Life Without Balogun, USMNT vs Belgium Preview, Klopp's Germany Move + WC Knockout Drama

Subscribe to The Cooligans Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Welcome back to Cooligans Daily Live! With America’s 250th birthday right around the corner, Christian Polanco and Alexis Guerreros are back in the studio to dissect the biggest storylines of the 2026 World Cup. The major talking point is the USMNT's upcoming massive Round of 16 clash against Belgium. The guys dive deep into how Mauricio Pochettino should handle the devastating absence of Folarin Balogun following his controversial red card. They debate whether Ricardo Pepi is the plug-and-play solution or if a wild false-nine experiment utilizing Christian Pulisic or Weston McKennie is the tactical key to unlocking a struggling Belgian side. Beyond the USMNT camp, breaking news hits the show as rumors swirl around Jurgen Klopp potentially taking over the German National Team. Christian and Alexis break down Klopp’s immense authority and aura compared to Julian Nagelsmann, and discuss whether he can finally fix Germany's deep-rooted issues after three disappointing tournament cycles. Plus, the guys recap the latest heavyweight knockout stage action, including Spain’s absolute defensive masterclass against Austria and Portugal's chaotic, VAR-heavy victory over Croatia featuring Cristiano Ronaldo's first-ever knockout stage goal and a dramatic Gonzalo Ramos winner. Finally, the show wraps up with a lightning-round prediction circuit for the next slate of high-stakes fixtures, covering Colombia vs. Ghana, Canada vs. Morocco, and France vs. Paraguay. Christian and Alexis also look ahead to the highly anticipated Brazil vs. Norway match—which they will be attending live at the New York/New Jersey Stadium—before wrapping up with a bold forecast for Mexico vs. England in the grueling heat and elevation of the Azteca. Don't forget to hit the subscribe button, smash the notification bell, and leave your wildest Balogun conspiracy theories in the comments! Timestamps: (02:30) — USMNT vs Belgium preview: Expected XI, players to watch and predictions (26:45) — Breaking News: Jurgen Klopp linked to Germany (DFB) head coaching job. (32:30) — Spain vs Austria recap: Four clean sheets and a defensive masterclass. (38:30) — Portugal vs Croatia recap: Ronaldo's historic goal and late VAR heartbreaks. (47:00) — World Cup Matchday preview This image, created on July 2, is a digital composite of image numbers 2280769176, 2280769675, 2280955696 and 2280955508.) In this photo illustration, (L-R) Malik Tillman and Christian Pulisic of the United States and Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku of Belgium ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round 16 match between the United States and Belgium on July 02, 2026 in the United States. The match will be played at Seattle Stadium on July 06, 2026. (Photo by FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) 🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTube Check out all episodes of The Cooligans the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv