Mike Ryan

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I'm not necessarily saying that that's a bad thing, but we're right there on the precipice of a World Cup.

And I'm still struggling to find out what this team's identity is.

And if I don't know what their identity is, it's hard for me to project a starting 11 that's our best starting 11.

So what do you make of that?

Paraguay and Australia.

Yeah, I don't want to be going into Australia needing a result because some really great teams have run into that nation in the past.

Italy famously had a classic match against Australia in 06 when they won the World Cup.

They can be tough, and there's not a lot of difference between

Between these teams on the international level, you have these players less in camp.

And if you run into a team that's really organized, that has a break go their way, your hopes are dashed.

And Tom Bogert may be burning down an entire soccer federation.

Tom, one of the criticisms over our lifetimes as U.S.

soccer fans is U.S.

soccer fans are borderline delusional.

with their optimism and their standing in the world.

Now, I don't know if this says more about us and the way that the world has gone over the last 10 years, but it feels like we've done a total 180.

You do a vibe check on the U.S.

soccer fan right now, vibes are certainly not overly enthusiastic, bordering on delusion about their global standing.

Outside of maybe Tim Howard and Landon Donovan talking about Deuce Dempsey's, you know,