Things got pretty physical during the last NC Courage match!

Started today's program by pointing out an absolute stunner at the Women's World Cup with New Zealand and Norway with the upset, New Zealand upsetting Norway, one of the, I don't know about a favorite to win, but certainly a favorite to go deep into the knockout round. And New Zealand, who had never ever ever in its history won a Women's World Cup match, won their first home teams, this just in, more difficult to beat. Sean Nahas, the head coach of the NC Courage joins us on the Adam Gold Show. I don't know if you watched that match because it was on, maybe you might have still been awake when it started, but Ireland gave Australia all they wanted in a 1-0 Australia win also early in the morning. Did you catch any of that?

Hey Adam, how are you? Yeah, I saw highlights of the New Zealand game, but I watched the Ireland game and, you know, a bit unfortunate to drop 1-0, you know, tough PK call, but overall, you know, a good performance for the first time. But yeah, like you said, the home countries are going to be difficult to play against this year. Yeah, and by the way, Australia playing without Sam Kerr, one of the best players in the world still, 1-0 win on a penalty. Here's the thing, I know, because I talked to Kurt Johnson about this the other day, that Denise O'Sullivan plays for not only the Republic of Ireland, but a star for your club. She was hurt in the not-so-friendly with Columbia, which was ended after about 20 minutes of gameplay.

No fans were allowed, and I don't even know the reason why, but they stopped that match because it was too physical. And I asked Kurt if he knew if she was going to play or not, and he said, I don't know. He said, but if it's even possible, she will. So what did you see from her? Did she look normal to you? Yeah, she looked absolutely normal. Even if she had pain or was a little bit discomfort, she's always not one to let that hold her back. And she and I were texting the last couple of days and she felt great. And, you know, we wished her well, but obviously there was a great sigh of relief for her knowing that it wasn't anything major.

But yeah, she looked perfectly fine. And you too, because you guys have been on a roll and I know you have to play a pretty lengthy period of time without a half dozen of your own players. A lot of them is some of your best players, but what you guys have been doing over the last year, I know that your winning streak or your unbeaten streak came to an end last time out at Angel City, but I mean, she's a big part of what you're doing and you'll lead her when she comes back.

Yeah, a hundred percent. Obviously when we saw the news break that she got injured, you know, the immediate thing was let me check in and make sure she's okay. And then we reached out to the Federation to make sure she's okay. And obviously it took a little bit of time, but, you know, she, she responded when she was in the emergency room and, you know, said she's going in for a scan and, and, but yeah, we're thrilled that she's, you know, we were devastated for her that potential long-term injury, you know, not knowing what the scan was going to show.

And we were so relieved more so that this opportunity wasn't lost for her and she deserves to be on the world stage. And now everyone gets to see what we see on a daily basis here in North Carolina. Sean Nahas is the head coach, North Carolina courage. They will play the Washington Mystics, Mystics, Spirit, Mystics, Mystics of the Basketball Team, Gold. Washington Spirit coming up on Saturday at Wake Med Soccer Park. This has been a heck of a week. We have the Chelsea and Wrexham last night in Chapel Hill.

Sunderland playing NCFC, North Carolina FC at Wake Med tomorrow. Then your match on Saturday, it's messy week. There's a lot going on and you're trying to keep tabs on your players in the World Cup.

How are you going to fit all this in? Yeah, it's been an unbelievable week, but I think just goes to show the evolution of the game in this country and the efforts put by so many to build the game. I think we'll find a way to watch our players and keep tabs on them and wish them well. Our focus right now is on the Spirit and the Challenge Cup game and getting these players opportunities to get minutes and perform and help them get better as the season wears on and have them ready for when our players return. But yeah, it's a good week for the club, good week for soccer here in North Carolina and the publicity it's gotten. Last night's event was just that.

It was unbelievable to see. Hopefully Wake Med Soccer Park can be just as crowded this weekend when we play Washington Saturday night. Well, I know you guys do very well at the gate and I know the following here is incredible for your club. How will you watch all of the matches that your women play in?

Because you have two Americans, two Danes, at least they're spread out. I mentioned this with Kurt, at least they're spread out and you don't have back-to-back matches or matches going on at the same time. Yeah, no, the promise that we make them is that we want to make sure we're supporting them and always supporting by watching them. Some of the times are difficult to watch, so whether it's a tape, but we'll make sure we're wishing them well and they know that we're supporting them and we haven't forgotten about them and we want them to perform at the highest level and enjoy the moment. They deserve to be there, so any type of communication we can have with them sometimes is really appreciated knowing that while we're so far away that we're still their biggest supporters and fans.

I think you and I talked about this last time and I know we're underway. If you had to handicap this, what chance would you give? They're the favorite, the betting favorite, but with player attrition and whatnot and some of the players who are definitely in there into their last World Cup, Megan Rapinoe, Julie Ertz, probably Alex Morgan as well. Are they the odds on favorite to you?

Who else is dangerous? Yeah, I mean, until someone knocks us off with our experience and our players and the level of our players, I think we'll continue to be the favorite, but England's done really well in the evolution of their game and the investment in their game, the success they've had at the European Championships last time. You have to be wary of the Germanys, the Netherlands, France. Brazil, I think, is a team that everyone needs to watch. It's Martha's last World Cup and I know that they're rallying around her to hopefully get a championship for them, but I think right now, if I had to pick Spain's, obviously, they're young. They have a mix of good veterans.

I think our veterans do a good job of balancing us out. I think individually, we are so talented and if we can be on the same page, we'll be really tough to beat. If I had to guess, it'd be between us, England, and I think Brazil is just a team that everyone just needs to be really careful with and not take them too lightly. So it'll be interesting, but it's a real competitive World Cup. Probably the closest World Cup we'll have in years, if ever, and that's great for the women's game and hopefully it'll be entertaining for everyone to watch. You mentioned the Netherlands.

A couple of very quick things, and we'll let Sean Ejaz go. Lost to the U.S. was in penalties, right, in 19. They have done very well. They have not been a mainstay on the world stage until recently. What do you make of that? Yeah, I mean, I think we beat them to one or two nothing in 2019.

I think the key thing is this. Serena Wiegmann, who coached the Netherlands to a European championship and then to a World Cup final, is now the head coach of England, but I think with the Netherlands, they start to play a really good brand of football. The investment was the key piece, like it is with all these countries. If you invest, the talent is there, and if you put this support system behind, there'll always be development, and that's what you're finding with all these countries, especially these top soccer countries or football countries. Netherlands, they have a new coach and, again, another rotation of players, but it'll be interesting because if you let teams get in a good streak and gain some confidence, not anything's possible.

Another example is Australia. If Sam Kerr gets healthy and they have that country rallying around them, you let Sam Kerr get one or two chances and goal a game, and she may bury you. So, yeah, we're really looking forward to the World Cup and who's going to surprise people, but then who's going to go on the run that's going to be tough to knock off.

Shawn Ahas, the head coach, NC Courage, they will take on the Washington Spirit Saturday at Wake Med Soccer Park. Keep your role or get your role back going. I understand you can't win them all, but you're still on top of the table, and we'll talk to you very soon. Appreciate your time. I appreciate it, Adam.

Thanks so much. You got it. Shawn Ahas, the head coach, NC Courage here on the Adam Gold Show. A monumental upset with New Zealand beating Norway, the first match at the World Cup. Australia with a tough match without their biggest star, Sam Kerr, holding off Ireland in a 1-0 game. United States plays tomorrow night at 9 o'clock.

So, hey, no excuses. The World Cup is a blast, and we all love when the United States is good. And the United States is always. Go America. They have a chance to do something that no nation has ever done. Men's or women's World Cup. They have a chance to become the only ever three-time champion in terms of consecutive wins. Nobody has ever done that, and they are the favorites to do it, even though they have had their own injury issues.