The Guardian · US news · Original story
World Cup Group D view from the USA: co-hosts determined to justify their hype | Jeff Rueter
Australia, Turkey and Paraguay must be vigilant of a defender-heavy squad ready to bring Mauricio Pochettino’s vision to life on the home stage
The opening salvo kicked off pitchside at Wembley – not between the Australian and USA World Cup teams, but between players turned pundits Mark Schwarzer and Mike Grella. The former Socceroos goalkeeper, with 109 caps on his CV, was on-hand for the EFL Championship promotion final and stationed alongside Grella, who had a fine career in MLS and the EFL but never cracked the USMNT. It’s unlikely Schwarzer arrived with an axe to grind but he took umbrage with Grella’s post-draw reaction that playing Australia was “a lay-up” for the co-hosts.
“Host nations are always difficult to play against at any World Cup,” Schwarzer said. “We always knew the USA was going to be a tough, tough opponent. What we like to do is let our performances do the talking.”
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Jeff Rueter · Wed, Jun 10, 2026, 8:00 AM
US news | The Guardian
Australia, Turkey and Paraguay must be vigilant of a defender-heavy squad ready to bring Mauricio Pochettino’s vision to life on the home stage
The opening salvo kicked off pitchside at Wembley – not between the Australian and USA World Cup teams, but between players turned pundits Mark Schwarzer and Mike Grella. The former Socceroos goalkeeper, with 109 caps on his CV, was on-hand for the EFL Championship promotion final and stationed alongside Grella, who had a fine career in MLS and the EFL but never cracked the USMNT. It’s unlikely Schwarzer arrived with an axe to grind but he took umbrage with Grella’s post-draw reaction that playing Australia was “a lay-up” for the co-hosts.
“Host nations are always difficult to play against at any World Cup,” Schwarzer said. “We always knew the USA was going to be a tough, tough opponent. What we like to do is let our performances do the talking.”
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