Inside USMNT’s Historic World Cup Win w/ Mark McKenzie | Orange Slices w/ Heath Pearce

What is going on everybody welcome back to a new episode of orange slices if you haven't already make sure you comment like and subscribe and Leave us a rating and review some more people can find this and you can join in on the conversation Guess what guys? World Cup is full on we've got our boy from the inside of us soccer back with us Given us a little bit of an update mark McKinsey man you're looking uh, you know Maybe a little more tranquilo than the last time we saw you tournament kicks off. How you doing man? I'm doing great, man. I'm doing great. You know, we got the the first came under our belts It was a great start to the tournament Obviously like as everybody knows the start is is is a pretty good indicator of how things could potentially go and Obviously you want to control as much as you can and I think that's what we aim to do. So the first game Yeah, 4-1 win we got Really good performances. I think all around collectively offensively defensively I think we put together probably one of our best performances Of this of this year. So yeah, man It's great to kind of start things already and and to have that flow to have that rhythm To be out of that kind of build up phase and to just hit the ground running and now Yeah, now we got now we got Australia this weekend, which will be Yeah, another real test And obviously it'll be you know onus on us to follow up what we did last week with with a strong performance this week But again a different team than Paraguay as you guys saw. I mean everybody saw They were very strong, especially defensively and in transition against against Turkey and Yeah, we'll see you again Obviously what the day holds once we get there But we're preparing properly and then making sure that we respect you know what Australia does We'll be right back after a quick word from our sponsors The biggest stage in world soccer is here and every goal changes everything and now Fandall is giving you a Reason to root for every single one introducing every goal pays bet on the match and get bonus bets for every goal scored in that match More goals means more bonus bets and all you have to do is turn on your token are the US gonna go on a deep run Reach a semi-final or even a final in a dream world from the opening whistle to the final kick let there be goals on Fandall Visit fandall.com to get started now 21 and over select states for Kansas in affiliation with Kansas, Dark Ocino 18 and over in DC, Kentucky and Wyoming gambling problem called 800 gambler or 1-800 my reset in Connecticut call 1-888-789-777-777 or visit ccpg.org/chat in Maryland Visit MD gambling help.org in Massachusetts visit gambling helpline ma.org or call 1-800-327-5050 in New York All 187-7-8-H-O-P-E-N-Y or text hope in why in Louisiana call 1-877-770-7867 Now, let's get back to the show Tierra and Ryu's stories say like the difference between a passive and an active game right is like you see When you watch a game passively you watch the ball right when you watch the game actively You're watching everything happening around the ball the movement and everything like that How much of it have you actually been like oh wow? It's a good game you know versus like we might play them I need to be watching who might be doing what especially like Australia It's hard because right because you're a spectator and you want to enjoy the game And you want to be able just to be that kid who's sitting on a sofa Watching it with the guys not really having that to take a nap, you know laid out like I put a game on you taking that champions Exon, you know exactly exactly and and and the craziest part is we have like a beautiful view here and in our base camp here in Laguna and You look outside and you got the water crashing, you know the waves hitting to be sure You know I looked out the guys were surfing. I was like heath is probably somewhere over there You know doing whatever the surfers. I don't even know the the the tricks are called But yeah, he's he's he's got a wave and he's going all you know, so you look out like man. This is this is a vibe You know and maybe I do take a little nap And you got the barista outside and you get your little drink your little coffee and you sit in the like oh man You know and then you clock back in here. Wait This is like we're in the World Cup, you know, so maybe I need to be a bit more active with this So it's that it's that like that that balance between the two obviously with with games in our own group You know, you only have one of those games that are going on outside of yours So you can really pay attention to that and you circle only a calendar like our boys We know Australia is playing at this time and we know Turkey is playing at this time a pair of wives playing at this time So at you know the 12 o'clock game and the the the the the six o'clock game are okay Yeah, we kind of just chill and watch but that three o'clock game Everybody players lounge, you know sitting in front of the screen figuring out what is it that Australia is doing and how are they successful? How are they not successful? XYZ so yes It's tough because you have that kind of side you but you also have that pro and side you and dividing the between the two's That's like the hardest part sometimes. Yeah walk me through the the at least some of the four one win So obviously there's a few photos of you in the middle of the circle. I go and go and crazy You know obviously you had to play the role of of of the sport role for the team in a lot of ways But what was the what was the bus slide? A bus ride like you know what was the locker room like was it tense? You know Alex Freeman talked about You know Pulisic saying like we're all nervous. Let's get through the first five minutes and it helped settle him down and everyone down What were those kind of phases of the day like because again? We talked about it a bunch, which is like you don't know it's like it's like rollercoaster seem fun Till you're at the top and then the adrenaline kicks in and then you're like what's what's going on? Yeah, honestly like the build up of the day because we left in the morning. We got to the the hotel up in Manhattan Beach We had our team meeting just before we left for a fair man at the beach and just to go over a few things But one of the biggest things was Where you kept kept kept kind of going back to remember who's playing and it's that little kid who always jumped to being in this position Like that's the little kid who you're now playing for and that's the little kid who's gonna go out there and play Like he's going out there to enjoy to compete again It's that that's all you need to be focused on you know, so I think for Everybody hearing that message before we had even kind of set foot or set start at the journey up to up to Men at in Beach and to sofa kind of set the tone set the precedence and then from there everyone's got their own individual Routines whatever it is before the game, but we had a pregame huddle and again It's just going back to that. What are we here for right? We're here to compete and we're gonna get stuck in on our first tackle We're gonna get the first shot off. We're gonna get the first block We're gonna make sure the first clearance is a good clearance We're gonna make sure that that first aerial duel is strong you so this it sounds cliche and it sounds boring But those are all like the things that kind of help settle everybody and get everybody back on that that ground level and From there you can just really move forward with each and every moment and again Let's talk to what Freeman said about you know Christian saying that that's the That's the kind of mentality you want to get through those first five minutes because it's probably the most emotional minutes of the game You know or just starting the second half Where were teams have a chance to really set the tone? It's like all right We're gonna go into the game and teams are gonna come out flying and high pressing and you know taking shots from everywhere and for us It's like all right You can be as emotional as you want, but we are gonna be emotionally grounded and understand that in these first five minutes We're gonna do all the simple things extremely well build into the game and really find our flow And I think we've kind of done that in each of our I think especially the build-up games We wanted to focus on that as well. So yeah, I don't think it's anything new that that we're doing But again, I think it's a testament to the group that we have It's a testament to I think the whole team understanding that this tournament is not just gonna be about the first five minutes What's gonna be about managing the 90 minutes? It's gonna be about playing with intensity but understanding where to play with intensity Understanding, you know, how can we really hurt opponents with what we do well and then how can we kind of mitigate any any kind of attacks or or major major opportunities from from where we're playing so it's Yeah, it's a bit of that that given that given tape is it true that you led the post game prayer preacher? I did I did I did Is that like has that been a thing for you or was it a moment thing or like, you know, how did it all come together? Honestly, it was you know, we've been doing you know post game prayers for for a minute now and you know Had the chance to kind of connect with some other Believers as well some other brothers and Christ here in the World Cup And going into the World Cup. It was a thing of just wanting to really Unify people on a different level and through prayer as it's a special moment. It's an intimate moment So you know, we had a chat before the tournament started Shout out to John Bostick and gots like Felix and Mecha You know the whole Curse out team getting involved in it as well. You see a whole lot of a lot of videos of them But post game, you know, it's a tense moment right because you have wind loss or a draw You sometimes it's great that you win sometimes it sucks that you lost and sometimes you go into a draw You're like, oh we deserve that or you know, we should have came out with more and kind of just getting background It's like no, you know, we're blessed to even be here, you know what I mean like we're blessed to even have this opportunity on this stage So started out with me just telling I just popped around with you guys like yo, I'm doing a quick prayer You know, you know, hey, you know just you know, let's go pop over to the center circle and then we'll do our round with the rest of the group So that with me and it was like three or four guys and then five or six guys did you go quiet Mark McKenzie? Did you go Southern preacher mode on them? You know did you you know what what was that? You know what I because even then, you know, it's like when you pull a group together and all that emotion, you know What you think you're gonna say and what comes out is always different, you know You know mine is like when I when I saw you know five or six guys are like cool then I saw like people running across a few and I was like oh okay so it's going to turn into a serving right right right right okay all right so no at that point guys like what's going on what's going on and I was like oh I'm just gonna do a quick post game prayer so you know them and just let the Holy Spirit take over man and just let the pastor flow with it so yeah it's yeah it was a special moment for sure but you know hopefully we can you know use it as something to keep us all centered and and going out there man just playing free I think that's like the most special thing about it it's the World Cup is what you dream about so yeah yeah so when you got to the locker room and this has been my conversation a lot this week which is a 4-1 win in the opener it's kind of like a 2-0 lead right how do you then manage that how do you then not because the 2-0 lead is a is a real thing because a human nature not because anything else right to just like you get a goal and you get a second going you can just exhale and you don't know your exhaling you don't know you're getting a little more relaxed and there was a couple times when the team was doing well I think it was 2-0 where there was a couple flicks and what I was like oh no this is going in the wrong direction you know now it's getting a little tiki-taki where you go that relaxation is kicking in too much but then the team stayed focused and and all that what was the conversation I guess throughout the week from the staff was there a lot of like was poaching the and the crew kind of like heavily monitoring the group to see the vibe and make sure that like yeah it's one thing to enjoy it this is a once in a lifetime opportunity but also like let's not forget like this is just the beginning of the journey it's all because I think they tried to give us the reins of of kind of going out and and being in the moment going out and understanding what the game calls for they give us a lot of freedom to tap into our own experiences to happen to tap into our own connection and chemistry on the field to feel out the game and to not feel like they're constantly like oh well you need this is exos and you need to be doing this they give you you know they give us the the tools right to go out there on the resource that we need to it's performed but yeah I think it was just a matter of wanting to start strong and you hit that to zero right with it I was thinking about the the nicks and the spurs right because the spurs you know they put up you know the 79 76 points in the first half against the nicks and game I think it was game three or game four and it was like oh you know you know they the nicks the other day they they came you know they fumbled it all by the spurs have just run off with it and next you know the spurs come out the next come out in a second half and yeah put together that performance so as soon as we got to halftime you have everyone halfway halfway halfway you know the job's not done you're on 45 minutes left you know it's 2-0 all it takes is one chance so stay sharp focus on the clean sheet focus on continuing to do what we're doing you know get your legs back and man we got to go out again and replicate what we just did it's like whoever if you can't go anymore next man up you know what I mean so I think everybody was was kind of preaching that point whether we were on you know you know you were playing or whether we were reserves just trying to keep guys locked in keep guys focused on the fact that this is a World Cup and just because first half seemed a bit like all we were in control all it takes is one moment my paraglider playing in a World Cup just the same as we are and they're playing with as much pride and and and and and enjoys we are so if they get one and now it's two one it changes the dynamic of things so now it's all right well we want to start the second half like a zero zero we want to start the second half where we get the first goal where we take the first punch just as we've talked about I think throughout the entirety since we since we got to to New York or you know New York and met there and then got to Atlanta and it was like we want to take the first punch we don't want to sit back and concede we want to be the guys on the front foot and make teams have to come and and respond to what we're throwing at them so I think everyone understood the message and and kind of went out in that second half and repeated what we did and obviously this things we want to clean up and then I think that's natural course of things but yeah it was it was something that I was you know it was special to be a part of because you just feel that that unity you feel that sense of and I'm sure you you you understand it in games where it's like oh my gosh like like when I think about okay for you with the the game you guys play against Spain and you beat Spain it's like you know that sense of collectiveness that sense of unity is what will drive sometimes results I think going your favorite yeah I think you know that collective mentality is very easy to talk about and far harder to do right and it's that mentality of like there is a and again it's cliche but there's that flow state of the team when you have everybody locked in going like if he gets beat I'm there and then the next guideline is like well if he gets beat I'm there you know and if he pret if he goes I'm going and I'm sure there's a level of trust there's a level of continuity that to me was the most impressive of that game right just that collective mentality of the group of when we press when we're in our blocks when we're in our shape how we transition how we you know keep them in certain areas of the field and at the international level it's like just like you're you're playing in France like one guy's late you're beat every time right and it only takes that two three times before one guy starts pointing going man if I go you go and then all of a sudden gap start to open up on the field and that's hard to recover from so like that and I actually think we saw this in the in the in the lead-up games as well of just that collective mentality but it can all go wrong right Paraguay come into the world cup with the same type of mentality like you said but then the handle the emotions the handle the swings to give up a goal a team who wants to they didn't sit back as much as I thought they would but a team that wanted to be able to say you got to break us down now have to maybe expose themselves a little bit in the game plan like you said that freedom that you guys had after getting that early goal to then figure it out on the fly takes a lot of trust from from the staff to not over coaching moments like that but just wildly wildly impressive as as a group let me let me ask you and also wait before you bro let's not sleep on the fact that like Paraguay what they didn't come able right and come able come walk up qualification you know I think a lot of people feel really like Paraguay is a quality team and just because one four one yeah it was on the day but they're build up and they'll run through they beat some strong teams you know they got some really good results I had the best defensive record in come able so I mean that that is no that's no 10 goals and all of qualifying they gave up or something like that you know what I mean so so when you think about it like that he like wow okay this is a good team and we understood we have to respect them you know they do some punches at us literally and figuratively back in November so it was understanding like yo this is this team could hurt you if we're not we're not onto it so yeah you know the team understood the understood the assignment so while you got to go play a world cup I'm going to see the parade so you know this is this is the choice you made man you chose to live this life you said mix and five which means I'm here I did and the thing is all done and the parade is happening um you know how do we get how do we get uh you know you your boys with some of the players how do we get orange slices on a float you know or on one of the buses you know hang in hang in make sure we get some publicity listen you know first thought you see my my uncle out there they're gonna be going crazy you know I know my cousin my god says they all gonna be out there so you know keep an eye out for them secondly uh I'll make a couple calls you know I make a couple calls I got a few you know contacts I'll see you know maybe maybe the mayor yeah you know I see that I'm gonna get a personal name based now with everybody you know you know I'll talk to I'll talk to the the the Princeton New York apparently Timothy Wayah um you know apparently apparently he's a Princeton New York but uh you know I put in a word uh yeah go next door and knock on his door and see see what see what I can do see what so strings that can pull yeah you've got some club teammates also playing in the world cup have you gotten a lot of calls like pro it's hot here or like what is this or what is the city or this town have you been giving advice on like oh you got to go check out this uh you know whatever that might be food or destinations things like that honestly no I just been letting them rock through it man you know the only thing I can do is I'm just experiencing for themselves you know I don't want to I don't want to you know get that wreck them in the wrong direction and you know I got a you know a French teammate who was like oh you know why didn't you tell me what this like no no no no you guys go ahead you go outside go walk down the street and go to see see you know for yourself if if you like this for how to not you know that's for you to tell you know that's not for me you know but the heat y'all gonna sit through it suffer through it I don't want to hear anything about oh you have it so easy and conquer cat oh this is so simple blah blah blah blah you guys you know you should be with I'm seeing a lot of a lot of you know guys you know oh this is a green and heavy yeah wait till that wait till the heat waves actually hit you know I'm telling you once we hit wait till we hit that end of June beginning July heat you know that's like deep heat you know what I'm saying that's when that's when you really get to the thick of the summer in the US you know so you know I leave it I leave it there for for for the rest of the guys to kind of experience I I lived in New York for a long time and and I have lost all my city fitness I was you know what I was doing the subways 40 degrees warmer down there I was doing the stairs and I was like skipping a step and I get to the top and I'm like man I'm not fit for the for the city right now it's been some times I done this yeah yeah it's it's it's it's definitely different but it's been a vibe here in the city you know like other than like Nick's everywhere I was just I went for a run in battery park today up the west side highway came back and the police station down next to World Trade they were all like you know the firemen were outside the shop just passing the ball around doing tricks it's got a real Nick's vibe but compared to where I live in LA like there's been I mean Granted, there was the France Senegal game here yesterday, so a lot of people were coming back from the stadium, but it was like, you know, people everywhere, big screens outside, that like, you get a different vibe when you have these seasonal weather's where people are like, "No, I'm getting outside." And so there's screens on everywhere. I was walking down the West Village last night, screens of Argentina game was on the wall, on a giant screen, I'm just like a corner. It wasn't even like a restaurant. And I was like, okay, this is the vibe I'm looking for for a World Cup. - Yeah, bro, that's seeing it and kind of being part of it. It's really cool because I, you know, like I talked about before, you think about like the little kid that you were watching the game, you know, and the World Cup's being in the evenings, most times in Europe or in Asia, and getting home and you just click on the TV and they got games just flowing, you're like, "Yes, my games, you know, I can just chill, I can eat a snack, I can, and now kind of seeing how all of these fans are able to really just enjoy the game in different ways, how, okay, we can't be in the stadium, but we can make our own little mini stadium here inside, you know, around the house, you know, we're gonna have a watch party, you know, like my aunt, she, she got together with a local bar and pub back in Delaware and she's putting together watch parties for our games and seeing that level of excitement, seeing how people are moving about into different cities and going to the World Cup with the feeling of like this is what it's about, you know, this is, it's not about all of those, it's about the enjoyment of the game, it's about seeing people come together from all walks of life and in that stadium and jumping up and down and beating on the drums and that, like that, it gives you goosebumps 'cause like as anybody who loves the game, that's what you, that's what you play for, you know, that is what, you know, you started out as and then to be a part of any tournament, I think in any national team format, but of course the World Cup, it's like a surreal moment and then you watch it on TV and you're like, wow, people are, you know, they're coming out for us, you know, they wanna see us, they wanna see us do well, they wanna see us succeed, they wanna get behind us and support us so that we can go as far as this tournament is possible, right? We wanna, we have an entirely, we wanna win the thing, you don't enter the tournament with the expectation of not winning, so we wanna go with that mentality of winning it and making sure that we're doing it, making all those people proud and, you know, so it's dope to see, man. - Was that your first game in Sofie? - No, no, no, no, we played there, put their nations a couple years ago. - Okay, well how, how, how, what was that? - That was different. - It was different, it was different, bro. It was different, like, the thing is like, now is different 'cause you have the walkout, the walkout was like all 26 out, so you got like 50 guys on the field. So it was a bit different, it was a bit chaotic, but it's a cool thing though to experience. - It is, everyone. - Everyone. - To have all the team walk out and to go and stand for the national anthem, like, everyone tears to my eyes 'cause I was like, wow, this is like, wow, this is the World Cup, you know, this is the dream, but, you know, you walk out there and before the game, you already got the sense that we had future and Tyler performed before the game, so we couldn't go on the pitch 'cause they had to set up everything, but we got the walk and sit in the corner and we kind of stand in there and as we were walking out, you just heard the stadium, you know, well, I was already like 70% full, like 65%, 70% full. This is, this is, oh, you know, like, what was the last time we had a pro-US crowd in a stadium this big, you know, and it's almost full, or halfway full before the games even started, before we even had, you know, got off for warm-ups. And then the next stage is they go off for warm-ups and you hear the roar and then you're standing in the tunnel before the walkout and you just hear the people screaming and jumping and the drums banging and then it's like, this is it and you walk out and stadium was full, so far, I mean, I mean, you've been to so far, like, the stadium is, bro, it's insane, like, it is insane. It's one of the best stadiums I've ever been in, just in terms of how it's set up, you got the big screen underneath, you got, it's like, yeah, so high-tech and makes it feel different. But when it's a pro-US crowd and they're all there for you for the World Cup opener and pushing you and you start out in that way because they're pushing you in that way, you walk out there and you hear the whole stadium singing the national anthem and like, yeah, bro, it was, it was dope and then that first goal, you know, that ice breaker just the roar from the team. And then I think-- - I jumped up, I jumped up by the way on that first goal and this only happened to me a couple times in my life and all the blood left my brain and I was like, dude, I'm, you know, like, I jumped up too quick and I screamed and then I started to go like, oh man, I'm about to go down, you know, like, and it was like this, I don't know if I just, if I'm just getting old or, you know, I gotta get my blood pressure checked or something like that, but I remember getting up and I just yell and then all of a sudden, like, after that yell, I was just like, stand still for 10 seconds because if I don't, I'm about to pass out right now. What was it like, what was it like when, for you guys in the stadium in that first goal, just the one to get it early because that's the dream start, but I think it was, obviously it's like the breath, like, (exhales) like, all right, there we go, like, now, like, it's really like underway, like, we've got the first goal, I think that first goal is always the, like, that, you know, we crossed that line, we're really in the tournament now, but to start it in that way and to be playing well and to be collectively and defensively playing well, it was like this, you know, what I was deserved it. And again, when you start out in that manner, that was like, we have to maintain that, you know, how are we gonna maintain that? So the first goal was like, all right, bet. But I think the second goal, the first goal, we were like, all right, are we gonna run on a field? Are we gonna, you know, run to the court? Like, what are we gonna do? Like, how are we gonna do this? What's the FIFA, you know, regulations, you know, with how we're celebrating, blah, blah. So everybody was kind of trying to figure it out. And then the second goal, we were like, bro, screw it, bro, this is like, let's just go over. (laughing) You know what, you see the whole team sprint down the sideline and you know, oh my God, oh, oh, oh, oh. You know, so then it was like, you know, you know, what we're gonna enjoy this, you know, whatever consequences there are, you know, sorry, sorry, sorry, you were soccer, you know, that, you know, we're just, we're just a bunch of kids. - Figure it out later. - You know what I mean, you know, we're just a bunch of kids out here just enjoying, you know, we're just, we're just trying to have some fun. But yeah, I think in that, the third goal, obviously we weren't celebrating, but I think the fourth goal, just encapsulated like the whole day and that whole build up and seeing a guy like, you know, he gets the goal after some difficult periods and yeah, you know, to celebrate in that way, as a team, you just saw the emotion of everybody, you know, I think I hit one of my top speeds over the last couple days to get down there. (laughing) - Well, that's what it was for me in Spain, when we got the second goal again in Spain and I was the confederations, kept semi-final, I was warming up behind the goal and I did my full stride of like jumped over the signboard, signboard fell over and broke and I was just like, you know, it was a full blackout experience. - Bro, bro, it was like, it's, it's, like that's how you have those grabbles, like blackout, you know, you don't, you don't, you kind of like out of body, you're just doing it, you know, thinking about it, it's just happening. So yeah, I think all of it, you know, and scoring in that way and kind of wrapping up the game like that was, yeah, it was, it was a special, a special special day, but yeah, what one hour remember forever, man, it was, yeah bro, like that's so far, so far you did your big one with that game, so yeah, now we got Seattle, Seattle coming up and I hear Seattle is also, you know, five, so curious to see how, so to see how, how the stadiums. - We'll be right back after a quick word from our sponsors. The biggest stage in World Soccer is here and every goal changes everything and now, Fandall is giving you a reason to root for every single one, introducing every goal pays, bet on a match and get bonus bets for every goal scored in that match. More goals means more bonus bets and all you have to do is turn on your token. Are the US gonna go on a deep run, reach a semi-final or even a final in a dream world from the opening whistle to the final kick? Let there be goals on Fandall, visit fandall.com to get started now. 21 and over select states for Kansas and affiliation with Kansas, Starkoceno, 18 and over in DC, Kentucky and Wyoming. Gambling problem called 1-800 Gambler or 1-800 My Reset. In Connecticut, call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat. In Maryland, visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Massachusetts, visit gamblinghelplinema.org or call 1-800-327-5050. In New York, call 1-800-777-8HOP-E-N-Y or text Hope-N-Y. In Louisiana, call 1-800-770-7867. Now let's get back to the show. When I came back to MLS 2009, I came back with five games left in the season and we had to win all five. I was at FC Dallas. I mean, the win all five is the first year that Seattle was in the league and we won four straight. We had to win all five to make the playoffs. And we were way out, right? We had to win five straight to make the playoffs. Like it was like never gonna happen. And we won four straight. And we got to Seattle and I was like, guys, one more game, you know, like one more game running playoffs. And we started the first five minutes well. And then after five minutes, I was like looking around and going like, we got no chance. Like every time something happened, the crowd got louder and louder. And at the time for MLS, like that, you know, you know, You had Timbers crowd, you had Seattle. Those are the two that I put at the very, very top. This is pre-LAFC and some of these things that intimidating experiences. And obviously, the supporter level, the understanding of the game, all of that stuff is gonna be unbelievable. 'Cause again, I remember that game being like, okay, we're not making playoffs. Like the way that, and I'm sure you felt this at Sofie, of like, and I think the standard was set down in Mexico City with Mexico to start the tournament of just like that home field advantage, that lean where it's like, you're slowly, slowly leaning on this team where they're like, every time they get in a bit of a rhythm, you're just taking the life out of it. I mean, Seattle's gonna be the same and that place is gonna be absolutely rocking. - Bro, Rolte's already been telling us like, yo, I guess Sofie was alive with Seattle was like, it's a vibe, bro. So, you know, we're, I'm trying, I'm trying not to ask too many questions about it. The last time I was in Seattle, we played, I was in the union and brother, brother. I was like, yo, this is, this is something serious, boy. So, yeah, I can only imagine what it's gonna be like for a national team game and not just any national team game, but a US, you know, World Cup, home, you know, that, that, like, yeah, it kinda gets you going and you're like, all right, but, you know, we started things out the way we wanted to. And now, you got like this head to head clash with a team who's also got a win coming off of a strong performance. And obviously gonna do whatever it takes to get a win. - Yeah, the media's been whining them up too, so you know that like, inside the team, they are out for blood in this one too. And to get that first result, they're, you know, like, these groups are tough, man, like, it's, they're, their, their belief is, you know, they're gonna go into it like you said, you go into Paraguay, it's not like Paraguay's going in guys. Let's just like try to survive against the US. They're looking at it and going like it's the US. Let's play our game. Let's get out there. We've got this, we've got the players, we've got the quality, look at what we didn't qualify. You know, Australia now has that plus the chip on their shoulder of like, you know, the media there doesn't respect us. They think we're a weak team and like, you know, you're gonna only harness that so much in a World Cup atmosphere because of all the other elements, but, you know, still, it's a big deal. Bro, it's, yeah, it's something where I think you have to be very, very careful, right? Because the media, they do a good job. We're kind of dropping, dropping little things to kind of get you to bite, little hooks to get you to bite. And, you know, even for us coming out of that first game, it's like, all right, well, we got Australia, you know? Like we got Australia and Australia is doing the same thing. We're doing trying to win this thing. And what are they gonna do next? They're gonna try and beat us. So, all right. This is a job at hand. This is a task at hand. This is our opponent. Got to respect our opponent for what they just did. Respect our opponent for the quality that they have. But at the same time, like I've told everyone before, it's also about us. It's about us going out on the front foot. It's about us being dominant. It's about us making them plates to how we're playing. So, yeah, ultimately you see what the game's gonna give you. And you kind of figure it out from there. But, bro, I'll tell us to everybody. Man, respect your opponent, bro. Respect your opponent. You know what I mean? This is the dream for everybody. So, yeah, bro, this is. That's the best way I could put it down. Yeah, no, I mean, look, I think there was something that happened in the Paraguay game that could take a lot longer in the Australia game, right? It's not the first game anymore. The table is set. Now it's about, you know, first game to second game, whether you make changes in the team or not, you're navigating it differently, right? Now you're on the verge of the knockout rounds. And now it's about, okay, we got two games. How do we get to the knockout rounds? How do we finish in the top space? And so it's not just like go out all in and whatever, but one thing that I liked about the Paraguay game that could take a lot longer in this one is, y'all earned the right to play, right? You guys did, you talked to the very beginning of this episode of the details. And you're like, oh, yeah, they're kind of cliche, whatever, but those are the details that make the difference, right? They're earning the right to play, earning space on the field, doing all the small things so that you can put your quality players in a position to be impactful, right? You can put Balaghan in a good spot. You can put Pulisic in a good spot, whether he plays or not in this one. You only get that if everybody else is doing all of the dirty work and the details that make all the difference. And it's not going to be any different against Australia. No one's going to just be like, oh, you know, let's roll over for these guys. They're hosting, you know, that's that extra, like you don't need motivation in a World Cup, but playing spoiler to a host, playing spoiler to a team that's got all this momentum. I mean, Australia is not lacking motivation to come out and make it a difficult day, you know? By no means, bro. And they probably have a good amount of support as well, I mean, so I want support they had out there and Vancouver at their first game. So it'll be a really intense atmosphere, but I think it'll be an enjoyable one for everybody watching and for us to go out there and compete, I think, or that's what you want. You know, you want to go out there and earn a victory. I think earning a victory is always a sweet thing. So yeah, man, that's what we're aiming to do. And obviously we'll see what the day holds, but yeah. - Shifting away a little bit, have you had a chance to get off the premises a little bit when you guys are based there? Is it, you know, you guys are pretty much on lockdown while you're there, but have you had a chance to just breathe and get away and just forget the World Cup's happening? - A little bit, yeah, we had the barbecue after the first game. Family and Friends barbecue after the first game. - By the way, I saw that, it said family and friends. I don't have any family members, but I feel like I got some friends down there, you know what I mean? But I was not, I was not here. I was not aware that it was family and friends, you know? - All I heard was I'm going to New York and lakes in five parades coming up, you know, I gotta be outside, you know, you know, that's what I heard from you. So it must be family and best friends, you know? It must be family and best friends, you know? - No, I don't know. I sent out the orange slices, you know, family and friends package. So I didn't get a response from certain individuals. - Hey, you don't have to bring me down there. I know there's actually, there's actually an alumni kind of watch party down there for family and alumni during the Australia game. I'm gonna be doing the US soccer post game show at the US soccer house, which is, are you guys gonna get to that at some point, by the way, it's a pretty cool spot. I think we are this weekend, but I'm not sure exactly. So I'm pretty sure we are, I'm pretty sure we are. - Yeah, it's a really cool spot. That I was, it was rocking during the US game, man. - Yeah. - Like the classic like beer throws, but they were bottles of like, mickle of their serving there. And they were just like, 'cause you can't throw 'em, 'cause it's not in the cubs, they were just like waving 'em, you know, and it was just flinging things. And so when after I was like, those are the things that the players are gonna see, right? They're gonna see these compilations around the country, not just like what's in the stadium. They're gonna see millions of people backing them. And so it like, you know, winds people up to be like, you know, I feel like I'm contributing, you know, very few get to actually be in the stadium, if you have the access or the affordability or the privilege of being in the stadium, but it's those types of spots all over the country that are like wild atmospheres. - Yeah, bro, that's what, like, again, like I said, bro, seeing those videos and stuff, it makes you feel like, wow, like people are getting behind this tournament and really understanding, like what it is, you know, really understanding. Like the World Cup is not some small thing, you know, like the Super Bowl is great, NBA Finals are great, but this is like bigger than all of them, both of those and those are like spectacles in themselves. So yeah, man, you know, I just encourage everybody, you know, keep riding along on this journey with, not only us, but whatever team you're supporting, I hope you're supporting the US. You know, if you're subscribing and listening to us, here on Orange Lices, you know, we have a little bit of bias for the US. So yeah, I don't want to hope to kind of see you guys waving, you know, the US Jersey Rock and the New Jersey's and what, honestly, rock the OG Jersey's too. Rock the OG Jersey's, I like the OG Jersey's man. Oh, no, no, no, it's just fine. So yeah, you know, a little bit of bias. - I got some of those, I got some of those. - You got some? - Has there been any other crazy things that have like captured either the group chat that are happening, obviously, like you saw Cape Verde get a crazy result and like, I went on sports center to talk about like, does this justify having an increased amount of teams? And I was like, on the field, the product's still going to be judged based on like how all these teams finish, but overall in terms of like captivating a country or a world, like, well, I've gotten more text messages and DMs from people that are soccer adjacent or not into the sport being like, did you see this goalie? He's 40? Did you see this? The country's only 500,000 people. You see how many followers that guy has now? You see, like, that's the kind of thing that like brings interest into the sport that makes it like accessible and great and like, humanizes things. Are there any pieces along the way or any games you've liked to watch so far or any moments that you're like, yo, like as a fan? This is pretty crazy. - I'd say, I think just some of the results I've kind of gone, you know, we talk about the Spain and the Cabo Verde. We talk about the Japan Netherlands games also really entertaining. We talk about the Egypt Belgium game. I think a lot of those matches where you have teams who quote unquote contenders are favorites, right? They don't come out with the result that anybody anticipated. And I think that's what makes this tournament special, right? And we always come back to it because everybody's playing with that higher sense proud. you know, that higher sense of purpose when you represent your nation. You know, you hear the Cobble Bear Goldkeeper talking about his mom's not here and how he's playing for the fact that he's playing in second division and Portugal and he's got this opportunity to represent his country against one of the best teams in the world. And you put it performance like that to go like that. Yeah, it makes you feel like, wow, this is like, this is deep, man. But I think those results show like, wow, it's really about on the day who was up for the task, right? On the day who was attended to all the details, who is understanding what the intensity is, you know, understanding what it is to manage a lead and what it is to come back, you know, maybe from a deficit. So, bro, the group chat itself, I think we're, I'm sure you got a bunch of jokers in here anyway as it is. So, this is a bunch of, you know, stupid jokes throwing at guys. But outside of that, I think being able to have like the players watching the games together and being able to have spaces where we can sit and actually enjoy the game in live and not have to be on our phones, you know, nonstop. I think it makes it a lot more special and a lot more like, we're together in this tournament, but we're also together as kids watching, you know, this, this, this, this spectacle that we watch is, you know, as you, let me ask you and then we'll wrap this thing up. The kid and you, right, talk about the human interest stories and for me, those are the things because when I've traveled to different world cups as a fan, those are the things that draw me in, these unpredictable moments that are like uniting factors, right? Everybody wants that second nation that they want to root for, that, whether it's a David and Goliath story or something else, but, this World Cup also has had Holland brace, messy hat trick, in Bob Bay, Baldwin, like, for the kid and you, you're gonna have to face those guys at some point, you know? Like, that's also, I think, a thing where it's like, okay, at the club level, you're gonna face most of these guys anyway at points in your career. But at the national team level, you've got these crazy stories, upsets, and all these things, navigating the group stages, and then you've still got to, like, embrace the fact that, like, you are in a World Cup with, you know, and we haven't seen her at all, though, yet. But, like, some of the greatest players of all times are in this World Cup and performing as well. I think, for me, as a competitor, but that's what I want, you know what I mean? Like, that's the stuff I thought about as, like, how can I get on the field against them, you know, or how can I be on the same stages they are? And now you have that chance. So, yeah, it's like, you know, I talk about the kid and I talk about his dope to see it and whatnot, but the competitor, he's like, bro, I want to beat them. Like, I'm not here to fanboy on the field. I'm here to put in a crunching legal tackle, you know, and, and, you know, send a message like, yo, you know, I'm here, you know what I'm saying? So, I think that is obviously a cool concept to be able to see those players that you watched and see those players who we consider some of the greatest of all time and to share the pitch with them, but you flip into that mode of, bro, I really don't care. I really don't care, bro. Like, it's, it's, you know, I'm not, I'm not here to, to shake your hand, you know, after the game, if you want to chat to me, that's fantastic, but, bro, I'm not here for all that, bro. I'm here for business. So, bro, that's the, like, that competitor of me to be able to, you know, leave a mark and see that guy you watch, get pissed off because, you know, you left a little something in the tackle, you know, I say, that's, that's what you, that's what you play for. I love that. I love that. All right. Well, we'll, we'll let you get back to it, but we appreciate you stopping in giving us the updates. Kind of a behind the curtains look as always something that's nice. I think for fans to sort of see what you're going through because we get to sit and talk about it all the time. Chris, all of our media, right? Well, what are they up to? What are they talking about? Well, he, the beer in there, would it, you know, like, we don't know. You, you assume you take your experiences, but for you to share that with us has been fantastic. And by the way, for anybody that's listening, we've got a party. If you're in New York City, we're doing an orange slice is live. Should have been marked, but the man is busy. And so, understandably, so he should be joining me, but at Saturday's football from 6 to 9 p.m. And, and that's tonight this Thursday. So, come on by if you're around or go online, look at orange slices, go to the social or to the party full link and RSVP so you can join in on some of the fun. It's going to be some fun, fun cool people hanging out there. So, Mark, appreciate you, man. Appreciate you. Oh, man, of course, I'm glad to be back with you my guy. And it's funny, well, obviously, coast now, man. You know, my coast is not my your coast. So, yeah, enjoy the parade today, bro. Enjoy, you know, the nix and five, you know, enjoy the the champagne showers, you know, hopefully, you don't get caught up in all of it, but hopefully I can get you on a float. You know, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm sending a couple, a couple, you know, words to my contacts and see what I see what I can do out there. It's just going to be the whole nix team and me. Who's that dude? He knows that he's here. He knows the guy's. You know, you don't know orange slices? Yeah. You want to be on a float? Make sure you guys subscribe to orange slices, you know? Exactly. We can get you anywhere, anywhere. Thanks again, everybody. If you haven't already, make sure you comment, like and subscribe. And, and of course, Mark, all the best man against Australia. It's been so fun to watch. And more than anything, kind of embracing that, that mentality that that the national team has always had, have come in together one through 26. Everybody's got a role to play. So we're looking forward to seeing the team go out and grind and continue to push in this tournament. Appreciate you, man. That, appreciate you. All right, guys, and again, on behalf of our production team, we appreciate all of you and we will see you guys on the next episode. Peace. The Orange Slices Podcast is a four-sucker production, an association with Jim and I-13. Executive producers are Heath Pierce, Charles Steinehr and Mark Rine, associate producers, Alexis Aroncio, Jenna Martin and JJ Casillo. Written and produced by Mike Milberger, edited by Daniel Rue, with a special thanks to Fandall Predicts, Scott Teich, Orange Slices Podcasts 2026, all rights reserved.