that roster. For those of us joining on YouTube, get your comments in the chat, fending queen says, I didn't know whether to cheer for Kevin or just yell at him to get off my lawn. Serious question. If you're a good clinsman, a drop day 16 year old kid into the first game of say the 2018 cycle, how would you have felt? What would have said to all of you who just played 2040? I mean, I'm, I'm, it's a situation where it's, it's a friendly. So it's not that big of a deal in terms of taking, taking risk and experimenting and, and throwing new players into the mix, you know, our member when they put Christian in the mix and then because of giving him those opportunities, he was able to, to do his thing, get his confidence and get on the wave and, and, and, and, and really do well during that World Cup qualifying, even though we didn't qualify in 2018, is one of the best players that we had because of giving him those opportunities so that he could get his feet wet and get his confidence going. So that's what, that's what it's all about. I mean, you can control what you control if you're a veteran player. If you still want to make an impact, you still have to perform in those games to keep getting called in. But I think it's good to mix things up and have a, that mix of experience in you that it, it, it, it, it freshenes things up so don't get too stale. The God, that is a very interesting come, you know, ultimately, Kavanjo is starting, Christian, you know, starting incredibly young, in terms of his, and making his impact, making the team very much alongside you when you return, really, making it his. The other big decision, Richard Potschino, finally gave Tyler Adams, the USman's national team captains on, and, unbelievably, for the first time, a gent was captain during the 2022 World Cup, Potschino took that away from him. Let's be honest, Clint, Tyler was always the captain. Yeah, I mean, I don't know what the situation is within that team, but yeah, he was the captain for the team in 2022, and for some reason, you know, just because you don't wear the captain arm band doesn't mean you're not one of the captains on the team. I remember when I was a captain, had guys like Michael Bradley and Tim Howard around me that were also, you know, leaders in the team, and just because you wear the arm band doesn't make you, you know, more important than the next guy, right? It just shows that the coach has faith in you, wants you to be the voice of the team and talk with the media, and feels that you're someone that can best lead them to be successful. So I think there's multiple leaders in a team, and it's not right for me to say who's the main captain or who's not, but, hey, shout out to him for being in the mix and continuing to lead the way, and he will continue to be a leader for this team. If you just join us, you're watching Juice Live with Clint, then see if you've got a question for Clint, scan the QR code, top left of your screen, or click the link in the pinned comment, come on, and ask the questions later in the broadcast. We'd love to hear how you felt about all of this, tonight getting the chat, too, we'll read out your best comments, but Clint, to the game, the good news, and we're playing a bit against a pretty poor, deeply aging peru-side, best jersey in World Football. I've always believed it, but man, 51st in the world came second to bottom of World Cup qualifying. Good news is, the only team worse in South America, which is Chile, who we play on Tuesday, bring it on. Ain't there's had just two wins in the last 16 games, going back to 2024, Scouting Report, everyone I read said the following, Peru tends to concede early goals by making too many mistakes and lacking concentration, so behold, four-minute simple execution of a free kick, Jair Reiner called the pinpoint ball onto the meaty Floridian forehead of 19-year-old Justin Ellis. He's Anton Griezmann's sparring partner, a kid who joined Orlando over the summer local hero, rose up, that was some flick, almost Griezmann-esque, in his hometown stadium to boot, must have felt amazing for the kid, Clint. Yeah, I mean, he did a great job of getting across the defender, and what you do in those positions is to make sure that you flick it back post, and it's kind of like hitting a free kick towards the back post. If it bounces, it can... Long as it's on target, it has a chance to go in in, but yeah, I thought it was a great finish, a good ball in from Gio, and what a great start for Ellis getting a goal on his debut, and I think it's only going to make him get more confident, and it looks like it's a big spot up for grabs between him, Julian Hall, and some other strikers, as we move forward, you still got Balagan in the mix, and Peppy, so I look forward to seeing all these attacking players who gets the start position. The one question I get most after all that football memory making we experienced across America this summer is, how do I keep the magic going? Let's start by saying, articulate what you love the most, and then build on it. First, find a team that will most probably break your heart, and then add all the supporting necessities to build your weekend tradition, the key to so many of mine. It's Walmart, the place that has it all, the snacks, the coffee, the pies, but you can also get the TV at Walmart, the hoodie to wear on your couch, get the couch if you need it, and wait, it gets better, because they're expressed delivery, you can get it right to your door, so you're all set for kickoff. Whenever you match, they need die, you can find them at walmart.com slash soccer, delivery timing, varies by order size, traffic, weather and demand, subject to availability fees and terms apply. Alex Rocklin, in the chat, says Griezmann taught him that, in exchange for his NFL Sunday ticket login. In the moment, I've got a bad point. I think I texted you and said, oh my god, this Peru team are terrible. This could be a tennis school. Don't like to quote myself, but it was a text which preceded a terrible moment. Like the 15th, US Literature Reactor, a quick Peruvian restart, caught in transition, diagonal ball from your turn, a mat freeze, rooted to his line, and teenage debutant, 18-year-old New England Rev, Peyton Miller, flat-footed, mercilessly dunked on by 36-year-old journeyman striker, Jan Luca Lapadula. You know him as the club, university, Terry O. did the port, a finisher, a fancy fine loop in header. This is the moment where you kind of live by the team rule player, the goal scorer, done by the team rule player. Yeah, I mean, it's one of those situations where when you make a lot of changes, it's going to be tough to be compact in the back with maybe not having that experience to playing with each other, but still we're dealing with the same situation that we can see too many goals. It would be nice to start seeing some more clean sheets there because as we built into the World Cup and through our play during the World Cup, it's kind of difficult to go far in competitions when you're leaking goals. So look, it's understandable with a lot of changes, but the good news is we got the victory tonight. We got the goals that we wanted to see. We got some young players that are capped. We got some experienced players come in and do their thing as well. So all in all, I thought it was a great result tonight for the U.S. team. Negatives that you would say is, you know, conceding too many goals. I would say also the crowd, you pointed it out when we were texting. Most of the crowd was for it seemed like in terms of the energy and the chance was for Peru than the U.S. I would have thought after the U.S. doing well in the last World Cup, good, not great, but that that would have had some more momentum in there in terms of feeling the stadium. So hopefully we'll see something a little bit different in these next games. I will get to that in a moment. That was one of the darker moments of what was quite a joyous day. By the way, lap of duelness, 36. It was like, it's just a bit younger than you, Arclin. Just a bit, just a bit, right? Yeah, I was like, hmm, interesting. Maybe I should come back. I mean, action. Yeah, I mean, God, if they can do it at the L.A. Rams, they can do it for the U.S. MNT. By the way, we're going to talk about Kevin. What did you think of him? 60 minutes. Had that collision with the goalkeeper, got a yellow card, he was actually pushed into him. But I love the way Swaggered around, played the ball into dangerous areas, wanted it back, didn't always get it, didn't really lay a glove in the final third. But Jürgen Klinsman always used to say, on the team, you were wrong. You say about Deandre Yedlin, who was like brought out of nowhere to become a starter in 2014. It was used to shout into every interview. Sometimes you are so young, you don't know you're meant to be afraid. And that's what I thought of. That's slightly airy, bad Jürgen Klinsman impression. When I watch Kevin play, what did you see? I mean, I like the fact that he takes risk. I like the fact that he wants to play forward. I think sometimes you need to mix it up a little bit more. It may be a little bit more tidy at times. Especially if you try something and it doesn't work, and then you lose another ball, maybe keep it simple, keep some possession going, kind of build up that leeway again from connecting passes to then try some more stuff again. But I like that he's creative, and he's brave, and he takes risk. And you can see that he's confident, especially from the play that he's had with Philadelphia. And now that can translate to the national team, that would really kind of get things going for him. But you could see him on the bench when Tyler Adams came off, that he was still, you know, hungry, right? Wasn't really excited about his performance. You knew that there was some other... Well, just I think he probably felt like it was a missed opportunity. I don't want to put words in his mouth, but you look at players like Julian Hall. You look at players like Ellis. You look at players like Matisse. These are people that came in and contributed towards the goal, right? Matisse drawn the penalty, Julian Hall getting the goal, Ellis getting the whole... So he's seeing these other younger guys, you know, around his age, doing their things. So I'm sure he would have think, dang, it's a missed opportunity. I could have came in here and made a statement. So I just think there's a lot of hungry players there, and I'm looking forward to seeing how I think shape out. He definitely could. I agree with you, man. I liked his hunger. That's the motif I take from this game. He's definitely brash. He was definitely stewing on the bench. I said up top, I wish we hadn't started him. It would have been so much better to ease him in, ramp up the minutes, let him build, show himself in starts without having that starting pressure. In any normal nation, I will say that'd be the case, but we're not a normal footballing nation. We do put players, young players, like Freddie had do, Juan Aguadela, you played with a lot of these, Clarexia. God, on a pedestal. Kevin is a manchild. You know, many people in their, you know, 30s will have seen, you know, late 30s will have seen the cross players 16 and playing on varsity teams who have that kind of attitude. He's playing for the US. Football is a team game. This rebuild, make no mistakes, a massive project. Kevin can be part of it. I hope he is. I hope to know it was the first of a hundred caps for that guy. He can't be the sum of our hopes, our dreams. Why do we constantly crave like a single savior, Clarexia? I just think that's everybody, right? You want someone that's going to come and save the day. Who's going to be that superhero, right? I think the good thing for Kevin in this situation is he has other young, hungry, talented players that are around him that are in the mix. That can maybe take some of that pressure off him in the sense that, you know, you have a chance for other people to shine, right? You're not just looking at one person. You're looking at the whole like youth movement that you're kind of starting to see, right? Coming into the national team and players that are getting a chance and making a difference, right? So it's one of those things you're just going to have to wait and see, right? Let's keep our heads cool. Let's don't get too high. Don't get too low. Just like we do with anything and see how this thing plays out. But I am going to say, I'm excited about what I'm looking forward to, right? Because we remember being in a position where we're doing some of the friendly leading up to the World Cup and it was not looking too great, right? So you get on so grim after we've just been absolutely shell-acked by Turkey or Switzerland. Did you be like, we go, we got to do this. Come on, let's do this. So the energy, the positivity, the feeling of newness, that first off Peru did soak it up. They sprang forward in moments and are this good at one of the rest route. Peru's game plan is lots of parking the bus and then straight conquercapping. The US had a lot of creative instigators on the field. There was Georena, Unis Musa, Kavan Tillman. Not in a focal point. We couldn't find a way really to shoot the ball. You know, it did look like a team of what it is. A team that has not really played together at all, which is the truth. And play was largely broken. And in those moments, you always say to me, Clint, in games like this, you want to see one player individually just decide to step up and take over the game, make their name know. And I couldn't believe Tillman and Reina weren't being that player. But there was that frustrating feeling. No one really seemed to be the one to say, I got this. Yeah, I mean, there were moments, right? You got Geo with the assist. You had Tillman with the first chance and the half of the keeper made a save that he should have done better with. But then in the second half, you saw some of the experienced players take advantage, kind of be able to break down Peru, the pass for Anthony Robinson to Matisse, to the great job of getting on that side of the defender and drawing the penalty. And once we got the penalty, you started seeing more players start to put their chest out a little bit more. Players likes are about Burr Halter and Julian Hall. And yeah, that's what it's all about. Goals change games and open things up. And the second half was a lot more fun to watch than the first. And I look forward to this next friendly to see if there's going to be some more moments. But like I said, I'm excited about this youth movement. These young players coming in and are hungry and are looking to make a difference. And I thought they did a good job of still having experienced players around them to show them the ropes. And in these games, these friendly games, right? Because pretty soon it's going to get serious. It's going to be nation's league. It's going to be back to Gold Cup and Copa America and World Cup qualifying. And four years ago, Bob, before you know it. Oh, you know, I thought that it was pretty fascinating. Watching the second half play out, you say, goals change games was changed year ago. Coaching came on in gold, 20-year-old Floridian, Barcelona Academy graduate, now playing, I think, in Denmark. Is it going to be a terrific kid I spent time with him this time last year at Barcelona, moved there when he was 13. This moment must have felt magnificent for a local Floridian to take the field here. Second half, large of the US possession, blunt possession. But again, the W 61-minute, 17-year-old Matisse Albert came on from Dortmund's second team. First run, he charged up the flank, cut inside. You say, goals change games. He tangled with Patelli, went down, looked like slightly heavy feeling of gravity and maybe the foul happened out in some of the area. But God bless, home cooking, Clint. We needed this. Yeah, I mean, sometimes you need a little bit of luck on your side, right? He did a great job of getting on that side of the defender, and hey, it looked like his leg caught the defender, which made him get tripping go down into your point. It's one of those close ones, but hey, we got the rub of the green in this situation. Tillman steps up, cool comp collected, puts it in the back of the neck, at net, and then there we start to go in the second half. And started to put our foot down on the gas a little bit more. Tillman first player to score in three straight games for the US since who, Clint? Christian, me, who? Clint Dempsey. There we go. There we go. That's what's up. Did you know that? No, I'm just guessing, but hey, that's what's up. I love that, but that's the second guess. And it is right. How does that make you feel to hear it, man? Anything? Or does it feel like a different time, a different person? No, no, I mean, look, man, I'm proud of what I did with the national team. I gave it everything that I had. And like we always talk about, I emptied the clip out there, man. I tried my best to get as many goals that I could and help us win as many games. So it's good to be one of the players that kind of sets marks. And it's good for other players to come and take it to another level. So I'm glad I had a parts played in our history. I look forward to records, more records being broke. And then, you know, given me and my family, my kids, more to cheer about when we watch these games. Yeah, you got it, Aaron Donald it. You got to we back it. We need this lots of debuts. Gozo, wah, debut Julian Hall, debut 18-year-old Red Bull within minutes. Sebastian Berthalter were possibly the most delicious moment of the game. Whipped in just a viciously dangerous cross. And it was all who was alert to stab home. I mean, that was a stunning moment of that moment was the moment of what could be, Clint. Yeah, when we talk about it, what are some of the most dangerous crosses the balls that you can put in? It's when everybody's facing their own goal, right? He whipped it in. Yeah, it might have came off to the knee of Julian Hall. But he positioned his body well to get that shot on frame. But yeah, great ball whipped in. And then shoot what a goal that he scored when Julian Hall got into a good position. I thought he was cool, calm and collected. He kept possession, kind of found him on top of the box. And Berthalter with the two touches, right? One touch that's on such a set him up. And then the second touch is this shot to close the door and hit it far post. What a statement from him tonight. That was stunning, man. I've got to say Hall wears the name Zakruski in honor of his mother's maiden name. He's a dual citizen, Polish, Poland, a very, very keen on him. They've given him that jersey with that name on the back. He's yet to commit. And the parents and all four friendly could permanently tie him to the United States. Make it happen, Mauricio. Sebastian Berthalter, you've described his goal. Huge, huge respect for him came on. And just, you know, to me, showed the levels between, you know, our raw kids and him receiving that ball, lashing home. Everything he did showed the kind of quality the way forward for what was really a futures game. I mentioned what you make of Sebastian Berthalter. He reminds me a bit of you in many ways, Clinton that he went to England at an age 25 where most English players were already mid-career. But his mentality is very, very serious. Almost Michael Bradley-esque. We just had him on with the other three Middlesbrough Americans. And he's very, very, very locked. He's going to be a leader of this team by 2030. Yeah, I mean, I think he's to continue to grow in confidence and take advantage of the opportunities that he had. And obviously, when you start NMLS, it's tough to break into the national team. When you break into the national team, it opens doors for Europe. And he did his thing, scored a big goal in the World Cup. And I think since he's made his move to play in the championship, he continues to get better. The pace of play over there is going to force him to increase the speed of play and how he processes things. And making his game better in terms of his thinking. And you just saw that with his quality. Not only was the ball in, that caused problems when everybody was facing their own goal, but the way with that first touch set himself up, ball outside of his body to whip it far post. And look, a goal in assist tonight was a big statement. And I'm sure that he's looking to be more as that main guy that's in the start in 11. And that's what he's going to be pushing for. Because when they had the best team, the strongest team in the most important games, it seemed like he was just right there knocking on that door. So I'm sure this cycle, he wants to be in that starting 11. I think he's going to be the player that will emerge from this win day with making himself undeniable. We just wrapped a YouTube poll, which the most prestigious made up award in international football. The men and blazers player of the game you voted just in Alice 3rd with 9% Millie Tillman, 28% and Sebastian Behold to top by some distance. God bless 57% of the votes for one win. We love it. The debut, as you said, probably the story here, a very experimental game. Just nine more months to the goal cut, baby. So which player impression the most and why? Like I said, I mean, I mentioned a lot of players already. You know, like you said, Burr Halter with the goal in assists. I was a huge performance for him tonight. Tillman, getting three goals and three consecutive games. The last player that done that is yours truly. Like you said, Tyler Adams, wearing the arm band, that was big news tonight. And then the other thing is, I'd say, is Alice getting his goal, being on his debut cab and getting his first start and his debut at 16. You got Julian Hall getting his first goal for the national team. And then Matisse causing that, drawing that penalty. So those are some things that caught my eye from watching the game. A lot of fresh me. Mary and Jackson, whole Wyoming asked, can we count that as the second leg of the Belgium game? I think that's how it works. By the way, I just said it was elated to watch Eunice Muses return first in 18 months. I think he was largely there. The Solman, Punish one Christian, Policic didn't report for the, for that last summer, he's been a joy at Milan this season. A lovely little flickering connection with Kevin Sullivan in this game. I am here for the Eunice Muses redemption art. We need him. There was a mistake to exile him. At James Chapman 842A1 to know, how come Aiden Morris doesn't get a chance? That's a question on my lips. So I want to ask you, before we take a quick, a couple of quick questions, which players from the game, would you pick to ride with you in a five aside, in the Mexican league, in Naga.js? Clint, take it away. Well, I mean, I've already kind of said the players that kind of stood out to me. So I'd go for the experienced players. I would pick Tyler Adams, Malik Tillman, Sebastian Burhalter from today. Burhalter with the goal and assist. Tillman with the goal. Matisse draw on the penalty. I'm going to show some love to some of the young books. Julie and Hall are getting the goal. So show some love to him. And then maybe people on the bench, maybe maybe Kevin, and maybe Ellis. Clint, I love this team. It's almost like Chelsea. You're just like all the time. We're not even having a goalkeeper. We do not know. No, hell, no. We're making the goal small, man. You know, five aside. We just need people who can take a punch in the face and a bill from the streets of Naga.js. You mentioned earlier, one slight bummer for me. We wondered if the team would have a World Cup bump in terms of fandom and energy. This game did feel very back to the pre-World Cup days. Lots of purple empty seats, reports from the game. Had it a 45% Peru turn out. Still got work to do. You've already talked about this to make this national team matter again, Clint. Yeah, I mean, it's that bounce what you talk about, right? You want to go somewhere where the stadium is going to be packed. So you try to pick where the city is of your opponent that those fans might turn out to add to the fan base of the US. But I just feel like the main priority for friendlies is to try to, you know, better on home soil, try to create the atmospheres where you're going to see that the big American crowds. So to your point, I thought we could have capitalized a little bit better, maybe in terms of location for having that game, maybe as many people didn't come up because we didn't have all of our stars back with the team. But look, take nothing away from the team tonight. They did what they needed to do. I mean, you see the youth movement. You have some of the experienced players as well stepping up. That's the best you can do in this window is win every game. We got one down three to go. So let's get moving. We're going to get to the questions. That GeoPast 7871 in the chat says, I'm in the show, me state of fandom. I understand talk is a business, but it's just double A ball. Between now and 2828, let's get to the questions. Reminded how it works on YouTube, scan the QR code, or click the pin comment in the chat. Unmute when I call the name. We're going to take a couple because my wife's going to kill me in a minute if we're late for dinner. Let's start with a mighty Jake. Tell us where you're from and what your question is. Good night. Hey boys, this is Jake from Tampa. It's GeoP here with you. And I've got a, I think I've got a pretty fun question. He touched on the upcoming matches, how we want to see the boys win those ones too. With this creative squad, which of these games left are you most excited to watch? It'd be fun to see these young guys get a kick at a Canada or a Mexico, especially when they've grown up watching those big games. So I'd love to hear which of those you're looking forward to the most. I'm imagining it's going to be one of those two. Jake, what a beautiful question. Clinton, we got Chile, the mighty Chile. Then we got Mexico in Arizona. And then the Canada game to wrap this thing off. Which do you think is the peak in terms of what you're looking forward to? Cool. The peak, I'd probably say Mexico, just because of the rivalry over the years. And it's a chance for a lot of the new, younger, hungry players that we have to experience that. And then also a little bit of this new rivalry that we're having with Canada in terms of how they've been performing in the last few cycles and also a Cova America and the last nation's leagues with the history with the US and them. So yeah, you hit them down the head. Mexico, Canada, those are going to be exciting to watch and a chance for some of our young players to get their feet wet in terms of those robberies. I've got to say, these young players playing against Mexico in Arizona where it is going to be 75%, 80%, Mexican fans making it feel like it's in Mexico City. That is going to be, I mean, just that experience is going to be fascinating to watch. I do think Canada, the Jesse Marciera, is absolutely just in the lead clash of footballing, wonder, vengeance, redemption, shit, how's it rate? Oh, the bloody good stuff. I can't wait for either of these two. We're going to take from Angela from Naples, Florida, one of my favorite Naples definitely top three of all time. Are you there, Angela? Yeah, I'm here. My question for you guys is that even though these next few games are just friendlies, should we see this game as like a true change of the guard and it's pochotino slowly like stepping away from the go to generation that has so far flop. Whoa, what a question. Clint, we remember the goal cup where it was like, yes, I only care about these young players now and then he kind of got rid of most of the goal, the goal cup, squad Antonio, Freeman, Alex Freeman, Max Austin, Sebastian Borhalter, ultimately with the ones that kind of came through and lasted, is this kind of another just open casting? Is it a real change in the, the guard? And like that last piece from Angela, the goal generation and it flopping. That's, I mean, I don't know how you think about that, but there's two questions in there, baby. I'm not, I don't think it's the change in the guard. I think it's a chance to strengthen our squad and add some more youth and excitement and some hunger and try to find a little bit better balance and more competition for spots to create a more dynamic team, that's gonna be set up to hopefully take it steps further than what they've been doing. So, I mean, that's what the game plan is and to see that you have to experiment a little bit and I think that's what he's doing in the best place and best time to experiment is in friendly situations. And then pretty soon, things will start to heat up a little bit more. I think Chile is still another opportunity to try some things and get some new faces in there than gonna go with probably stronger lineups, Mexico and Canada. But I still think you'll have a better idea of who he thinks his main players are when we get to the nation's league games, to the goal cup games, Copa America games, World Cup qualifying, that's what you're gonna know, right? This is still just experimental, getting people their feet wet, get them experience and see who are these young new faces that could come in and push for spots with our best 18. I think he's honestly doing both. He's wide net casting for a couple of talent. He's definitely gonna replace some of the golden generation which ones we do not know, but he's also trying to send the signal to the rest. Western McKinney's going nowhere. Western McKinney loves to be put on the edge, the precipice and then he suddenly places it. All of this is, who, sorry to interrupt, but who from the golden generation are you taking away? I'm telling you know, Tim Reem, finally. Is he considered gold generation? I think in the 1950s, golden generation, the one that'd be England one, they know. It's so, I mean, I don't understand the Brendan Aronson constant snubs. I don't, this is a kid that's like playing in the Premier League and I don't understand what he's done to be mineralized. The Tim way I think, I mean, the problem is, Pots doesn't talk about anything. You know, he always does his, let's talk about the players who are here, respect the players. We don't really know what we're doing or where we are. I mean, I do, who would, of the players from the golden generation, who do you think we've seen the last of? I don't know, I mean, when I think of golden generation, I think more of the young players that we had at that time, right? Even though you had some, a few experienced players that were part of those cycles, I still think when you look at, you know, Tyler Adams, Western McKinney, Christian Policic, you know, Serginio Dess, I mean, there's still plenty of players that are around, right? So like, how many do you have to have not in the team to say that you moved on per se, right? So, look, you still got Gio around, knocking out the door. They're still peppy. So, look, it's one of those things they're like, I think there'll still be the footprint of some of the golden generation players. It's just going to be a little bit of a better mix. I mean, I think it's fascinating. I do think of all of everyone in this full game window. Gio Rina has to show, has to show that he can be the Gio Rina, not of our imagination, but like halfway towards our imagination. You know, this is somebody that we've loaded and raised up and has been given, I'd say, several chances here. But when I think of the golden generation, I like to think Steve Ture and the like, God, I miss that man. We're going to take this call really quickly before we wrap, because he's been on and I'm really grateful. And I think it's a beautiful question to end on Nick B. Come on up, tell us where you're from and watch your question for the mighty clinic. Thanks, guys, I'm from Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, home of Joe Nameth. And first, I wanted to say to Clint, thank you so much for everything that you've done for the US game. I grew up watching you and now I have three sons, five, three, and one, and I'm coaching them. So I just really appreciate everything. My question is about Kevin Sullivan. You know, what's his realistic expectations? And I guess your thoughts on his ceiling and what he can bring to the lineup moving forward. Thanks. Yeah, great question. Thanks for showing love, by the way, appreciate that. Good luck with coaching them up and getting them to the national team one day. So that's what it's all about, man. But in terms of Kevin's game, I mean, look, he has a little bit of it all. He's good finisher. He's good at creating opportunities for other players. He creates opportunities for himself. I just think maybe find a little bit more of a balance in terms of when to take people on, when to take more risk and when to be a little bit more tidy with it and keep possession. And look, you fill out the rhythm of the game. Sometimes when you're losing one, two passes in a row, then maybe you play a little bit more simple and then you find yourself in a situation where you're in the attack and third again and then try some more stuff. So look, it's a learning process and figure out how you can be more effective in the attack and third and what positions you need to take up to be the difference maker. So he's filling that out. He did that process in Philly. And you can see how much he's really started to improve, especially, I would say, this season more so than any. So I'm looking forward to that development that he's going to have with the US team, getting more opportunities in there, figuring out what Pochitino wants to see more from him and then just kind of taking his game on. Because the whole process of being a professional player is always in adaptation, right? You're always figuring out how you can you best adapt to whatever situation you're put in. And that's kind of like bringing your own game there, but still you have to play within the guidelines of the structure of the team and figure out how you can still be productive. So he'll figure it out. I'm not going to say what the ceiling is in this and that. But just as long as he doesn't lose who he is, the reason why he loves the game and why he plays it and keep his creativity and stay taken risk, it's a process. So we'll just have to wait and see. Develop, grow, keep pushing. This is just the beginning. It's just the beginning of this window. Clint, you know, we'll be back Tuesday night after the Chile game. Right here in the Men and Blazers YouTube at 10 p.m. Eastern time. I'll be broadcasting from Seattle. I think Seattle San Francisco way. I can't remember. Can't wait for that. But Clint, we then we got the big one. We're back with another Men and Blazers alt cast on true TV in HBO Max presented by Mary at Bomboy. Goes down Tuesday, October 6 at 8 p.m. Eastern time. Clint, guess it'll be like the man in cast, but with, well, for me slightly less hair. Clint, thanks for being with me. I want to say it's just an honor to break down a US win in this moment with a victory seltzer and an American icon just like you. Yes, sir, always good to see brother. Thanks for everything and appreciate all the collars. Great questions. Amazing to be with you. Until next time, it's not take a second watching football together for granted and go go USA. The one question I get most after all that football memory making we experienced across America this summer is, how do I keep the magic going? Let's start by saying, articulate what you love the most and then build on it. First that, find a team that will most probably break your heart and then add all the supporting necessities to build your weekend tradition, the key to so many of mine. It's Walmart. The place that has it all, the snacks, the coffee, the pies. You can also get the TV at Walmart, the hoodie to wear on your couch. Get the couch if you need it and wait. It gets better because they're expressed delivery can get it right to your door. So you're all set for kick off. Whenever you match, they need time. You can find them at walmart.com slash soccer. Delivery timing varies by order size, traffic, weather and demand, subject to availability fees and terms apply.