00:00How much pressure is on the Americans to earn some global respect in this year's FIFA World Cup?
00:05And of course, who's going to take the crown?
00:08Former Bundesliga and Danish Superliga forward turned ESPN Denmark soccer analyst
00:14and he's now the assistant coach for the U.S. Virgin Islands men's national team.
00:19Emile Bergerin is on to talk World Cup action and Team USA's chances.
00:26My man, full circle moment.
00:27Just want to let the people know we go back since 2017 when he was playing for Mites.
00:32Sign a jersey for me.
00:34I'm going to put it up in the new man cave, man.
00:36I got to get a frame.
00:37But the jersey has got prime real estate waiting for it in the man cave.
00:42How are you doing, my friend?
00:44I'm doing good.
00:45Thank you, Brandon.
00:46It's good to see you.
00:47And I remember signing that shirt.
00:48I'll be happy to see it hanging right there at the main centerpiece of the wall.
00:53There we go, man.
00:54I'm going to have it right next to my 82 Super Bowl jersey right there.
00:58Not 1982, but 2007 I was rocking 82.
01:02But that's a little football.
01:04Let's get into the real football because on the global standpoint, we're all about
01:09if Team USA or the U.S. men's national team can earn some respect in this year's FIFA World Cup.
01:15So in your opinion, being Danish, being from Denmark, playing in leagues all over Europe,
01:21how does the world view U.S. football, soccer, and U.S. soccer culture going into this World Cup?
01:30Well, it seems you have it right, Brandon, because it's about time to earn some respect.
01:36We have respect, obviously, for some of your legends.
01:39Clint Dempsey has been a legend of the game and Landon Donovan.
01:41But you haven't quite had anyone quite up there.
01:45And it's been a while since your national team really performed.
01:49So we know that football is growing.
01:51I'm allowed to call it football, okay?
01:53The MLS is doing well.
01:56And obviously, Messi has created a lot of hype.
02:00You're well known for your athletic players.
02:03But we haven't quite got the respect that you maybe deserve, honestly.
02:10Europeans, we have our difficulties accepting that you don't have promotion and relegation.
02:16That's like just something we can't really get over, that you don't have it.
02:20So how can it be that competitive when you don't have that?
02:23However, we have recognized, of course, Pulisic and McKinney, that you do have some great players.
02:29It's not long ago that Desti played for Barcelona.
02:32So you have some individual players.
02:34But do you really have a team that can compete at this level?
02:38I don't quite think so.
02:40Got a couple players playing in some big leagues over across the pond in Europe.
02:46We also have Maurizio Pochettino, who has had success at Tottenham, PSG, my team, my club, Chelsea.
02:55Pochettino said that it's pretty much semifinals or bust.
02:59Is that a realistic expectation on the U.S. men's national team?
03:06Well, I think it's a rather ambitious statement.
03:09So you have to give him credit for that.
03:12I mean, he's not shy at all.
03:13I think it would be fantastic for the U.S. national team to reach the semifinal.
03:18It would be historic even.
03:20And so to set the bar that high, it's rather brave, I'd say.
03:26Is it realistic?
03:27Of course, you know, they can have a great run.
03:29But it would be fantastic for the U.S. national team to reach the semifinal.
03:34It would be outstanding, actually.
03:36You know, you say, like, when you guys over, you know, in Europe, when you look at American soccer culture
03:42and there's things you don't understand or like that, like you say, the relegation, the promotion.
03:47So explain to our casual American soccer fans over here, how should they watch the World Cup?
03:55What exactly should they be watching for?
03:59Well, first of all, you know, I think it doesn't help when a guy like Dana White, he says that
04:05you have to be so untalented to play football.
04:08And there's a reason that three-year-olds can play.
04:10He calls it soccer, right?
04:12Well, he's wrong about that.
04:13You have to know that it takes a lifetime of dedication to be able to control the ball at this
04:20level.
04:20So you have to appreciate the technicality of the game.
04:23And also, it's a very athletic game.
04:26You have to be endurance and also you have to be quick.
04:29So it's 11 players working together and you may not see the special moments as often as in other sports.
04:37So you have to appreciate the little details.
04:40And then when the magic comes, it's usually fantastic.
04:44I hope that America can learn to appreciate it.
04:47And I think that you are on your way to do so.
04:50We got a lot going on, you know, in our country off the pitch.
04:55So from the fans and the media that you know and you've had conversations with over in Europe,
05:02how does the world view the World Cup being held in America this year?
05:07Do you think a lot of people from Europe and these other countries are coming over to support their country?
05:15Well, I think so.
05:16Because at the end of the day, this is such a big occasion and it only comes around every fourth
05:21year.
05:22So it usually transcends every difference that we may have.
05:26But obviously, the whole timing with the rhetoric around Greenland and maybe the peach prize given by FIFA and Infantino
05:35to the administration,
05:37the timing was a difficult cocktail for especially Northern Europeans to swallow.
05:44However, it is our national sport.
05:46I think when it comes to the end of the day, everyone will just be there and forget everything about
05:53what is going on and appreciate the sport.
05:56Yep.
05:57Let's talk about Holga Bonito now, the beautiful game.
06:00What's been your favorite World Cup moment ever as a fan?
06:05Well, I'm half Croatian, so I did really enjoy the run Croatia had to the final, you know, with Luka
06:12Modic carrying the team.
06:13You have to remember, it's a nation of less than four million inhabitants living in Croatia.
06:19So they have absolutely no right to make it to a World Cup final, you know, and that they didn't
06:25win it.
06:26It's sad, you know, but just the memories from seeing them go all that far, it was absolutely fantastic.
06:33And obviously, I hope for Luka Modic to have one last dance where they have another go at it.
06:39Take us through what the players throughout the world are feeling or experiencing right now because you've played in some
06:46big tournaments on the world stage before.
06:48So are the players more nervous for a World Cup than, say, a Champions League title or European Championship match?
06:56Like, what's going through these guys' minds now that we're about two weeks out?
07:03Well, this is the biggest occasion that we do have in this sport.
07:07It's bigger than anything, and it only comes around every fourth year.
07:11So you asked about the moment right now.
07:14They'll probably be a little concerned.
07:16They don't want to get injured, okay?
07:18But when the tournament starts, of course, they're going to give everything, and they're going to play with their hearts
07:24out on the field.
07:27They're going to leave everything out there because it's for the country.
07:30And, you know, the euphoria that it can create if a national team performs in the World Cup, it's just
07:37incredible.
07:38You know, I believe France went into a fantastic economical time just after they won the World Cup, you know?
07:46So it can inspire a whole nation, and also it can disappoint a whole nation.
07:51So I'm right now sitting in Denmark, and we are still mourning the fact that we didn't qualify for this
07:58World Cup.
07:58So it doesn't get any bigger than this for a football player.
08:02And it's such a rare occasion.
08:04It's only every four years, and it means a lot, especially to a guy like Mbappé, to Messi, to Neymar,
08:11to Cristiano Ronaldo.
08:13You know, those who want to be up there and be the greatest of all time, they just have to
08:17perform at a World Cup.
08:18I'm glad you mentioned Ronaldo because, I mean, this guy, one of the most decorated soccer and football players and
08:25athletes of our generation,
08:27but he still hasn't been able to hoist that trophy just yet with Portugal.
08:32So what's your prediction for the Final Four or the semifinals?
08:36Who's the countries that you feel as though will be in that last four, and who do you think takes
08:41it this year?
08:44Well, if you're asking about my favorites to win it, I'd say France are so strong.
08:49You know, they can actually have some injuries and still be incredibly competitive.
08:55Even they could feel two teams that would be competitive at this level.
08:59So it's just immense the quality that they have.
09:02France, I'd say the favorite.
09:04And then we have Portugal probably as a dark horse.
09:07Spain would be the second favorite in my book.
09:10And it remains unknown whether Brazil, they have the level.
09:14And I would never write off Croatia, but I know it's rather optimistic.
09:18So I'll go with France, okay?
09:20So no Argentina.
09:21You don't think Argentina can pull off that very rare and historic repeat?
09:27I don't think so.
09:28Ooh, all right.
09:30I love it.
09:31Well, my man, I appreciate you hopping on with this, man.
09:34Hope to see you soon.
09:35I'll be over in Europe pretty soon, so we'll connect.
09:37But we'll be coming back to you again as the World Cup gets kicked off.
09:43All right.
09:44Thank you for the conversation.
09:45And good luck to the U.S. men's national team.
09:47All right.
09:52We'll be back to you again as the U.S. men's national team.
09:52We'll be back to you again as the U.S. men's national team.
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