Dan Le Batard

That is a top-tier opponent.

So I do think this is going to be a little cagey, especially early on.

I think we're going to be a little nervy.

But even if the United States—hell, even if they lose—

The tournament format allows for a third place finisher in the group to advance even to the knockout stages.

They're taking eight teams that finish third.

So it's not dead the way that it would be in previous tournaments, but a big one if you want to get an easier draw in the knockout stages, which is why you want the U.S.

to win this group.

Mike, I'm having a tough time really getting into this USA team, right?

The generation prior, the Clint Dempsey generation, Tim Howard, Landon Donovan, all those guys I knew.

I feel like I don't know anybody on this team outside of Pulisic.

Yeah, Pulisic is the... Well, they also miss a golden opportunity in missing a World Cup.

This is only Pulisic's second World Cup, and he seems to have been a name that we've all been familiar with for damn near a decade.

Yeah, there's a bit of a transition here, but Balogun is a good player over in France.

Man, so it's been eight years since I've watched U.S.

in the World Cup?

No, no, no.

They were in the last World Cup, but this is only Pulisic's second because they missed the one in Russia because they lost to Trinidad and Tobago.

So that was eight years ago.

That was eight years ago.