Futbol Americas: Pepi Injured + CONCACAF Impact in Madrid Derby + Liga MX Check-In
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Early morning on a Manhattan sidewalk, a shooting caught on surveillance video.
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What up, what up, everyone? Football Americas. We are back on this fine Monday. I'm Alexis Yuniz hanging out with a pair of US Men's National Team greats in Hercules Gomez and Casey Keller. Lots to get to today because a pair of CONCACAF stars absolutely shone brightly in the Madrid Derby. One that's gonna make Herc very, very happy to talk about. Plus, from CONCACAF to Conmebol, one very, very special. Rafinha, probably the best number nine. That's not a number nine. We're gonna talk about him later on, indeed. But speaking of number nines, that's where we're gonna start today. But as it relates to the US men's national team, because wearing scenes on the eve of the international break, as Ricardo Pepe had to be subbed off in PSV's game on Sunday after just eight minutes on the pitch.
It's believed to be a muscle injury for the American. And now it's confirmed that he will indeed be missing this international break. And it seems Maurizio Pochettino has already replaced him with Damien Downs in the squad. Now I say this is concerning scenes because we know that Ricardo Pepe does have a history with certain injuries, and it's such a shame to come at this time, considering he has been in quite fine form, scoring a lot of goals, and we've been talking. About how this could have been a big international window for him. So let's start there. Herc, this is your area of the pitch. And as I said, we know that the US men's national team, in this international window, they do have options just on a whole.
But personally, how big of a setback is this, especially with the Balogun situation still uncertain?
Well, this is why it's a setback, and not for the US men's nationality, but for Riccardo Pepe. Finally, Riccardo Pepe had the chance at PSV to be the man. And we were putting goal quotas on Riccardo Pepe's season. And one of the asterisks that I would always put there is: if healthy, Ricardo Pepe's gonna score double-digit goals plus 20 in the Eridivisi. If healthy, well, here he is, not healthy. And the one call-up, the one international. Fixture, the window that you have where Father and Balogun, who was one of the best players at the World Cup for the US men's national team, won't be available, and the guys who are behind you because they would be behind you in that depth chart position, aren't known commodities, it would have been your position to lose.
And here you are, and you can't defend that position. You're in pole position and you can't get out of the gates. You're not in the race. So now Julian is a good idea.
What happened to Ricardo Pepi and how will his injury affect the USMNT?
Julian Hall, Justin Ellis, and Damian Downs, they'll be the guys. So you're thinking to yourself, what should be Ricardo's Peppi's to lose is now lost. He's not in this running. So it doesn't mean Ricardo Peppi is out of contention for future call-ups. It just means the one opportunity with Fowler and Balogun not breathing down his neck, he had to take advantage of and he couldn't even be there to compete.
Casey, we touched on this on ESBN FC yesterday and you're just absolutely gutted for him more on a personal level.
Yep, for sure. I mean uh you do. You you wait for those opportunities. You there's there's a point where You have to push to get the opportunity, but the guy in front of you also has to slip up to give you the chance to get in. Now, you mentioned it. Balligan was one of our best players during the World Cup. He took his form from league into the World Cup. So Pepe was always kind of not able to make up the distance. And at the same point that you made, He never really established himself as the true starter for club. For
club level. Yeah. So
look the junk for the longest time. So now you're in a situation where you're given the reins at the club level because of whatever the Balogun situation is, um, whatever that is, you are gonna get the opportunity in this four matches.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:01–3:03
2
What happened to Ricardo Pepi and how will his injury affect the USMNT?
3:03–7:01
3
Who can replace Pepi for Mexico and what are the options for the US striker position?
7:01–18:38
4
How will Mauricio Pochettino adjust his system with the missing number‑nine?
18:38–37:15
5
What were the key moments and standout performances in the Madrid Derby?
37:15–54:44
6
Why is Jonathan David considered the best CONCACAF nine right now?
54:44–1:12:40
7
How did Miguel Borja’s ‘golazo’ change the momentum in the Clasico Nacional?
1:12:40–1:20:39