ESPN FC Full Show ⚽ Recapping the International Window for USMNT & Argentina

ESPN FC

ESPN FC recaps the USMNT and Argentina international window and discusses the Ronaldo row plus Liverpool vs Manchester City

The show reviews the USMNT's four wins and Pochettino's look at young players, then pays tribute to Lionel Messi's Argentina career. It also discusses Cristiano Ronaldo's dispute with his manager, the financial-charges cloud over Liverpool vs Manchester City, Liverpool's current state and Italy's performance. The overall view is that the US have promise but still have work to do, Messi has secured his historical status, and the panel disagree over who is to blame in the Ronaldo affair.

Today on ESPN FC, the panel recaps the United States’ successful international window and Lionel Messi’s final match with Argentina. 0:00 USMNT vs. Canada 3:29 Lionel Messi’s final match for Argentina 8:18 Cristiano Ronaldo 19:20 Liverpool vs. Manchester City preview 29:36 Shaka’s International Power Rankings 32:19 Extra Time ✔️ Subscribe to ESPN Unlimited: https://plus.espn.com/ ESPN ESPNFC

Transcript

Welcome into the latest edition of ESPNFC. K Murray and Shaka Hisop here in the studio kicking things off tonight with a little USA against Canada. So the USA have beaten [music] Peru, Chile, Mexico, and now Canada in this international window, the first international window since the World Cup and Mauricio Pochettino has very much used it to take a look at numerous players and some of those youngsters as well. Let's welcome in Jermaine Jones to talk more about what we saw in this game. What stood out to you Germaine in this clash? >> Um the similar to the to the other games what I saw against Mexico already that um we won what is good but I still believe that the game was an open game and even the numbers said right position was 50/50. I think Canada had enough chances too to score goals at the end. Um, I think we can be happy that we won it and um, but we still have to, you know, there's some work to do, but I'm pretty sure that Mo Pettino is he's happy with all the results in this in this cycle and um, in in the especially the young players he saw. It's just amazing to see how much quality is really on the field. >> He's been given a lot to think about, hasn't he, Shaka? >> He has. Um, he he used a lot of those young players. A lot was made of the score that he named to start with and and how much youth um got called up, how many debuts were given over the course of of this international window and he used a lot of them and on a couple of occasions and again changing goalkeeper which has been a problem position for for the US and all in all it's been a successful window in that you've won all four games in that window against decent opposition as I mentioned you give a lot of kids opportunities. you see what the future looks like. Um, truth be told though, this game was one that I think Pochettino would quite happily forget. I know I know I would. Um, I I'm not I I didn't see the quality from the US in this game that you saw against Mexico. And maybe it's because of the kind of emotional circumstance and playing against Mexico and all that that all that brings up, but there was there was not that at all today. and saying that whether whether by by design or or by accident um Canada did not look anything like the team we we know they can be. Jonathan David up front for for Canada despite his good form for for club in Atletico Madrid um he was anonymous during the course of today. So Canada equally um showed no no real quality on on on the day. Um the US were were better only marginally so but again it's it's a game you take the win you move on. I I don't think anybody will kind of reference this again going forward. >> What are you most confident and positive about Jermaine from what you've seen in this window from Pochettino and his men? >> That um that you don't have to play always then an amazing game like Chaka said today yesterday when they played against Canada. It was not the same game like they played against Mexico but still with this young group to get the win and we all know it's not easy to win against Canada. So um that's always tough games. You you know there's always trying to light a little bit fire before the game. Um but still I think if you see the young group what we had and in all games uh we played I think we can be excited and and look forward for the future what's come. >> Obviously the World Cup back in 2022 FIFA World Cup runner up two-time copper America winner. Two time FIFA World Cup golden ball winner. 21 goals in 34 World Cup games, second most all time behind Mbappé, and 126 goals and 67 assists in 208 career appearances, [music] which is his second most goals all time behind Cristiano Ronaldo. Don Hutcherson joining us. Jermaine Jones still with us. I'm laughing at him saying I'm talking more than ever because that is what stood out. You never hear this much from Lionel Messi, but it was a very special night. He's left us with some very special memories. on this band of brothers. You can see what it means to him. He's now going to be on the sidelines watching the Argentine team, but what memories he left us with, especially in the later stages of his career with Argentina. >> Just absolutely amazing. And the way you spoke there, Kay, I was watching Scaloney, I was watching Messi deliver a perfect speech after the game. And it's almost like if you're Scaloney, you'd bring him on your coaching staff for the next World Cup because you can see how passionate he is for Argentina. You can see how much he loves them. I'll try and I'll try and die on that Maradona hill because I idolize Maradona. But when I think of Messi, I think Argentina. I'm glad he won the World Cup. I'm glad he ticked that one off on off the box if you like. But I think when I watch him and my memory goes back to him in a Barca shirt under Pep. The guy was just unplayable. He was at the peak of his powers. Uh he could not be stopped whether he played wide, whether he played number 10, whether he played number nine. his appetite for the game, the longevity that he's had, how good he was as well, how he lived his life to be a professional footballer, um, has to be admired as well. But the skill levels, you know, you you talk about the best players that's ever played the game. And depending on what camp you're in, he has to be in that conversation. >> Finishing your career on your own terms, your international career here though, Jermaine, is just what any footballer would hope for, isn't it? >> Oh, yeah. Um, but it it was it was clear that it will come to to the end for him. And I think he's he's he's class. He's not only class on the field. I think you can see it even with the the speech he does he does in in the stadium that um I have a a couple friends from Argentina and they say there was always the debate Messio Maradona because he never won the World Cup and since that is the case that he won it um everybody's like loving him over there and um and I can say I had the privilege to share the field with him against him and what a player um I always try to explain to my kids you guys. I don't know when you will see another guy like him how he played um because it was just un unbelievable what a player he was. >> Tell us a little bit more about that, Jermaine. What it was like to play against him. >> Oh yeah, it's um you know I I always faced him um especially playing as a six when he played more as a 10. I faced him when he played in Barcelona when he came from the sides um with with Shikke. Um he's somebody he's smart. A lot of times people will say when he was in Barcelona, he was a little bit younger, he was running more. Um, but still on his feet with the ball, he's he has a he's I say this generation of of Messi, Agüero, um, there was Teis, they were all a little bit stucky and and strong. You were not able to tackle them. And but with him, he had everything. He can pass, he can score goals, he can go one against one. He he sometimes then even he's he start putting headers in where you think like he's not the biggest but um yeah it was just a mess playing against him but now looking back I'm happy that I had the pleasure to to face up against him. Yeah, what a privilege. End of an era, Shaq. >> It certainly is. There's no other way to put it. Don mentioned Lena Messi in a Barcelona shirt when I think of Lan Messi in an Argentina shirt and and in particular what's happened over the last what four years. um my mind can't help but go back to 2016 when they lost the Copa America final to Chile and he said then that that he would retire convinced to come out of retirement and from that point on Argentina have just been certainly unstoppable both in comball and and in world football and Lionel Messi was was a key part uh to that even want to talk about his his final game and yes I know it's a friendly against Benin and um his sendoff game but he's involved in in everything that That's good from Argentina. Yet again, it's a difficult job to replace him. Um Argentina will have to figure out what life looks like after Lionel Messi, but for right now, let's just enjoy um what his career has has meant over the last couple of decades >> about it being the end. And Cristiano Ronaldo himself wrote, "Lo, so many years defending your country and a history that will last forever. All my respect for what you have achieved with Argentina a hug." And so while we are on the subject of Cristiano Ronaldo, let's get you [music] some of the reaction to him revealing his side of the story about leaving the national team setup. That was that very lengthy quote from Cristiano Ronaldo and the papers have all reacted to that in Portugal. Ronaldo tells all Ronaldo's truth. Ronaldo wants to return but blame Jesus. I apologize to the Portuguese people. Ronaldo asks for forgiveness but crucifies Jesus. So Jose has made a statement himself that's come out today in response to Cristiano's comments yesterday. He said, "I read this statement and now like I do every day. I'm going to the Federation headquarters to work to think about the Portuguese national team. I have nothing more to say." And we did want to bring you a little more of what Cristiano Ronaldo said in his statement. He said what had been agreed was simple. The coach would start his press conference with this topic, seeking to close the matter by telling the truth. He would say that I had never asked to play a single minute, that it was he and no one else who had proposed the schedule for the camp, and that sending me to warm up without bringing me on had been a mistake he wouldn't repeat. We ended [music] that meeting with the coach asking me to hug him, promising me that he would say in the press [music] conference what he had just told me and that we would turn the page. A short document was drafted which I personally approved [music] and which to my knowledge was handed to the coach as he had requested. The notes I had approved were as follows. And then we take it to [music] number six which was I made a mistake by sending a player of the stature of Pelle or Maradona to warm [music] up only to ultimately not bring him on. If I had to do it over today, I wouldn't do it. Don and Jermaine still with us. Don, I heard you were fired up about this. What's got you all riled up? >> Um, I just think when you look at the the the send off that Messi's had, it's it's it's joyous. It's it's him thanking everyone for the time that he spent in an Argentina shirt and Ronaldo seems to have gone about a different way. I'm not a Ronaldo hater at all. I'm just frustrated that the way it's panning out for him because he's obviously been a legendary player, like one of the very best. We talk about Messi and I and I said before it depends what camp you're in, but you're having the conversation, you would talk about Ronaldo. He might not be your favorite. He might not be your number one, but he would come into the conversation and I think it's very unfair that he seems seems to be putting this on George Jesus who managed him at al-Nasa. He knows what Ronaldo can do and can't do at 41 years of age. So, I get that Ronaldo's got an ego. I get that he wants to play every single minute or he wants to play minutes for the national side. I think they need to to build bridges for sure, but I don't think it's on Georg Jesus to promise or guarantee any player even though he is one of the best in the world or has been one of the best in the world. He's now 41. You can't guarantee players minutes. Gonzalo Ramos has started three games now in a row and he scored in all three games and they've won games. So, I just like to see Ronaldo have this if he wants to carry on, carry on. But I don't think his ego, and this is not a criticism of him because elite players at his level have got an ego. They they carry an ego. They they carry it that they've got something about them that's just built different than anyone else. But will Ronaldo because George Au said the other day, I'm paraphrasing, but he said he's told Ronaldo he's very important to him. Now that's been lost and I think a little bit in translation really because what Jous is basically saying to Ronaldo is listen at 41 you can't start every single game but you might get 10 minutes at the end of a game you might get five minutes at the end of a game when you're a legendary player like Ronaldo your ego doesn't allow you or doesn't want you just to come on for five minutes of a game I've seen that with Totty at Roma and it ended incredibly bad so I I just I'd like to see him build bridges. I'd like to see Ronaldo back in a Portugal shirt for sure, but I don't think that he can demand on what games he's going to play in and what sort of minutes. That has to be down to the manager. This is not a charity game. This is not a soccer rate game when you play for Portugal. You are playing elite level football and the responsibility has to be with the manager to pick what he thinks is the best 11 and the best subs coming off the bench. >> And yet in Cristiano's comments, he did say that the coach had asked for him in a game he wasn't expecting to play. asked him if he had 30 minutes in him and I know that you Shaka have had a bit of a change in your own opinion after seeing Cristiano's comments on this whole situation. I yeah listen I I I think this is down to George Jesus and and kind of reading reading Ronaldo's statement where he play he started against Wales Ge Jesus used him from from the opening whistle he lasted somewhere between 65 and and and 17 minutes and then the plan was as as far as Ronaldo Ronaldo knows or or George George Jesus came to tell him was he would not feature against Denmark or Norway. Um, Georgia just went so fast to say, "You can stay in Portugal." To which Ronaldo responded, "Listen, I'm I'm team captain. I'll at least travel with the team. I'm I'm coming. I'm I know I'm not playing, but I'll come with the team." And then at some point before that that first game on that road trip, George Jesus gets a message to him, we're going to use it for 30 minutes. So then he get kind of gets prepared and well to Ronaldo's statement, he he's he's talking about his his recovery post the Wales game. Now, I don't know what that looks like. That's not something I ever worried about myself. Um, but at 41 years old and and and performing at the level that he does, he's got his routines and George Aus got him to change that routine and then change it back again when when he doesn't play. So, I understand why why Ronaldo's upset because, you know, this was the understanding that they spoke about a long time before. Um and then all of a sudden in the moment George Jesus changes things which to George Jesus's credit you know he he can do but you certainly you've got to manage any 41year-old never mind Cristiano Ronaldo you've got to manage any 41y old far more delicately than you would a 26 year old. So I I totally understand I I think this is down to Jous I don't put this on on on Ronaldo at all. I I will also add to to to to Don's point. I don't think it it um damages his legacy, nor do I think it changes what his sendoff may look like in in comparing it to Lionel Messi. Whenever that time comes, whenever that decision is made, I I think he'll be as warmly received by the Portuguese people as Lionel Messi was by the Argentines. >> Germaine, what have you made of the back and forth between Ronaldo and Jesus? Um yeah, for me in the beginning I was thinking um more in defense of the coach, but now even after the statements, I have a problem with a coach making statements to players or promises. So that's just a problem, especially if you have a player like Cristiano Ronaldo, he's 41 years old. You don't know if he's for the next World Cup or Euros if you even plan with him because you have Ramos is playing and scoring and you have younger guys, they're making just the next step. So of course if you promise a player like Cristiano Ronaldo that you will put him in after 30 minutes or give him 30 minutes that then he will wait for that 30 minutes and he wants to get that minutes because um if not his ego is too big because I cannot see Cristiano like Messi stepping away from I think the toughest part is always if you have players in that category is two options. they step away alone or they have to put by side by somebody else and um and you see it in different sport it happens um in Cristiano I will be sad if that happens in in that direction because he's just incredible player what he did for football in general but um yeah we will see how this all ended but I don't think it was smart from the coach to make um yeah the calls like he did >> Don was there something specifically with the fact that Pelle and Maradona were mentioned that had got you thinking on this statement? >> Well, no. I I I just think I mean from what I read I mean I mean I might be totally wrong but from what I read and how I took it is Ronaldo was asking George Jesus to mention Ronaldo in the same breath as Pelle Maradona. I mean I don't know why his PR team would allow him to write a 2,000word essay if you like. I just think I just think if you're Ronaldo pick up the phone to the coach I don't know why you've got to tell the world. I don't know why you can't. He doesn't want to end. He doesn't want to end. And and that's credit to him. He feels as though at 41 he can go on. And I commentated on a on a on a Al-Nasa game probably about two months ago now. And they were down to 10 men. Al-Nasa were 2-0 down. An Postoloo took him off at Halime because it was hard work for a 41y old trying to lead the line against a team when they had 10 v1 and his team were 2-0il down. They went on to win the game 3-2. He put younger legs on. So to Shaka's point, I think you know, you can promise Ronaldo if you're George A Jesus, you're gonna get on for some minutes, 30 minutes, but sometimes in a game it might go in a different direction and the coach has got the prerogative in my opinion being the manager to say, "Well, listen, I wanted to get you on and I told you before the game I would get you on, but the game didn't dictate that. It didn't allow it. So I couldn't bring you on. We wanted to win the game." That was the most important thing. And then that's how it should have went. But listen, if I'm a manager and I'm dro dropping Shaka, I don't think Shaka Shaka's flying home in a private jet just because I didn't put him on. Surely you've got to have something about you where you accept the coach's decision. You don't like it and you hate it and we all do as players, but you can't just like fly off in a tantrum and act like a baby. >> Yeah. You do you not use your private chat anymore, Shaq? >> No. Not for international fixtures. >> Fair enough. >> Yeah. Germaine, before we let you go, we're enjoying your backdrop today. We wanted you to talk us through some of what's behind you in your shot today. We can see a a trophy. Oh, that's Yeah, tell us. Talk us through it. >> Um, that was my first jersey when I played for the US team in Chicago against Poland. >> What else have we got there? Man of the match. >> Man of the match. There's some ESPN best moments. Um, SP award, the World Cup, Kata. Yeah, when I worked for TV and then some medals. >> Nice. >> Look at that. Very nice. >> Yeah. Do have a private jet like me though. >> No, I know. Not many do. [laughter] Jermaine, thank you so much for joining us tonight. We look forward to speaking to you again very soon. >> Thank you guys. Bye-bye. >> Domestic football is back this weekend. A reminder of how things are looking in the Premier League. Manchester City top five games in three points ahead of Arsenal, but of course they are back in action for the first time since being found guilty of almost all the financial charges against them. And it is a trip to Anfield that awaits them. So we had to welcome in our Beth Lindop to talk more about that. Don Hutcherson is still