U.S. Must Win Against New Zealand in Olympic Soccer Clash

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00:00So, a game for the United States tomorrow that is potentially a must win against New

00:09Zealand.

00:10Right now, the United States, Mike, a minus 170 money line favorite.

00:14Do you agree with that sentiment?

00:16Is this a must win for the Americans to advance in Olympic soccer?

00:20Well, I think they have to look at it as a must win because there are probably some mathematical

00:26ways they could do it without it.

00:28But if you're going to advance and matter, you have to be able to go out and beat New

00:32Zealand.

00:34I did not like a lot of what I saw on, even though they hung with France, didn't go down

00:41into Lacazette's terrific goal in the second half.

00:45I thought that they missed something.

00:48And I still go back until they do something in the absence of Diego Luna, create something

00:54in the absence, even if they don't win, if they create something.

00:58We saw Dominic Maguire out there basically stranded because nobody could connect to

01:01him.

01:02Dominic Maguire, the striker for the U.S., had almost no service at all.

01:05Luna's the best creator in the in the young American soccer division, and he may be the

01:11best creator America has at this point, even considering the senior side.

01:17And they left him at home from this Olympic team, even after he'd been terrific in the

01:21qualification tournament, the regional U-20 tournament that got the Americans to the Olympics

01:26for the first time since 2008.

01:29Marko Mitrovic decided to leave him home for whatever reason, has never fully explained

01:35it.

01:36And that, yeah, they did hit a post on an opportunity off a free kick.

01:41And they did have one shot from outside the box go off the crossbar.

01:47But that's not the same as connecting with your striker and giving him legitimate opportunities.

01:52So until I see something in that range, something that shows that they can connect the midfield

01:59to the forward line, I'm going to be skeptical about how far this U.S. team goes.