Natalia Astrain, the Telemundo soccer commentator who's coached youth and professional women's soccer on both sides of the Atlantic and coaxed intentional, aesthetically-pleasing soccer from the U17 women's national team in 2022, joins the pod. She has a distinct vantage point for observing the challenges and opportunities facing women's soccer in America as the national team prepares for the beginning of the Emma Hayes era. Wide-ranging conversation -- everything from Onyeka Gamero's path to the first team at Barca to the superpowers of the American player and the overemphasis on results at young ages in the States.

#453: Natalia Astrain on USWNT challenges and opportunities

An in-depth show about the U.S. men's and women's national soccer teams, the players who could one day make it better, and American soccer in general.

Sports

Soccer

Vince, Watke and Belz on the Monday Review, which is available on the public feed because it's the last Monday of the month.  Belz reports from Turin, where a Scuffed-hosted trip to Italy started on Saturday just in time for the Juventus-Milan match. Plus lots of other stuff to discuss: Johnny looking good again, Venezia in a promotion push, Paxten Aaronson's brace, Vince has some choice words about Mark McKenzie's outing, etc.

#487: Report from Juve-Milan in Torino, plus weekend rundown

Greg and Belz dig in on several scenarios for replacing Dest at the Copa America, the biggest tournament we'll have between 2022 and 2026. Lots of possibilities, lots to discuss.

#486: How to replace Sergiño Dest at the Copa

The former Ajax and USMNT midfielder, a key player in the 2002 World Cup quarterfinal run, joins Belz for a conversation that touches on, among other things, how the Dutch trained total football in the late 1990s, playing for Bruce Arena, the goal v Portugal, some of the innovative stuff John is working on in his psychology practice in Colorado, and the extent to which club academies have a responsibility to develop not just soccer players but whole people and functioning adults.

#485: John O'Brien joins the pod

Vince and Tara report on their visit to lovely Columbus for the She Believes final victory over Canada, a rundown of the best young talent in NWSL, and Olympics roster discussion.

#484: WoSo — Boots on ground in Columbus, Olympics roster, young guns in NWSL

Another She Believes trophy for the cabinet. Some good progress in this camp, a midfield setup that works, and we now look forward to the real beginning of the Emma Hayes era.

#453: Natalia Astrain on USWNT challenges and opportunities

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