Bayern Munich throttled Lyon 3-0, with another huge performance by the German Club. Making the Final between PSG and Bayern Munich this Sunday.
Contributors
Nick Rossetti – @The_Rossetti
Santiago Leon – @sleon
Lyon 0 Bayern Munich 3
Two goals by Serge Gnabry(18’ and 33’) and the infamous Robert Lewandowski (88’).
- BM had 66% ball possession, Lyon had 34%
- BM 8 shots on target, and Lyon had 3
- Man of the Match: Joshua Kimmich
BM plays high line. Fullback play wide and high.
Leipzig 0 – PSG 3
Marquinhos 13’, DiMaria 42’, Velasco 56’
Paris Saint-Germain put on a footballing masterclass to reach the Champions League final for the first time in the club’s history, running riot against RB Leipzig to secure a statement 3-0 win.
First half goals from Marquinhos and Angel Di Maria gave the French side a commanding lead, before Juan Bernat sealed the victory early in the second period.
Had Neymar not produced yet another profligate night in front of goal, the scoreline could have been much worse for RB Leipzig. Under young coach Julian Nagelsmann, the German side has stunned opponents and thrilled fans in this year’s competition but this proved a step too far against a star-studded PSG.
The club’s Qatari owners have spent vast sums of money on assembling this squad, but tonight they will feel it was worth every penny.
U.S. Soccer’s schedule for 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Released
the Final Round will now feature eight teams playing a 14-game home-and-away round-robin format. Based on being the top five Concacaf teams in July’s FIFA World Ranking, the USA, Costa Rica, Honduras, Jamaica and Mexico automatically qualified for the Final Round, while the three remaining participants will be determined through two preliminary rounds of qualifying which will run from October 2020 to March 2021.
The U.S. could potentially play Trinidad and Tobago away in their opening match of the Final Round of 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying, depending on the results in the earlier rounds. Trinidad and Tobago defeated the USMNT in their final match of qualifying in October of 2017 to keep the U.S. from missing the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Trinidad and Tobago, the top seed in Group F, would need to win their group and then win the playoff against the winner of Group A.
June 2021 — Window 1 — AWAY to A/F winner; HOME v. B/E winner
June 2022 — Window 2 — AWAY to Honduras; HOME v. Jamaica
Sept 2021 — Window 3 — AWAY to C/D winner; HOME v. Costa Rica
Oct 2021 — Window 4 — HOME v. Mexico; AWAY to Jamaica
Nov 2021 — Window 5 — HOME v A/F winner; AWAY to B/E winner
Jan 2022 — Window 6 — HOME to Honduras; AWAY to Mexico
March 2022 — Window 7 — HOME to C/D winner; AWAY to Costa Rica
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: UNC and Notre Dame pause practices this week
Predictions
PSG or Bayern Munich?
Score: 3-2 Bayern Munich
Poll
Who makes the best soft ice cream? #NationalSoftIceCreamDay
Dairy Queen – 57.9%, McDonalds- 21.1%, Wendys – 21.1%, Burger King- 0
Nick: McDonalds
Transcript
Santiago Leon
Sports cast August 19 2020 if you haven’t yet, please subscribe on all our channels YouTube, Periscope and iTunes and if you’re an iTunes please leave a rating and review. It will help us out tremendously. And of course visit us on the sports cast dotnet the sports cast dotnet for the latest and greatest we got our breaking news store but we’ll talk about that soon. This episode is brought to you by instant Bible app you can download the instant Bible app on the iOS App Store share verse to the world banger Munich as throttle Leone three nil with another huge performance by the German club making the final between PSG and Bayern Munich this Sunday. Today we have a first time guest he’s trying out on the sports cast, you can say Nik resetti at the Rosati all the way from Austin, Alabama. Yes, we have another Alabama alum. Nick, welcome to the sports cast.
Nick Rossetti
Thank you. Thank you so much. Really excited to be on. Love your guys podcast, love the following and everything you guys are working with. So excited to finally chat today about all kinds of different sports topics that we got going on in today’s news.
Santiago Leon
Nick, tell us a little bit about yourself and your involvement with sports.
Nick Rossetti
Yeah, absolutely. So actually grew up in the greater DMV area. I grew up as a raid, Baltimore Ravens and Baltimore Orioles fan and actually Naval Academy fan as well. And then actually attended the University of Alabama for undergrad and my graduate degree obviously huge fan a fan for pretty much all sports regardless of football and basketball. Actually a big fan of baseball fans as well. And now I’m living in Austin, Texas. So I’m in Longhorns nation working full time and I guess you could say behind enemy lines although they seem to not enjoy it when I everything that I say to them I just tell them 2009 national championship game and that seems to trigger a lot of people around here. I’m just what is because
Santiago Leon
because we had a guest last night who played in that game. Mike McCoy so I know all about it. So this is perfect timing by the way.
Nick Rossetti
Yeah, that’s that’s excellent point and, and right above my I’m looking at it right now in my apartment. I have returned to glory mural of the 2009 team with Marcel derrius. And Nick Saban hold the national championship trophy. So it’s always something that I enjoy to show to people who are UT graduates.
Santiago Leon
Now you found those sports cast through a guest we had a couple weeks ago crews oxen writer. So you went to Alabama during the championship dynasty years. Though we’re still in it, but you were in like the midst of it.
Nick Rossetti
Yeah, absolutely. So I always like to kind of tell my my damage story started off very low because my first my freshman year was the kick fix, which was very hard to get over. But as things kind of progressed from there, luckily, I actually got to see two championships, one Heisman Trophy winner 22 first round draft picks, and countless other memories. I think, one of my favorites back of my time there is I was as a student 51 and one intern. I’d love to see that had occurred during their time as an undergrad and graduate students. So pretty, pretty awesome stat there.
Santiago Leon
Yeah, you definitely were not suffering as an Alabama fan, but what got you to Alabama Bama was it like your grandpa went there? Like what got you there?
Nick Rossetti
Yeah. Yeah, great question. Honestly, I as I mentioned, I grew up in the DMV area so I grew up a football fan but I wanted to experience something that was going to be completely different. I’ve never really traveled to the south before I decided to go to school there. I’d only visited Alabama once before I guess you could say committed and I was just wanted an opportunity to meet people from a completely different background and and be in the big school environment. Obviously the the football was a big driving factor that but I also just wanted to, you know, experience the deep south and something a lot different than what I was used to. And ultimately, it was it was even the best decision I’ve ever made.
Santiago Leon
Yeah, it was interesting. You say that because I’m from Miami Miami’s like considered like the like the deep south or anything. I lived in Birmingham for about a year and a half. So I wanted to experience that part of the world. I loved it football was God, isn’t it? I mean, football has got an Alabama
Nick Rossetti
Oh yeah. So it’s a whole it’s a whole other world to try to explain to someone what it’s like, unless they’ve actually been there so that’s awesome that you’ve lived in Birmingham you get it but it’s it’s living and breathing every single day. There is no offseason. You know, whether it’s recruiting or your coaching rumors or, or any aspect of during the season, it’s what everybody talks about all the time, and you better know what you’re talking about too. Because if you don’t, nobody’s gonna want to have a conversation with you down there. So it’s a it’s a way of life for sure. You know,
Santiago Leon
it’s funny when I was there, it kind of felt like you know, like Auburn is like the real minority there but even though Auburn has a good football team here and there, but you know, Auburn fans, it’s just in that one sector in Alabama, but I’d like the whole state is this red, Alabama Crimson Tide fans
Nick Rossetti
Yeah, absolutely I would say that the state splits pretty much at 20 Montgomery area I would say is where most of the Auburn fans are from and live that that eastern side like south eastern side of the state, but mainly north and west to the mobile area. Most of Birmingham and obviously Huntsville. That’s all bamm bamm land for sure
Santiago Leon
geographics make a big stride there. Tell us about Austin. How’s the sports scene? There is Austin as cool as everyone says when you live there
Nick Rossetti
Yeah, it’s um so I’ve lived here now for roughly seven months. It’s everything is advertised or I should say that with with an asterick. It was everything as advertised obviously before you know the pandemic and things started to shut down but it is a great town so much to do so much sports and really sports history with with obviously the University of Texas Austin here and It’s also kind of funny that here in Austin, there’s, there’s so much talk of college football and, and, and just sports in general. But if you think about it, they really haven’t been good for almost over a decade. Correct. Or you could say even more than that. That’s the only so it’s Yeah, yeah, exactly. So you know, you hear them talk and they talk about Ricky Williams and Vince Young and Matt Brown and all those glory years that they had. But that was so long ago, right. And they’ve tried to make all these different strides of, of, you know, Texas is back but in terms of the city and overall sports, obviously, and hopefully we get a chance to talk about Austin FC coming in, which is going to be huge, but overall in terms of its history, and UK as a whole. Um, it really is a great sports town.
Santiago Leon
Now, do you see a lot of more of like cowboys fans or Houston Texans fans there?
Nick Rossetti
Yeah, you know what I’m I would say more Houston fans than Cowboys fan Really? We are Yeah, we are slightly closer to Texans to Houston obviously than we are to Dallas Houston tried out two hour drive. And Dallas has roughly three and a half or so. But overall the most that I see is actually San Antonio Spurs fans of any other type of sports league that’s that’s the most that I see.
Santiago Leon
Only two guys want a championship in the past 10 years there.
Nick Rossetti
Well, you could say the Houston Astros being what that may I’m sure your your listeners aren’t gonna like to hear that one too much.
Santiago Leon
But, but the the Astros, of course are really well known here as well and very popular. Quite interesting. Of course. We’ll be talking a little bit more about Texas sports later on throughout the year. And there’s a lot of news coming out there. Let’s go to the main main entree of the night, Bayern Munich defeated Leone three nil Nick, two goals by Serge gnabry. And of course, Robert levandowski Who’s that third goal? What were your thoughts over this match?
Nick Rossetti
Yeah, absolutely. You know, I was surprised that Leon had some chances early. And if they were going to make this a game it was going to be maybe they get one in those first couple of minutes. But the search narvi goes the first one was absolute class. I mean, the German national What can you say about him? He’s got great plays with great pay the Bayern Munich overall, once they scored that first one, I pretty much knew that this one was going to be over although Leon did have some, some light chances towards the end there. But overall, you know, the the team with the more class came out on top, you know, would have been interesting to see in all the goon final, with PSG obviously advancing earlier this week, and then Leon also playing in Ligue one as well. But you know, the German champions they’re going for trouble and I honestly, I honestly didn’t see anything stopping them. Hear today,
Santiago Leon
Nick your true soccer fan because how you pronounce legal that’s the correct terminology when it comes to World Football rec.
Nick Rossetti
Correct.
Santiago Leon
So I believe you you do watch soccer. I do
Nick Rossetti
this is this is my, this is my passion. That’s actually what I played when I was in high school and still continue up to it. Which position were
Santiago Leon
you in high school?
Nick Rossetti
So I was a forward until my senior year, and then I switched actually right back. So actually playing a little bit of what now nowhere near obviously the class level of alfonzo Davies, but kind of that hybrid, you know, backline that still kind of pushes forward. That’s that’s kind of what my role was. Okay, see,
Santiago Leon
now your last name, of course looks Italian. Do you go for Italy or USA You know, when it comes to like international football.
Nick Rossetti
That’s where I’m from. That’s where I’m born. But my dad’s side of the family especially. We’re actually from a small town on the western side of it. Italy called Bali or Bharti, I should say. Right? Um, and so my dad, mom, my grandmother, she’s always kind of watching Italy and paying more attention I obviously watch Italy’s as well, but yeah I was I’m always I’m a US and
Santiago Leon
yeah me too. My dad is from Colombia and when I was a kid I was more coarse Colombia then when I get into my teens I got into USA, and I’m a diehard USA fan. Of course right now USA is going through their restructuring time even though polish is doing great, but we’re kind of restructured into like the old, you know, and Donovan claimed NC days, but hopefully that will be corrected soon. But yeah, you’re right about like the whole Italian thing because I remember back in 94 there was a lot of Italians up in New Jersey and they would go for Italy a lot. So I was wondering if you were in that pool as well. So
Nick Rossetti
yeah, yeah, I you know, my dad too. He’s, he’s, like I said it’s more of my dad’s side of the family. Right. And my dad doesn’t Watch it as well. He actually has a Francisco Totti jersey that he still wears around all the time and I’ve always been trying to tell him like you need to take that thing off but he he does watch the team a lot and obviously the what really you know, set it off for me was the 2006 World Cup against France when Italy won in the shootout obviously as most people know that for the dinner team did on headbutt game. But
Santiago Leon
yeah, that’s that’s something that really kind of kicked off my interest as well as I started playing sports as a kid. And there you have it as a little bit of international soccer Anyways, back to Bayern Munich Leon Of course bearing Munich was possessing the boy 66% Leone at 34% they are going to cut hate shots on target Leon has three. Nick, I gotta be honest with you this Bayern Munich looks pretty much unstoppable. They look full, full press like the full backs are playing wide and high. I mean, can we can declare them as champions by now because it’s the Like they could stomp over PSC probably.
Nick Rossetti
Yeah, you know what I want to go back to the 2013 last time that Bayern Munich won the treble that team I saw it after they beat Dortmund in the final and 2013 in less than I believe. I thought that was the best music team I’ve ever seen. And we’ve since I’ve been watching them, but now with all this young talent that they have and all the different out either that was the rubbery Robin team with Mario Gomez and do kitsch. Now you still have those kind of quirky pieces of David Alba and Boa Tang and Thomas Mueller. But, but the perfect combination of the wingbacks that they use with alfonzo Davies, you have even Coutinho coming off the bench. There’s a lot of just different dynamics that this team has that they can play any style they can come at you and full attack they completely can possess the T Or just the ball as much as they possibly can. And that’s something that I think, tailored over from when Pep Guardiola was there during that that like little window that he was there for three seasons or so. But I also think from PSG perspective, they were a team that could never get over the hump, right they get bounced in the quarterfinals or the semi finals of the Champions League, they go out and they spend the money on name or they get in Bombay, they get all these different guys and and sure enough, they finally have gotten over the hump and they’re actually going for a treble as well, which is obviously they win their League Cup, they win their league and they win the Champions League. So it’s going to be interesting. I think that right now my gut says, buy iron Three, two, but I think that PSG is going to keep it close and it’s really going to come down to maybe a couple of key saves from neuere or one of the PSU goals for sure.
Santiago Leon
As we were talking about PSC awesome is the final day Beat RB lipstick three nail go by Marcos de Maria and the Lascaux everyone thought this lipstick team might do something but PHP came all out. This is the PHP Naik that everyone’s been talking about for years. They got all the talent the money, and they never made it to right now. What are your thoughts over this team going into the final?
Nick Rossetti
Yeah, and and i think it all came when Thomas cuckold came over from Dortmund and was appointed to manager of this team. I love his style. I love that they’re more sound defensively than they’ve ever been, at least from when I’ve been kind of watching them through the Champions League. That was something that always kind of hindered them. And that goes back to the embarrassment game when they lost on aggregate leading five one against Barcelona and blew it. And they’ve had so many different downfalls throughout the years of failing to get to a final and they could really never get over the hump. And finally, finally they figured out a way to succeed Sound defensively and also be more structured in their attack obviously within players like World Class players when Bob a name Are you still de Maria there and a couple of other key pieces that have really got them like I said over that hump and obviously I think that all the credit goes to the manager I Thomas taco I loved him when he was at Dortmund love what he’s brought with PSG as well. I was excited to see Leipzig because of Tyler Adams, the US international amazing goal last game. Yeah, yeah, exactly. Exactly. I wanted to see a US international and Champions League Final if it wasn’t going to be ballistic, which not a lot of people knew that. Tyler Adams is a US International. But yeah, there’s
Santiago Leon
debate. They might be better than the LeSage, but that’s another podcast.
Nick Rossetti
That’s a conversation for another day. But I would say overall, this PSG team there sound defensively, great goalkeeping. So I’m excited for Sunday.
Santiago Leon
Do you think I’d be I mean obviously you said was three two looks pretty close. You know, this this final won’t have fans is pretty much neutral ground Do you think that momentum is with banger? Do you think PSG mighty variety if he’s healthy by then like, how do you see it like detail wise?
Nick Rossetti
I really think there’s going to be early stage of feeling each other out mainly with the sound defensiveness of of PSG and then Bayern, you know, testing out their weaknesses. I think that whoever scores first in this game is is key. It’s very key to score first in this game to get ahead to get some momentum perhaps in the first half. Because especially with PSG they’re going to I don’t see them is that thing that much. I see Bayern you know, playing the back and forth as they typically do, going between the midfield and the attack with levandowski and more And and all those wingbacks so I think who scores first is key and scores first in the first half is key as well to gain that momentum and going into the second half. But I do see kind of a high scoring game because I think both teams to play pretty fluid as we’ve seen even from the return as things kind of got back to normal specifically with the Champions League but also all leagues across Europe I felt like things were a little bit more free flowing less structure guys were just going to go out there to have fun and and and you know, try things that they wouldn’t typically try. So I’m excited to see what that looks like on a on a you know, final stage. Like, like the Champions League,
Santiago Leon
if it goes to penalties, who has the advantage?
Nick Rossetti
That’s a great question. I’m going with fire because of because of manual noise, in my opinion, is the best goalie in the world. That’s that’s my opinion but That’s what I’m gonna go with mainly because of the goalkeeping not so much. Just looking purely at the top five scores or who would be lined up, you know, one through five, I would say it’s a pretty much wash. So I’m gonna go with the stronger goalkeeper.
Santiago Leon
I do agree, I think the goalkeeper does have the advantage. Of course, you know, there’ll be no laser shining towards goalkeeper. So that’s a good thing. Everything’s safe on there. And But yeah, I mean, I can’t say anyone could score a penalty. I know. I think like the percentage is over 90%. But it comes down to goalkeeping and i think i think you know, nor does have a better shot, who was your team in the Champions League that you want to go deep?
Nick Rossetti
So my scene was Byron, I’ve actually been a buying fan since I started watching Bastian Schweinsteiger back like in the early 2000s. He was my favorite player growing up, and I’ve always kind of you know, when I was playing, I tried to mirror my game a little bit off of off of what he was doing, jack of all trades, but I was watching when land Donovan had a small stint with Byron, actually going back to when Clinton was the coach as well. So I’ve always kind of been a Byron fan through and through.
Santiago Leon
But with Donovan like not that I mean, was he kind of like not much exposed in that team like, was he like, Oh,
Nick Rossetti
yes, exactly. He’s very minimal playing time. You know, kind of similar to what Jozy Altidore was when he was playing for Sunderland, and a couple of other you know, small stunts that he had in the Premier League. And same thing to with Michael Bradley when he was playing for Roma like maybe one or two a couple of appearances for a year. but not a lot. Not a lot of playing time.
Santiago Leon
Yeah, that’s Yeah, that’s something that I see that I wish Landon went to the Premier League then like the Bundesliga back then. I think he might have had a better shot in playing time.
Nick Rossetti
Yeah, and even when he had that stint with Everton, right like, Oh, it was amazing, but the most fun land and tournament times that I’ve ever seen like that was great to watch. I You know, to that point, it was something that really kind of bothered me that I wish he had stayed longer at overseas with Michael Bradley. Yeah, he could have been saved Michael Bradley could have to now I get it you know the MLS was the payday. Right. And, and obviously going back home and being with your family and things like that, but I even think if this has always been my opinion in that they the training regimen over overseas, even if you’re not playing is better for your development than playing, you know, full time in the MLS. Now, obviously, things have changed, the MLS has gotten way more competitive, I think. And I think it’s only a matter of time until one of these European superstars decides to give the MLS the chance during their prime. But overall, I would say just back in those days, I would have preferred my us men’s national team players to be overseas rather than playing in the MLS.
Santiago Leon
I’m on that same page man, that same boat. I really do think Europe still has As the highest plane level when it comes to soccer, I do think Bradley went way too early when he went back to the MLS or I mean, yeah, back to the MLS because he played there before he went to Europe. Landon Donovan should have stayed more in Europe. I know they wanted to grow the game. But if you want to play at the highest level, it’s Europe. That’s just how it is today. MLS could be at the highest level maybe in 20 years. I mean, who knows? But I think at the time, I think a lot of players were moving back and also, I even thought Clint Dempsey kind of moved back to early.
Nick Rossetti
Yeah, so Dempsey had a couple of injuries. I think when he finished up with Tottenham, but obviously the payday right that was that was big on him and I think once he moved back he only was around for a couple of more seasons until he retired full on. So I think injuries and just age was really was his thing or else he would have stayed because he when he was playing for full him. I mean, he was so and that was in full on was in the Premier League. They’ve since bounced out, but now they’re back in now. For this upcoming year, but, man, it was so fun to watch him because it was so fun to connect with a. And that was really when the Premier League started to get with NBC and there was a lot of TV time right for watching the Premier League, which there wasn’t really for me when I was first growing up. And watching, you know, the US stars that you watched on wearing the stars and stripes for the International game was was awesome to see them being successful for their club, especially in the Premier League.
Santiago Leon
Yeah, whole a whole whole different dynamic back in the day. And I remembered that I had to go watch fox sports or fox sports world watch these matches. Yeah. And of course, NBC is a little bit more visible. And soccers become way more visible now. Unlike the US except until CVS got the Champions League.
Nick Rossetti
Yes, yes. Yeah. I mean, the TV contract with NBC. I think that that opened the market up to particularly with the Premier League. I mean, I’ve had more friends asked me about what They should get into and who they should be watching and paying attention to, obviously with, you know, a star like ballistic, you know, he’s moving to the Premier League, that was huge. And just more and more Americans, I think paying attention to a sport that deserves a lot more credit than I think it gets. Because, you know, the MLS has always been kind of the punch line for a bad joke here in the States. Now, it’s growing, obviously, but still nowhere near you know, the top, you could say three or four leagues here in the in the US. Although I would say if I were to put stock in any league in the United States, that is a professional sports league, in terms of growth between now in the next 10 years, I would put as much money as I possibly could in the MLS, but that’s neither here nor there. So I would say, you know, just the exposure and and, and the TV contract with NBC has been huge, but I agree with you, from these videos about the Champions League, we got to get that figured out. So
Santiago Leon
what what I do is i’m cheap and I go on to I’d like the Spanish channels to watch rain. Yeah, Univision and TD, do you watch it? Because it’s free. And I have fubu. tv. So I’m already playing 45 bucks a month. Like why would I pay another five for CBS?
Nick Rossetti
Yeah, exactly. That’s a great point. And you get a legal Mexican with fubu.
Santiago Leon
Yes, yes. Yes. Because I have like all the Spanish channels I got a vision, a Univision to do yet. Which Liga MX is the highest watched league in the US. Can you believe that?
Nick Rossetti
I actually That, to me, that actually makes sense. I’m not surprised to that at all in terms of just the the culture that we have here in the US particularly like in, you know, in Texas here, Arizona, that’s all you see
Santiago Leon
it all over. Yeah.
Nick Rossetti
With the Latino community. Yeah. It’s huge. It’s huge. You know, I see, you know, all kinds of Jersey Fiona, and I’m looking up the, because Merrick Donna was just posted. A team in Liga MX well I did not
Santiago Leon
know that I mean he’s yeah he coaches everywhere to be honest. I think anyone that has a paycheck for him
Nick Rossetti
Yeah, yeah Yeah. But you know he great TV as well so
Santiago Leon
which is interesting because Liga MX had promotion relegation as well. Very similar to what they’re doing Europe but like they took it away. So it’ll be interesting if the MLS brings promotion relegation, but anyways, we gotta move on with the show. Um, let me know if you see if Maradona got that team in Mexico. You pull that up?
Nick Rossetti
Yeah, he’s so he’s actually He’s, uh, I was thinking he’s coaching a team in Argentina right now. And the reason why I even brought it up is because there’s a docu series on Netflix about it about him coaching this new team. So if anybody hasn’t had a chance to take a take a look at yet,
Santiago Leon
definitely not have to go go. Subscribe to it on on Netflix I’ve had Netflix on a bit. Anyways, US Soccer schedule has been released for the 2022 World Cup qualifying. The final round will now feature eight teams playing a 14 game Home and Away round robin format is based on the top five CONCACAF teams in July’s FIFA World Cup ranking. The US Costa Rica, Honduras, Jamaica and Mexico automatically qualify for the final round, while the three remaining participants will be determined through two preliminary rounds of qualifying, which will run from October 2020. to march 2021. The US could potentially play Trinidad and Tobago in their opening match a final round of the 22 chills down my spine. Yeah, I know. Let me give you guys like the background Trinidad Tobago limited us from the World Cup for 2018 it was a two one game. So that is so that they pretty much have become a rivals pretty much lately. The Depending on the results in the earlier rounds, Trinidad Tobago defeated the US as we were saying, so what I was gathering and my friend on WhatsApp was telling me that like with this type of format, you could win six wins, have a couple draws and three losses and you’re in to the World Cup.
Nick Rossetti
Yeah, so it’s, it’s, I would I don’t want to say it’s impossible because of what happened in 2018. But it is a very minute chance that missing the World Cup will ever be in the realm of possibilities for the US men’s national team. They’ve switched the World Cup from 32 teams to 48 qualifying teams that come into the the round robin tournament. So they’ve also that’s gone and adjusted all the different CONCACAF and all the different qualifiers across the world. So it’s they did that on purpose because they want more nations involved more nations. involve me more money, because you’re gonna have more people watching. But overall in terms of just the CONCACAF qualifying in terms of what lays ahead for the men’s basketball team I wouldn’t say they’re like I don’t want to say there’s a guaranteed qualification for 2022 but I would say that they have a very, very favorable schedule to be there and representing us at that tournament.
Santiago Leon
They want the US because they probably realize that they lost a lot of money without the US Yeah, trust me. Like the TV ratings were down at 2018 World Cup not thinking about it and hopefully, you know, hey, it’s become a little bit political soccer but that’s not the conversation we can have. A little bit but with this US team Nick, obviously I know a bit it’ll be easy. Do you think the US team is has a lot of promise? Obviously the with Christian pelisek and obviously Adams, I know the coach is question mark. But What do you see this team right now?
Nick Rossetti
Say that they’re in a trial and error stage of the team itself, not necessarily a rebuild, because foundations of the men’s national teams change constantly. There’s the changing of the guard. And that pretty much came with the departure of Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan and Bocanegra and all these different guys that have represented the team for a really long time. In terms of the young talent, some of these guys I’m thinking of Western McKenney, Jordan Morris, Josh Sargent, some of those guys that have that are going to be the key pieces moving forward. Are there we just they’re not tested yet. And the reason why we haven’t seen much of them is one we haven’t had a lot of international stage soccer here in the last couple of months obviously. And right about now is when we’ve been getting into qualifying before the pandemic and everything like that, but some of these other guys that that kind of fill in the So the 11 starters you know, Tim Reid, we still have Josh these artists available. Really goalkeeper I would say is still a question mark. Who knows the Bradbury’s on so going to be playing? So so there’s a lot of key positions that still need to be figured out. With that being said, if we can use this time wisely and fill in the spots that we need to with this core group of guys core group of young talent with, with Adams and McKinney and yedlin and Morris and Jeff Sargent and will trap and and ballistic obviously, then I think we can, you know, really put together a formidable team for for 2022. It’s all going to come down to burrow halter and how he structures this team, what identity do they want to have, because if you think about us men’s national team in the past, it’s always been this scrappy counter attack team. Not very stylistic, messy and in play. And and more to kind of go forward to like the basics and and just you know sit back and hope somebody makes a mistake and then use the the speed that we have and the level of fitness that we have as athletes to counter attack and hopefully for we’re hoping that
Santiago Leon
which Jurgen Klinsmann wouldn’t was trying to change that but I guess he really couldn’t Ben it was gone.
Nick Rossetti
Now when I was and that’s you know, a story for a whole different day.
Santiago Leon
Exactly. I could talk to you forever By the way, so first time guys, anyways, keep going.
Nick Rossetti
No, I was gonna and that goes back to the whole you know, US men’s national team president and and what they wanted out of the team and and and that goes back to who I wanted to be president that that was chosen not to be. But anyway, so they hired Gregg Berhalter, the MLS guy, I didn’t love it. I still don’t. I thought that it In order to match the level of play abroad, we need to get a perspective from a coach that is abroad. That’s why I actually didn’t mind Yergin as a coach at all, and I really thought that he just needed more time to build out his ideas of what he wanted this team to look like. Obviously that that didn’t happen but it’s all going to come down to the coach right? It’s going to come down to who he plugged in where how that back for line plays, and you know who the goalkeeper is because what we have is an opportunity to grow this sport even further because we have a star right we have an we have a star that on a world stage like the World Cup gives us an opportunity that somebody that people who are casual soccer fans can really get into. Y’all know I’m talking about Christian pulisic That’s why I was so bummed out when we didn’t make the World Cup in 2018 because, again, that was an opportunity to not only introduce Kristin prolific to the world, but create a Well fan base that can come together and and want to watch soccer in the US 2022 is our opportunity 2.0 So I really hope that you know we get the rest of the team figured out so that we can we can shine.
Santiago Leon
Yeah and when Nick was bringing up was Gregg Berhalter you know, is he the man is he not the man and I agree he wasn’t a sexy pic. I think at the time I think Marco bielsa was an option. And the guy that went to Mexico was an option I forgot his name. Anyways, we’ll we’ll definitely Wait wait. He goes for a coach for like I Atlanta FC. I think he was an option. Yeah, as well. But of course, you know, things happen. And Greg halter had definitely had has plenty of time to get things organized. Of course. Melissa had an amazing couple months with Chelsea probably one I mean, I don’t know about you, Nick. But this guy is potentially be the greatest soccer player. I mean of all time, you know, when it comes to like, you know us soccer. Do you think that will happen or?
Nick Rossetti
Yeah, just just to go back to your point, wasn’t it? Tom Martino?
Santiago Leon
Yes. Yes. I think he was an option at the time, I think. Yeah,
Nick Rossetti
he was. I think he was and then he took the yeah,
Santiago Leon
that’s a good job arrived as well. Yeah, of
Nick Rossetti
course. Of course. Of course. Yes. So in terms of, of Christian, you know, he actually grew up in Hershey, Pennsylvania, which is not too far where I grew up, and, you know, I think he moved to Dortmund into their academy when he was what like 1213 something like that. So, I mean, this kid is is is what you would call is the Prodigy, right? He’s the future but I think in terms of moon has the future. You know, just how we especially how we showed out for Chelsea in the last couple of months, is really astonishing and and moving to a big club like Chelsea is obviously an opportunity for more and more People to appreciate his talent. I’m not there yet to call him the greatest. I think he has all the potential to do it. In my opinion, Landon Donovan is still the greatest us men’s national team player to ever put on the jersey. But mainly that comes from his moments, right is his moments on the world stage. You know, you don’t have to go far too far back to remember the Algeria game and how big of a goal that was. Even random days, I’ll find myself going back and watching to watching that reaction video from the game and the 2010 World Cup. But I think that once you gave politik the opportunity to shine in a World Cup and do what he does best, then I think we could talk about it. But what Donovan had that pulisic hasn’t had his key success. You know, Donovan made it past the group stage a couple of times in the World Cup. They made it to the quarterfinals, I believe in 2002. If he was on, I believe he was on that team. So so we had some world stage success and in my opinion that’s really important in terms of your overall career. So I think that holistic has the opportunity to become that but we’re just going to have to see how he does on in 2022 and beyond.
Santiago Leon
He’s only in his early 20s 2021 year old so definitely has a lot of a lot a whole lot of mileage ahead of them so we’ll see what happens especially with Chelsea Chelsea likes him so far. score a couple of goals so we’ll definitely see what’s gonna come cuz the Premier League is going to start in less than a month so we’ll definitely see him yeah soccer onstop Yeah, crazy. So but yeah, the sports get it. Yeah, I know. It’s gonna be incredible year so far. So of course, soccer is a big thing and sports cast but also another big thing is college football. Breaking News, UNC and Notre Dame have put a halt to practices this week. They paused it, Nick obviously, you know some people are calling the ACC like the lynchpin if ACC goes, so could sec and the big 12 do you think? Do you think what UNC did and and like, awesome nor damn did? Do you think it’s a red flag or anything? It’s just this week?
Nick Rossetti
Yeah. So I’d like to kind of answer your question with the question. What I don’t understand is why people think that going to online classes, going fully remote for students is a bad thing is somehow going to affect the football programs of Notre Dame or UNC, or Alabama for that reason, if they go to all online classes. The whole premise of this argument, right is to keep the players safe. Well, in my opinion, and this is just my opinion, I would say that the players of the football programs are more and more safe. That’s probably the wrong grammar there. But they’re, they’re more inclined to be at risk if the student body is going to regular classes and walking around campus, because the threshold of what they’re doing when they’re involved in football activities, the amount of testing who they’re around the amount of, you know, so there’s one thing that’s being practiced all that stuff is very regimented within the football facility and within the programs, once you get on campus, and you’re walking around all these students that that’s the brisk right, that’s what’s driving this level of risk. So in my opinion, going to fully remote online classes and not going to where you’re interacting with the rest of the student body because let’s be honest, I let’s just be Let’s call a spade a spade. student athletes, particularly football players, they’re not typical students, right? They’re they’re different in the sense of, of how they’re treated and also how they’re viewed from the outside public. And their safety is obviously the Atmos concern. But in my opinion, the safety of those players is only going to be enhanced if the rest of the student body isn’t participating in fully non remote classes where they’re actually, you know, attending and things like that.
Santiago Leon
I totally agree with you on that, Nick. I think what i was i was talking about for a few days, especially with Tyler, that I think the players or the team should be some kind of like secluded from the campus a little bit and work in like pods. And you know, don’t you know, don’t mix with like the student body, of course, get tested every so often. But this should be, you know, quarantine or like, or have them like a little bubble. I mean, that’s what I think in order for college sports to continue. Yeah, absolutely.
Nick Rossetti
And I’ll tell you a funny story. So when I was at the University of Alabama, I was in a fraternity, and my fraternity was right across the street from Brian Hall and Brian Hall is the athletes door. I’ve heard of her an athlete at the University of Alabama, you stay at Brian Hall. I actually saw to talk Have a low a couple of times out there, I met Derrick Henry for the first time outside of there. But anyway, my point is, is that the athletes, they have their own dorms, they have their, their their whole day to day is so structured in terms of being in this, you know, quote unquote bubble already that again, the only risk that they ever have of breaking that bubble is going to class in person, right walking to class, being in class with the rest of the student body. Obviously, the rest of the student body is not going to take these, you know, the social distancing measures and the health precautions as seriously as somebody that is a D one athlete. So again, the the whole premise of that, oh, we’re switching to online classes, that means we can’t have football this year just doesn’t make any sense to me at all. Because if anything, it makes it more likely because the student athletes are now going to be in quote unquote in their own bubble.
Santiago Leon
I agree. We’ll see what happens. I’m Nick, can you can you picture just a sec going alone? Just maybe like the only conference plan this fall real quick. I’m sorry. You’re breaking up. Oh, yeah. Can you see like the SEC going like all by themselves this fall alone? The big 12 you know, postpones their season till next season. ACC does as well. Can you see sec going all alone this fall?
Nick Rossetti
I in one word I, yes, I could. I could see them going out at all. And this is why I think that this is kind of important. Go ahead. The governors of the states that’s that’s my biggest thing. If you look at all the governors that have schools within the FCC, I’ll use Greg Abbott as an example the governor of Texas, you know, t IV in Alabama, their attendant Tennessee, they’re all of the government. The state governments are supporting these programs, having football Not just supporting the programs having football, but I don’t know if you’ve seen these last couple of days, it’s trickled out. We’re going to have fan in the stands at sec games this year. You know, it may not be much 20 25% is usually the range that we’re seeing so far. But, you
Santiago Leon
know, when Alabama announced yesterday, they will have at 25% capacity. So,
Nick Rossetti
right and and they’re doing a pretty interesting way of how they’re going to use the ticket packages, and particularly with what they’re providing with the students. But again, that’s a conversation for another day. But to answer your question, I think that the SEC network would would play all the game, CBS would play the games. In terms of TV rights, the SEC understands the amount of revenue that’s at stake, and especially the amount of revenue that they could make with other leagues dropping out so in my opinion, I believe in Greg Sankey, the SEC commissioner and I think that if it all came down to it, and it was just the SEC standing alone that they would still attempt to try to do this.
Santiago Leon
I do like the spirit of the SEC, the president says he’s not worried about is going to move forward. And of course they announced the week one games recently. So definitely things are definitely moving on. And yes, I do agree with Nick. I think sec will go at it alone. They’re not afraid. I think they and not just alone, I think big 12 will probably go eventually as well. Which, which, Oklahoma, their squad has been kind of dwindling a little bit. So that gives a good chance for Texas to take the big 12
Nick Rossetti
Yeah, yeah. don’t really get people fired up for that. You know, they got they, in the big 12. You know, I still think it’s Oklahoma’s to lose I love Lincoln Riley, I mean, the offensive guru. I actually was surprised that he didn’t take the Cowboys job, even if that was ever offered to him. But you know, that’s neither here nor there. And this kid Spencer rattler he’s the real deal. I know He hasn’t fast one. I think he’s had a couple of snaps actually. But you know, nobody’s really seen him on a primetime day before but it all it took me was to watch a little bit of his film in from when he was in high school in Arizona. And also watch the Netflix series QB one, if you haven’t a chance to check that out, but he’s the real deal. He’s the real deal and they got a slew of receivers there. So they’re going to put up points that it’s all going to come down to as always, oh, US Defense, right. That’s, that’s always been their Achilles heel. So so we’ll see they got a new defensive coordinator coming in. They did lose a couple of key pieces in the NFL Draft. Previously his I know his last name is Maria linebacker. He went to the Chargers actually with their second second pick in the first round. But anyway, you know, Texas, Tom Herman fires both coordinators. This is really a make or break deal for Texas this year. I really do is particularly for Tom Herman. You know, this is year four, I believe. They make it to the surface. bowl a couple years ago, they beat Georgia then they kind of take a drop off and they go eight, five last year. So we got Sam Ehlinger they’re still there. You know, a local kid went to Westlake High School. Not sure if you saw this, but Texas actually just got the number one overall quarterback in the 2022 recruiting class. I heard about this.
Santiago Leon
I heard that. Yeah,
Nick Rossetti
so yeah, yeah. So that was a big pickup for them. But, you know, in terms of results on the field, something’s gotta have it. We got to get it to a breaking point. So in my opinion, if if they don’t win the big 12 this year, I think Tom Herman’s already on the hot seat. I also think that plays into and this is a whole different topic, but you know, I don’t think you’re going to see nearly as many coaches bought out as frequently as we’ve seen in the past because of this revenue shortage that we’re going to have with the you know, limited amount of fans and everything but you know, tech donors have big pockets. I think UT I know UT is valued higher as a program than than Alabama is. And it’s one of the most highest value programs in the country. So we’re gonna have to see but if I had to put money on it right now, I would still say O u is going to be the champion this year, the big call.
Santiago Leon
And there you have it, we cover the the three cores of this board’s cast, soccer, college football and recruiting, which is towards college football. So Nick is definitely on the game when it comes to the sports guys. I might have to give you an A at the end of the show, so we’ll see.
Nick Rossetti
Okay, sounds good.
Santiago Leon
Let’s go into predictions and Poll Question of the day predictions. I know you said a score earlier. But give us your final final score between Ph. D and Bayern Munich.
Nick Rossetti
Yeah, so my final score is going to be three to Bayern. I think they complete the travel. I think that in the end, too much swing back attack from the forwards. Robert levandowski. I think the best player on The field including and you heard me right with Neymar I still think Robert Lewandowski is the is the best number nine in the country in the country in the world. So I I’m gonna go with buying three PSG
Santiago Leon
and probably Yeah, I think Bangor Munich definitely has a good shot. I want to say, I want to hold off because tomorrow I actually have another show. predicting this so we’ll I’ll give myself another 24 hours anyways, Poll Question of the day who makes the best ice cream? A Dairy Queen McDonald’s Wendy’s or Burger King?
Nick Rossetti
That’s a good one. I’m gonna go with McDonald’s when the machine isn’t broken, which 90% of the time?
Santiago Leon
I agree happens here in Florida. It’s like something’s wrong with it. Oh, yeah, there’s no ice cream today and there’s no way right. A Dairy Queen is gold. Yeah, exactly. Dairy Queen is winning 57% McDonald’s is titled Wendy’s make 21% and Burger King at zero
Nick Rossetti
I get it the Frosties you know I again, we’re shifting gears here but the Nashville Predators they’ve always had this thing where you get a free frosty if they score three goals but I had a lot of friends that were that were Nashville Predators fans. So I’ve had my fair share of Frosties but let me tell you a vanilla ice cream cone from McDonald’s when it’s actually working. That’s tough to beat especially especially in August in Texas. Let me tell you,
Santiago Leon
and I’m the son definitely can call you off a little bit on a Sunday. Exactly. You know who I did not include, which I just think about right now. chick fil a Yeah, pretty good ice cream.
Nick Rossetti
Yeah, I would include as well underrated is Sonic.
Santiago Leon
Sonic two. Oh my gosh, there could have been two more. But in Twitter they only give us four options. So I I did it too fast this morning and Birkin has good ice cream. Don’t get me wrong. I mean it I know it’s zero. It should be 1% at least but anyways Nick, what is is the best way to reach you to talk to about UT football.
Nick Rossetti
Yeah, absolutely. So you can find me on Twitter at the underscore rosseti that spelled RL ss, et ti two SS two T’s Don’t forget it. You can find me on Instagram, same handle Don Rosetta and then 77 at the end. You know I’m always down to talk Bama recruiting or just recruiting overall. Again another cool story that came out today is I don’t know if you saw Santiago but arch Manning arch Manning another Manning is the number one quarterback listed for the 2023 recruiting class that just came out today is going to be a I heard
Santiago Leon
about that
Nick Rossetti
he did a couple hours ago be a very very huge recruiting battle here coming up in a couple of years. So excited to see that but yeah, those are the two kind of ways that you can find me and would love to talk college sports and pretty much anything. Well Nick, you definitely hit
Santiago Leon
the three cores of like of this sports cast. We’re definitely gonna have you on in the future. And we’re gonna have we’re planning to have a college football preview sometime in September if if at least one conference places fall, so you’re definitely gonna come on for that.
Nick Rossetti
Yeah, that sounds great. I would love to.
Santiago Leon
Yeah. So hopefully just sec, which is fine. Look, I think SEC is the greatest conference like in the world when it comes to college football. I call them like the group of death, which is related to soccer.
Nick Rossetti
Yeah, yeah. Yeah, that’s a very good point. And in particular, I would say the SEC West is the hardest division in college football now, not every conference has division, and would love to, you know, chat to chat with you about why I think divisions don’t make sense. Um,
Santiago Leon
that’d be good debate.
Nick Rossetti
But yeah, I would love to chat but that’s obviously you know, conversation that we could have. We could talk
Santiago Leon
a lot about stuff guy land Dobbin, palesa. Just as a sports cast would keep things. We keep things raw and interesting, make it a little bit more interesting than the other main sports channels and of course, You can reach us at the sports cast one on Twitter, or at the sports cast dotnet. Check out the latest and greatest news we got word for sure following the ACC because it’s easy how to make an announcement of counseling like their season, it will have to happen in the next week or two. So definitely keep an eye on that. Of course, we’re tracking on recruiting some other you know, like the the recruiting game is still going on. So and then tomorrow, we got another worker in preview, more soccer tomorrow with Fernando Lau and Jaime Fernandez. Those are like the European correspondence. We’ll see. We’ll get that going. But we’ll have Nick back hopefully soon. And we always schedule these things week by week and we’ll like to have you and Tyler get together because he’s also big into recruiting. So
Nick Rossetti
yeah, yeah, that would be great. Yeah, recruiting is I would say right below like just bam overall. is kind of my forte. So I’m glad we got to kind of touch on all those kind of key pieces here today and excited to, you know, jump back on here and, you know, talk to somebody else that really is into recruiting as well.
Santiago Leon
Now, can you do a top 10 recruiting class?
Nick Rossetti
Yeah, in terms of
Santiago Leon
like ranking, like Alabama will actually Alabama’s team talent, I guess I would think that would that be something that you’re interested in?
Nick Rossetti
Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. Yeah. I am particularly I would love to talk about the 2021 class, because the talent was spiritually with Alabama this year. Well, I guess this upcoming recruiting class here is obviously until everybody signs on the dotted line. Yeah. But at least who we have verbally committed at the moment. I am. beyond excited. Yeah, the once you see and this is one of my favorite parts about this class is how many players we got from the state of Texas in particular so I would love to talk to somebody about that Texas in Florida. Two big states when it comes to recruiting.
Santiago Leon
Anyways guys, of course tomorrow we’ll be back tomorrow night and then Friday we have just farmer talking a little bit about NFL and then I’m planning to cancel anytime soon. Anyways Nick, what a great first night for you What great first day view. Great show.
Nick Rossetti
Yeah, yeah, absolutely appreciate you again like I said, having me on and excited to be back on again in the future.
Santiago Leon
Have a good night.
Nick Rossetti
Yeah.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
Santiago Leon is the Founder and CEO of the Sports Cast. He covers NFL, NBA, and world soccer. He’s also founder of sleon productions, which he specializes in technology and serves clients with solutions to make their business grow.
