US not taking Australia lightly despite pundits' barbs

Despite pundits calling their upcoming World Cup match against Australia a "lay-up," the U.S. men's national soccer team is taking their opponent seriously. Winger Tim Weah dismissed external commentary, including remarks from former MLS player Mike Grella and U.S. great Landon Donovan, as "nonsense." He emphasized that the American squad respects Australia's "young team that have a lot of fight, a lot of grit and a lot of hunger, just like us."

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All the talk is nonsense to me.

Weah stated the team's focus remains on preparation and the "bigger picture," rather than getting distracted by media narratives. Australia enters the match with confidence after a 2-0 upset win over Turkey, showcasing a disciplined defense and effective attack. U.S. midfielder Sebastian Berhalter acknowledged Australia's defensive strength, noting Turkey's difficulty in breaking them down.

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When you look at the Australian team, they are a young team that have a lot of fight, a lot of grit and a lot of hunger, just like us.

The U.S. team is also managing a calf issue for star forward Christian Pulisic, who was substituted at halftime during their opening win against Paraguay. Pulisic is being monitored daily, but Weah expressed optimism about his recovery, stating, "To me, he's looked as he always has. He looks normal, he looks fit." Weah added, "I'm just praying to God that he'll be 100 per cent fit because he'll be needed."

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So we respect them in the same way that we would respect any other opponent.