Total Soccer Show: USMNT, Champions League, EPL, and more ... How much will Pochettino rotate his USMNT squad at the World Cup? | Listener Questions
Mar 26, 2026
Rapid-fire answers to listener questions about how much Pochettino might rotate the USMNT at the World Cup and the squad depth that enables it. A fun thought experiment assembling a unified Yugoslavia 2026 XI and debating its tournament potential. A city-by-city ranking of the best World Cup group-stage venues and a realistic take on whether FIFA would ever postpone the tournament. Plus a USL all-star vs MLS breakdown.
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Prioritize Intense Physical Prep To Avoid Burnout
- Prioritize physical preparation to avoid late-tournament fatigue.
- Joe and Taylor highlight that Pochettino's training emphasis on intensity and competition aims to prevent the tired midfield issues seen in 2022.
Why A Unified Yugoslavia Probably Wouldn't Have Won
- Hosts debated whether a united Yugoslavia would have won a World Cup and mostly deemed it unlikely.
- They noted historical results, internal divisions, and elite competition in 1998–2010 as barriers to a title.
Hypothetical Yugoslavia Starting XI For 2026
- Panel assembled a hypothetical Yugoslavia XI mixing players from Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia and others.
- Example picks included Jan Oblak in goal, Modric and Milinkovic-Savic in midfield, and Benjamin Sesko up front.