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00:00Final match before Maurizio Pochettino names his World Cup squad the United States taking on Portugal
00:07And Maurizio Pochettino making six changes from the side that lost here against Belgium on Saturday
00:13Including a goal where Matt Fries gets the chance to start once again tonight
00:18And at this point just before the World Cup squad is named Kyle Martino
00:23He is the presumptive number one, isn't he?
00:25He is. Yeah, he is. And
00:28I'm not hypercritical on Matt Turner. The scoreline would say the goalkeeper didn't perform
00:33Well, I don't think that has anything to do with it
00:35Matt Fries is the number one if this was the first game of the World Cup
00:39He'd be the starter and so obviously a real good test for him and
00:45Pochettino obviously has to make a roster decision, but he's got some time to make the starting 11 decision. That's
00:50true
00:51The World Cup countdown continues right here in Atlanta
00:54And for some of the players on this pitch tonight one last chance to make a case for a place
01:00on the biggest
01:00Stage of all but for this team as a whole there is a need for redemption after
01:07We are underway in downtown Atlanta as Portugal are the opposition Portugal coming into this one having tied nil-nil
01:17with Mexico at Estadio Azteca and
01:20And they had 65 percent possession in that game Roberto Martinez their head coach
01:26Talking to us yesterday about the fact that they really had plenty of chances to
01:32Get the victory in Mexico at the weekend. He wants better decisions from his players in the final third
01:39Portugal heading towards a World Cup spot this summer as well having secured their place through qualifying last fall
01:46Here's where who picks it up down the right side in a more advanced role today for the us
01:50He's got support on this right touchdown from Berhalter and the team you're looking to get it away. They're the
01:55PSG midfielder
01:59Tempo start to this game
02:03As it's played out wide to the far side by Nacio but now it's a chance for Weston McKinney
02:10Driven in there by Tillman
02:19Rocio Pochettino looking for a reaction and looking for intensity today
02:24And he and his staff were
02:26Showing the team some data on
02:28Just the drop-off from taking Uruguay as a benchmark and and it was really those those split in the
02:33field into thirds that those middle
02:35Transition getting into defensive positions. It was that closing down the ball. It was that confrontation. It was lacking last
02:40game
02:49Here's a look at that last chance really poor giveaway here
02:53I wonder if Weston McKinney can hit this first time with his left
02:55I mean the goal scoring for him he's on
02:57There was a window there to get it off early the deflection takes the pace off of it
03:02Right start from the U.S.
03:05Luke and Kyle in the booth and Melissa is pick side
03:08Great energy Luke and Kyle you guys were talking about intensity before and that's exactly what I felt even when
03:13I was interviewing Alex Freeman before
03:15Kick and you see it amongst the players here during the warm-up you see it with the coaching staff
03:20They've coming in with grit after that loss against belgium the other day and you definitely feel that energy and
03:25even in these first three minutes
03:32Walkway higher towards the back post as Freeman flips it away here and another chance
03:36For Freeman and now McKinney to get it away to Weyer down the right side
03:43Slightly different role for Christian Pulisic today
03:46Playing as a central attacking player Maurizio Pochettino talking to us about the need to get Christian Pulisic
03:53Involved more going forward in a more central role
03:58So he starts today without
04:01An identifiable central striker Balogun had played at the weekend
04:04That's one of the changes that is made with Balogun dropping out of course
04:07Adjaman
04:08Pepe would be options as well, but it's Pulisic's role tonight
04:12I mean if i'm Adjaman or Pepe i'm i'm scratching my head i'm wondering this is the last chance
04:17I have to make this this roster and
04:19And maybe Pochettino has them in the roster and he has his decisions already made
04:24But i'd be a little bummed that you play a false nine you haven't done this
04:28And if Balogun's gonna sit one of those guys definitely expects to be up top. We'll see if the tactic
04:32works
04:34Picked up in the midfield here by
04:37Morris Morris alongside berhalter
04:40In the center of midfield as it's pushed forward towards Pulisic
04:46So Pochettino wanting to make sure they're able to support Christian Pulisic and get enough bodies around him as this
04:51ball is
04:51Trapping into the middle it's cleared away onto the far side
04:58Roberto Martinez a head coach who knows all about
05:01World Cups before having been to a couple as a manager got a third place finish with belgium in 2018
05:07a group exit as belgium underperformed in qatar in 2022
05:15Challenge coming in there on the far side from the benfica defender araujo
05:22And now pulisic brings it down and looks to link up with mckenny
05:26Support down that left side from anthony robinson who drills it into the middle berhalter was charging forward but couldn't
05:31get there and the flag is up for offside
05:34The one thing we're seeing right out of the gate is the commitment from the midfielders to make those runs
05:37through that's the good part about
05:40Pulisic when he gets in wide positions he draws so much attention we're gonna look right here to see if
05:44that's off
05:44Yeah, you can see the cut of grass right there just leaning into an offside position but look at berhalter
05:49Just crashing the bars
05:53Berhalter alongside morris in the midfield and they started together
05:57In the 5-1 win against uruguay in tampa in november berhalter scored his first international goal that game got
06:04an assist as well
06:05It's the only other time they started together pulisic with the ball off
06:09And chance for tilman here it's back to christian pelisic
06:12The block comes in to put it behind off fatinha
06:16For a corner on the far side a positive start from the united states what a lovely combination and again
06:22for portugal just a poor give
06:24Giveaway in the midfield a step from trusty and just lends the ball
06:30Perfect timing on that overlap
06:32Doesn't catch a lot of that one you can see he's trying to get his body position right run around
06:37the ball
06:37patina there to
06:39Block it but an early look there for christian pelisic
06:45But halter across to the far side to take this corner
06:51Austin trusty for from the back
06:53to it
06:57Weston mckinney with the goal that gave the us the lead at the weekend against belgium scored on a set
07:03piece last game one touch
07:04I mean how does he get that wide open and freeman's wide open behind him
07:09Martinez saw him immediately go out of that technical area of all the players getting weston
07:14McKinney i mean you watch the tape last game that was one of the bright spots
07:19Tried to get a lot of power on that and just couldn't snap it in
07:22Portugal giving it away there as they look to clear from the back of the referee
07:27Spencer blonsky of germany his first u.s game will give the free kick here the way of portugal
07:32So that's the first big chance falling to the us for christian pulisic
07:35You remember at the weekend when they scored that goal and we looked for the reaction on the bench and
07:39maritzio pochettino was just sitting there
07:42Expressionless really he was asked at the press conference yesterday about why
07:45He said well because we should have already had two by them
07:48We should have had three and those are the sorts of situations that keep a coach up at night
07:52Because that's how then the game turned because those chances hadn't been put away
07:57The assistant referee wasn't quite on the line to see if that one had gone out
08:01He was still catching up with the play on the far side
08:04They may have got away with one
08:07As it's picked up here by berhalter
08:09And back towards chris richards who captains the team tonight the third time
08:13That richards has been the captain first was a 1-1 draw against new zealand the final game before maritzio
08:19pochettino came in
08:20And the last was in june of last year the 2-1 loss against turkey
08:27And it has now been confirmed that the united states will play against turkey at the world cup
08:32They got through in the playoffs today for the final game of the group having taken on paraguay and australia
08:37to start with
08:38Will be against turkey who beat kosovo by one goal to nil
08:43Up it goes towards pulisic
08:47He needs to the ball forward in the midfield he'll get this one back as he pushes it towards the
08:51edge of the box
08:51And Bruno for the strike wonderful save by matt frise a big moment for the keeper
08:59An absolute top shelf strike and world-class save
09:04That was absolutely flying in the corner and fernandez can't hit that any better and also just taking it so
09:10quickly
09:11Freeze having his feet set what a massive save that was
09:16Bounced right in front of him as well and he's still got that hand to it that is such a
09:20difficult skill
09:22Bruno fernandez there
09:26Manchester united man his 87th cap today and he'll
09:33Leave this corner now
09:37And this with the ball into the box is the chance for bottini here at the byline and that one's
09:41headed behind by berhalter but the flag is up
09:44on the far side for offside
09:57You can tell right off the training field us team did really well to not sit back on top of
10:03freeze and push out when that first pass was made
10:07the player that was offside third place in the ball on door voting
10:12in
10:122025 played every minute of all seven club world cup games for psg including a couple of games here in
10:18this stadium last year
10:22As it goes towards where
10:28Now pulisic against
10:29Raul Cancelo
10:31Cancelo at left back today for portugal with dalo on the right morris the middlesbrough midfielder out for pulisic down
10:36the right side
10:41Where
10:44Freeman
10:45You can see the us falling into what looks like that back three with high wing backs
10:49You know tim moya having to play a fullback position in the back four last game
10:54This is a little more comfortable and this looks a lot more like in last camp that back three that
11:00we saw it was so effective for the u.s
11:03We're looking to link up with pulisic
11:07It's up in the midfield here now by pedro netto the chelsea man who scored in this stadium in the
11:12club world cup against lafc
11:14just last year
11:17Trincao
11:18It comes towards bruno fernandez
11:21He leads the premier league with 16 assists bruno fernandez
11:26second place player
11:28It's turkey with just eight bruno fernandez with double the amount of assists of any other player in the premier
11:33league right now
11:36Across the back they go
11:39Simon costa's ball all the way out towards vertinia pretty fluid for portugal right now
11:44They've only lost one of their last ten matches
11:46Three clean sheets in the last ten and unbeaten in two since a world cup qualifying defeat in dublin back
11:52on november the 13th 2-0 against ireland
11:58That's right
11:59Down the right towards bruno fernandez as aiden morris tries to get back. It's cleared away by trusty
12:07Trusty partnering chris richards
12:09At the back tonight the first
12:11Time that they have played together from the start as a defensive pairing
12:17Early communication is going to be so essential. We talked with chris richards last game
12:22That training after last game and that was one of the things he pointed out
12:27Especially when possession and the tempo starts to fall in favor of portugal
12:31It more is just seeing that run out of the midfield a little late
12:33So important for those center backs that are facing the game to give them an early shout
12:41Pedro netto across to the far side to take it the 26 year old from chelsea who came on at
12:45half time against mexico at the weekend
12:51Towards that front post right richards got a head to it
12:55Cancelo out wide to the right the barcelona man netto
13:00Cancelo's ball one in towards the back post
13:06From cow it's a back from vitina
13:13Fernandez who kept in the side at the azteca does so again tonight christiano ronaldo in this squad
13:22Also missing goalkeeper diego costa
13:26To a man out with an injury choice keeper
13:30That's one whipped into the middle gets a touch maybe as it comes across to the near side
13:37It's out for a throw here
13:44Just this little deflection yeah he takes a glance isn't sure
13:48Plus it's going to be able to get on the back of that
13:50Far post so he had to misdirect it and put that little deflection on it
13:57That's out
13:58crippling uh
13:59solid so far one of the things that tim ramin
14:01And malik tillman said about him that he's so good on the line in the air and
14:05What they need is a goalkeeper that gives confidence
14:08Whether it's with their feet or in the air and tim really applauded matt fries
14:12over the course of the year
14:13Getting into this team and his willingness to learn to adapt to this high level at international football
14:19This one crossed in towards the back post, Cancelo was coming forward there, but
14:23Ware got back
14:29I looked down at Pochettino through that sequence
14:31They used motion and for the back line of the U.S. to push up
14:35It's fine to drop off, it's fine to get in that medium or low block
14:38But just surrendering space and getting back on your heels
14:42He was disappointed that Pochettino found that wide position so easily, even though they're back in back
14:48Tim Ware was back there doing a bit of defending
14:50He'll probably have a little bit less work to do defensively today
14:53Might be a bit more enjoyable for him than having to face Jeremy Darko
14:58We talked to him about that the experience of going up as he described one of the best 1v1 players
15:02in the world
15:04About how he had to make sure he just wasn't switched off at all at any moment. It's all about
15:09communication
15:11And needed a team effort to try and shut Goku down which they managed to do for and for half
15:15an hour or so
15:16He he was very good in that defensive role
15:18Excellent
15:19The problem for way, I mean he did really well in that half an hour is
15:23He's stuck and that's his job
15:25You know, he's gonna love this wingback position where he can be the one to try to instigate
15:29And freeman's so good at joining the attack at times with that extra center back just gives him that license
15:34that freedom to be more attacking minded
15:40Freeman coming in behind where on the right side
15:42He's now appeared in 14 games in a row and 15 of the last 16
15:46Since his debut against turkey and hartford the former orlando city man
15:51Switched clubs in the january transfer window
15:58Back to josei sarr who was in the
16:00World cup squad in qatar but didn't play eight changes for portugal tonight including in goal with sarr coming in
16:07the wolfsman
16:08Six of this 11 were in the world cup squad in qatar for portugal
16:2315 minutes in here at mercedes-benz stadium
16:27A lively first quarter hour here in downtown atlanta
16:34U.s soccer on tnt sports is presented by volkswagen live life in the driver's seat
16:42Matt frees with a huge save to deny manchester united's bruno fernandez early in this game
16:48It's chris richards who missed the game at the weekend with an injury
16:51Captures the team tonight at the back
16:55He's on the sidelines at the weekend on saturday as he celebrated his birthday his pulisic pushing forward
17:03The guy's from the sideline i'm right next to jesus pettas
17:07Get away here by portugal as it picked up by tim weyer
17:10He couldn't quite squeeze that one through towards tillman who was the furthest forward it's out for a goal kick
17:17They're applauding that that pressure and obviously
17:20But as soon as that ball
17:23Passes that midline jesus and pochettino are both screaming at tim tim up up
17:28They want him positionally higher up the field because that's exactly that danger that he presents to the portuguese back
17:34line
17:36And that press right there call it a counter press where aiden morris
17:40Just leaves that central position that was one of the things pochettino was so disappointed
17:44Last game is how many times they had to track 70 yards after they were in a good attacking position.
17:49He wants that work done early
17:54Morris one of the six changes tonight and berhalter as well battling for it there as morris and bruno fernandez
18:00Shoulder to shoulder that way to the right looking for trink out
18:07But tinia just pushing it forward for dallo to chase on that right side but trusty quickly across to slide
18:13in well done from trusty
18:16And that's what you need from those center backs richards will try to push in especially when
18:21They play false nine or bruno fernandez gets a big gotta help out those wide positions when it's 1v1
18:28We're dropping deep and he's able to clear that one
18:31But it's out of play on the far side a big night for austin trusty of celtic
18:34He's not played the last four league games in scotland since getting a red card against hibbs
18:39In fact, he was sent off twice in his last four league starts
18:43Just a sixth cap today the 27 year old defender from pennsylvania
18:50And he's one of those players right now who is auditioning for a spot in mauricio pochettino's squad
19:04Again look at that trigger as soon as the center back gets the ball tim steps to pressure and that's
19:09where all the motion happens
19:14Richard's back for sebastian berhalter
19:20Now aiden morris
19:23Really unique story for morris and berhalter to be playing together for the
19:28National team side by side having done so at club level but also coming through the youth system in columbus
19:34This one is sent long for mckinney to chase onto mckinney lays it inside the flag goes up as leah
19:41Met that one didn't look offside, but the
19:43Assistant on the near side with var in play today just kept his flag down
19:47We talked about it pregame with christian pulisic playing this false nine position
19:51It's going to be so important for weston mckinney. It looks like he's on side to me
19:56It's so important for those midfield runs
19:59That's been given a lot of trouble in the first 19 minutes here
20:03It's just trying to locate the most dangerous player for the u.s
20:06Trying to keep christian pulisic from getting turned and getting on the ball
20:09But when ballistic is coming into the midfield so many willing runners for the u.s going in behind
20:17Nala on the far side finds vitinha
20:27Portugal extremely relaxed in training yesterday. There was a really good vibe around the camp
20:32But what strikes you when you see them come out is just the amount of world-class talent that they
20:37have within their squad
20:39That's without even christiano ronaldo being here
20:52So the free kick coming on the far side
20:55Little nut back here and what I like from robinson is
21:00ball goes through but
21:01Man and ball do not make it on the other side
21:03That was one thing with those who obviously is one of the best wingers out there
21:07There was only one foul on them in that in that first half
21:11Just getting in those challenges making a very difficult day
21:14The mental side of that you know chipping away at the confidence of the team that's really good at possessing
21:19the ball
21:19That's the type of things those little touch fouls and having to pick yourself up off the grass
21:25Luke before you're mentioning talking to the portuguese players as well as roberto martinez the head coach yesterday and one
21:31of the things that he shared yesterday was that
21:34They're trying to simulate what they will face at the world cup for instance this playing in a closed stadium
21:39here in atlanta like they did in mexico
21:41But also when it comes to the travel you know the diet what they're eating
21:46One of the things that stuck out to me the most was
21:49Is he wants to do all of that now so that he gives players a time to rest after season
21:54right before the world cup starts
21:55He said i know what it's like these players go go go they won't have that much time
21:59So we want to do all of this now while we can here in north america and it's give them
22:03that
22:03Opportunity to reset a little bit before the world cup yeah his first two games
22:07He's talking about they're going to be in a similar environment in houston under a roof
22:13First game is either going to be against congo or jamaica they are currently in extra time for a spot
22:18in the world cup and
22:19Congo are leading jamaica by one goal to nil on what has been a busy day of playoffs the second
22:24game is bekistan
22:25And then they'll face colombia in the final group stage game don't worry we won't mention it
22:30Don't mention it we won't get extra time and i thought it was coming
22:34Guys i'm just trying to get tickets to that portugal colombia game
22:37That could be a really good game i'm going with you if you know anybody with tickets let me know
22:43We saw p-bay the other night here carlos vadorama let's see let's see if maybe he can hook us
22:47up
22:47What a player he was a space down the right side here for weyer who will chase on to the
22:52pass from
22:52Tillman pulisic is in the middle mckenny there as well the cross comes in oh it went past pulisic and
22:58mckenny as well
22:59And picked up by robinson on the edge of the box and here's sebastian berhalter he'll have a go from
23:04distance so sorry to save
23:09sebastian berhalter lets it fly 22 minutes in still nil nil
23:15Pulisic just he's at midfield when this ball gets played forward
23:20Tremendous speed to go and get up with that i don't see a deflection on it you wonder if christian's
23:24expecting the ball to get deflected this will be another look at it now he just misses it
23:29You really expect him to at least
23:32Got a touch on that and here's the look at saw he sees that all the ways over there
23:36But pulisic had a wonderful chance just couldn't make contact on it
23:43That's a couple of really good looks now that the united states have had as we get to the cooling
23:47break
23:48Now this is being done because of course in the summer teams will have to deal with these sorts of
23:53situations
23:53I asked roberto martinez yesterday if he's a fan he said it doesn't matter if i'm a fan
23:57I just have to deal with it it's nice choice and i have to make sure that we use it
24:01to our advantage
24:02So they were in favor of having these cooling breaks here today
24:06So that they could experience
24:08What they will do in these var of course also
24:12But it's all about preparation for what's to come in the summer and he said you you have now up
24:16to three minutes
24:16You need to make a count but you saw on his left hand if you
24:20took a look closely he's got an ipad
24:23the amount of
24:25Data the amount of people up in the stands
24:28it's almost like american football the
24:30The amount of schemes and things that they see and highlights they send to the bench in real time so
24:36Unlike the last time the world cup was here that
24:38It wasn't going to be much of that at a water break i mean this water break is a big
24:42tactical opportunity
24:46So nil nil here so far
24:48What a confidence builder for matt freeze making that huge save on bruno fernandez at a time when marizio pochettino
24:55gave matt turner a chance at the weekend goes back to freeze today who
24:59Has pretty much been the first choice since he made his debut matt freeze came in
25:04And started 12 games in a row before he didn't play against belgium this is 14th start in the last
25:1016 games since his debut
25:12against turkey
25:13a
25:14And 12 in a row was the longest starting streak for a u.s keeper since tim howard went 14
25:19in a row in
25:202011
25:21no mean feat well this is
25:24i'll say a tim howard s save you're gonna see right here i mean look at he's got his feet
25:28set he's got to get down so quickly that ball is
25:32Flying and off this turf you can see it plays really fast it's a little unpredictable with it being chewed
25:37up in front of him
25:38It's a wonderful save there and just has to be sure of himself on that
25:42Cross and just you know get the difference
25:46between the two sides u.s looking strong the u.s
25:49Dominating getting a little more chances but bruno fernandez gets one and forces an incredible save
25:54We've had a few chances and haven't really forced big saves out of saw yet
26:03Well the u.s
26:04Started pretty well against belgium they took the lead at the weekend it fell apart of course
26:09They conceded towards the end of the half to make it 1-1 belgium four goals in the space
26:15of 23 minutes with that first one just before half time and the belgium came out and
26:21completely changed the game in the second half but
26:24Mauricio pochettino did say and some of the players as well
26:27in those sorts of situations you have to pick out
26:31Obviously address the things you weren't happy with but pick out the things that were good as well and try
26:35and build on that looks looks like a similar
26:38quarter of an hour that we saw last game
26:40You know tim rehm was a starter in that last game i'm sure the veteran there will tell you that
26:45it just
26:47the intensity the commitment the the closing down the attention to details just faded a little bit
26:52especially after they conceded the next goal it was interesting we were at training and
26:55way and pochettino were off to the side having a very very long conversation and i think the coaching staff
27:02with everything that tim rehm's been through just just trust his
27:05thoughts his point of view and obviously being one of the veteran leaders here what an asset to have
27:11someone like that
27:13back underway then after the hydration break an eight all-time meeting between these two teams the
27:18u.s unbeaten in the last four the most recent friendly a 1-1 draw in portugal in november of
27:252017
27:26when western mckenny who closes down now scored on his debut the age of 19 to give the u.s
27:33the lead
27:34tyler adams also debuted that day as did cameron carter vickers
27:39patina
27:41anthony robinson gets her
27:43foot to that one there will be multiple changes in the game you wonder how long anthony robinson
27:47will go today having been given the start at the weekend and once again tonight
27:53there's one of five players staying in at the 11 from saturday the others where mckenny tillman and
27:59pulisic four of this eleven played in the 2022 world cup robinson ware mckenny and pulisic in fact
28:06all four of those started all four games in qatar
28:16two world cup meetings between these two both in the group stage in 2002 the u.s winning 3-2
28:25left 3-0 in that game john o'brien and brian mcbride amongst the goals 2-2 draw in 2014
28:32jermaine jones
28:33and clint dempsey scoring patina at the level of that day in 2014 from portugal israel cancello down
28:42the left side who was in the u.s last summer for the club world cup
28:49he was with al-halal at the time and has now gone on loan to barcelona since after that tournament
28:59this one played in towards the front post richards gets a touch to it and freeman heads it behind
29:08third quarter of the game coming here for portugal
29:18portugal winning four of their six games in world cup qualifying their finish top of the group
29:22three points above the second place team which was ireland
29:29that success last june wing the nation's league
29:35trust me wait
29:44there's chips this one in distance on the header from chris richards who did well to get that one
29:48away cancello's ball forward will just drift behind
29:54big moments for portugal winning the nation's league last summer they beat germany in the semi-final 2-1
29:59concesa and ronaldo second half goals and they beat spain on penalties in the final
30:04after extra time they'd trailed twice in that game it finished 2-2
30:08to do
30:08so
30:08so
30:08so
30:08so
30:08so
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