Hey, this is Darrell. Thank you for downloading. Thank you for listening. We have a great episode for you today. I know I always say that, but I really always believe it. We have a great episode. It's myself talking to George Qureshi, former editor of the athletic soccer. We're talking about chapter three of

David Goldblatt's book, The Age of Football, the chapter focused on South American soccer

in the 21st century. You don't need to have read the book to enjoy the conversation.

Before we get to that, I'd like to remind you about football with Grant Wall, the new podcast from Grant Wall, which I hope you know by now.

Taylor and I have been involved with it behind the scenes. We're really excited about it.

The quality of guests that Grant is getting on the show is incredible. The questions he asks are great.

On Wednesday, he published a bonus episode

interviewing Roberto Martinez, former Everton manager, current Belgium manager. Here's a quick

90-second excerpt from that show in which Grant asked Roberto Martinez about the US men's

national team. Take a listen.

Roberto, you're a well-known figure in the United States. We are co-hosting a World Cup here in

2026. I would suspect that the job coaching the U.S. men's national team from 2023 to

26 would be a coveted job.

Would you have any interest in that job in 2023?

Or in football, anything that it goes further than a month, I can't give you ever an answer.

If I learned something in football is that you can't plan for the future because you're underachief or you

you could set the targets too high and what I can say is that I always felt that

USA one day they'll hit it in a way that they will win something big I work work with a couple of American players,

but especially Tim Howard, for me,

that incredible professionalism

to almost take pushing things to the limit.

And the coaching is growing all the time in the MLS, the influence of other ways of thinking.

...