Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Greeks Poised to Vote Out Tsipras; Iran to Raise Uranium Enrichment Level; Cables from U.K. Ambassador Slam Trump as Inept, Insecure; Southern California Rocked by 5,000-Plus Tremors; Biden Defends Record, Walks Back Words; Women's World Cup Final. Aired 4-5a ET

Aired July 07, 2019 - 04:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[04:00:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Voters in Greece head to the polls. Why they are expected to oust the country's prime minister for his conservative opponent.

Iran cutting back on commitment under the nuclear agreement and ramping up its level of uranium enrichment.

Also "incompetent" and "dysfunctional." The British ambassador slammed President Trump in leaked comments.

Hello, we're live from CNN Center. I'm Natalie Allen. Welcome to our viewers in the U.S. and around the world, this is CNN NEWSROOM.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

ALLEN: Voting is underway in Greece's snap election and the country's prime minister is fighting for his political life. Voters may be ready to oust Alexis Tsipras in favor of his conservative opponent. Many accuse the prime minister and his party of breaking promises to avoid harsh austerity measures during the country's financial crisis.

It's been a long few years for Alexis Tsipras. Eleni Giokos looks at his time in office and why that may be jeopardized now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELENI GIOKOS, CNNMONEY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Call it the battle of the billboards. The Greek prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, and his opponent, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, are ready for their face to face showdown to lead a post bailout Greece.

The vote comes after Alexis Tsipras was forced to dissolve parliament and call for a snap vote following his party's humiliating defeat in E.U. and local elections.

ALEXIS TSIPRAS, GREEK PRIME MINISTER (through translator): I'll ask for the president of the republic to immediately call national elections so the Greek people will make the final decision. GIOKOS (voice-over): Now that final decision is near as Greeks head to the ballot box and the New Democracy party has taken a commanding lead in the polls.

Investors believe it's not a question of whether Tsipras' party will lose but by how much.

ATHARIASIOS VARNIVAKDIS (PH), MERRILL LYNCH: The question is only if New Democracy will be able to form a government on its own or if they're willing to a coalition partner and whether the new government will have a strong majority to be able to implement very much needed economic reforms.

GIOKOS (voice-over): Tsipras' fall from grace is a stunning reversal from four years ago. Back then he won an resounding victory on an anti-austerity platform. A Greek exit from the Eurozone seemed a real possibility.

Fiery protests rocked the streets and then, in mid-2015, Tsipras made grand pivots and agreed to the harsh bailout terms he had campaigned so strongly against. Grexit never happened.

Last year the Greek bailout program ended, wrapping up almost 10 years of emergency support. The country's economy is finally growing again. That's a plus for Syriza. But harsh budget cuts and crippling taxes continue to pummel the middle class. Mitsotakis says his pro- business, low tax policies are what Greece needs to jump start growth.

KYRIAKOS MITSOTAKIS, NEW DEMOCRACY: Growing at 1 to 2 percent simply isn't enough for the Greek people. I'm aiming at a much higher growth rate but this can only happen if we can stimulate some serious investment.

GIOKOS (voice-over): A stable business-friendly government will please investors. Greek stocks have resumed roughly 17 percent since the May E.U. votes and bond yields are at record lows.

But ordinary Greeks worry that their economic safety nets will suffer under New Democracy. Kyriakos Mitsotakis may get his chance to government but Syriza will be ready to battle again if his growth plan falters -- Eleni Giokos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: Let's talk more about it with our guest, Nikos Vettas, the director of the Foundation for Economics and Industrial Research in Athens and professor at the Athens University of Economics, joining me from Athens.

Thank you so much for being with us, sir.

NIKOS VETTAS, FOUNDATION FOR ECONOMICS AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH: Thank you.

ALLEN: Well, not so long ago Greeks were fed up with mainstream parties and now they're poised to elect a conservative prime minister once again.

Why is that?

VETTAS: The Greek economy had been in a recession since 2008, more than 10 years ago. It went through three austerity and adjustment programs; the last one ended last August. The economy is still (INAUDIBLE), however. Capital controls are in effect. The (INAUDIBLE) are not all (INAUDIBLE) back to the banks. Investment is actually quite --

[04:05:00]

VETTAS: -- weak and, most importantly, the growth rates that you would expect for an economy coming out of such a deep recession are weak.

So what the voters are now looking for is a government that will be able to deliver high growth rates and, in turn, what they call a normalcy in terms of their everyday life, this is not going to be an easy task but this is what the next government has delivered.

ALLEN: Yes. Alexis Tsipras, when he was elected there was so much promise but he just couldn't carry it.

Why did he become so unpopular?

VETTAS: Well, the Tsipras government ran for more than four years. They did accomplish certain things but failed in certain others. So in terms of the fiscal front, the country is now balanced.

Also in terms of politics, this was four years when the opposition parties, where they were disagreeing on certain parts of economic policy, contrary to the first year for the crisis, they would not actually try to derail the economy.

So what did happen was that when Tsipras came to the government, their main promises were actually quite inconsistent. And very soon it was discovered that you cannot fight against Europe in the way it was promised in Italy; therefore, the ultimate goal, which was to fight austerity and bring incomes back to the Greeks, could not be done overnight. It had to be gained. You had to get fiscal discipline.

All of this was done; however, where the previous government failed was in jumpstarting the economy. What is needed from now on -- it's going to be a delicate equation -- is deep reforms in the tax, social security, justice, public administration, education.

Looks like, if you actually watch how the markets are anticipating economics over the next couple of years, that investors are going to look into the Greek project very favorably.

The key question is, if the capital that one expects would flow into the Greek economy would really try to express a new growth model; which, in other words, if I can put this in one sentence, what is needed is not just that we go back to what was before the government but a completely new page in the new economy. (CROSSTALK)

VETTAS: That's not in one party. Social consensus is needed and we're going to see on Monday once the government is formed what signals it sends.

ALLEN: Why is Mitsotakis -- what is it about him?

What has he got to bring to the table to try to make all of these things happen that you just described?

VETTAS: I think it's a combination of two things. One is, for sure, Mitsotakis is not somebody that would go contrary to the Europeans in the sense of creating another crisis. We already found in 2015 we paid a very high price for that.

But at the same time he is someone understands that fiscal discipline by itself mean nothing. What is important is to bring growth. Growth requires investment, both foreign investment and domestic investment.

Greece has very strong competitive advantages when it comes to the entire economic activity around human capital, innovation and, on the other hand, tourism, geopolitics, the location of the country.

And none of this has been actually materialized the last 10 years. So also with a new commission being formed in Europe at the same time as the Greek government, it appears that there can be a new start. Let us not forget --

[04:10:00]

VETTAS: -- that Greece still has a big mountain of public debt, foreign debt. Private debt internally is also very high and the equation in front of economic policy is not going to be a trivial one.

ALLEN: Right. There's a long road ahead. Yes.

VETTAS: It is. But it is a good base economic policy.

ALLEN: We'll have to leave it there. And we know, thank goodness, tourism is back but we know a lot of young people left Greece, looking for a better economy somewhere else. We'll wait and see what happens with this election. Nikos Vettas, we appreciate your insights. Thank you so much.

VETTAS: Thank you.

ALLEN: Well, calling all royal watchers now. The photos are here. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, released pictures of Saturday's private christening for their son, Archie. Just 25 people were in attendance.

There was a bit of an uproar over their decision to keep the media away and hence the public from seeing the event because British taxpayers picked up a $3 million bill for the renovation of their home and they kind of wanted to see the christening. Well, it's pretty clear the British ambassador to the U.S. does not

have a high opinion of Donald Trump. Coming up, what he said and whether Britain is trying to soften the blow.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WORLD SPORTS)

[04:15:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

ALLEN: Welcome to our viewers in the U.S. and around the world. This is CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Natalie Allen.

Iran has announced it will break some of the commitments it made in the 2015 nuclear deal. Moments ago officials said the nation's uranium enrichment will now exceed 3.67 percent, the limit it had agreed to in the deal. That process to begin within hours, says Iran.

Despite that, Tehran says it still wants to save the deal and it's open to diplomacy. CNN's Sam Kiley is following these developments. He joins me now from Moscow. He has more about it.

Hello, Sam.

SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Natalie, open to diplomacy is absolutely the way to put it. This is another bid essentially by Tehran to get the Europeans to make good on their continued promise that they want to stick by the terms of the JCPOA, the Iran nuclear deal, that the United States walked away from under the Trump administration in May of last year.

It took 12 years to negotiate and it committed Iran to suspending its nuclear program for a decade in return for the lifting of sanctions. Now the Iranians want the Europeans, notably France, Germany and the United Kingdom, to make good on their promise to come up with a thing called Instex. It's a mechanism by which the Europeans can continue to trade and buy oil or offer lines of credit to the Iranians to bypass newly imposed American sanctions on Iran, which are crippling the economy and have squeezed off Iran's oil exports to about a fifth of what they were.

And certainly very considerably less than they could and should be as far as the Iranians are concerned. They also reached out and mentioned the gain, a commitment made by the French president Macron to continue to talk directly to President Rouhani in Iran over this and that there would be a ministerial level meeting between the two countries quite soon.

This is all very much intended to drive a wedge between the Europeans in particular but also Russia and China. Here in Moscow, they're very committed indeed to trying to make sure that this nuclear deal is successful and continues. Even though a lot of the technology for Iran's civilian nuclear

capabilities actually came from Russia. They're saying, the Iranians are, that by tomorrow morning it will be possible for the International Atomic Energy Agency to verify they have gone over the 3.67 percent threshold.

But there's another 60 days before they really start cranking things up. So they're signaling very strongly that they do want the deal to stick but they have to see some kind of economic advantage to this.

ALLEN: We'll see what the next step is here. Sam Kiley, thank you.

It looks like the British ambassador to the United States is not a fan of Donald Trump. That is putting it lightly. Leaked cables show Sir Kim Darroch calling the president "inept, insecure and incompetent."

"The Daily Mail" newspaper first reported the memos but a British government source confirms them to CNN. The paper says Darroch called the White House "uniquely dysfunctional" and said Mr. Trump's career could end in disgrace.

Let's talk more about it with CNN's Anna Stewart. She is live in London with more about it.

Good morning to you, Anna. And certainly this is a big ouch toward the White House from this ambassador.

ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's a really damning portrayal of the president and indeed of the whole administration. And these leaked memos span a period from 2017 right up to the very present day. And they cover such a broad range of topics.

So from the U.S. president's policies in the Middle East for instance. Most recently the ambassador questions the president's claim that he aborted a missile strike on Iran at the last minute. He says, quote, "the account doesn't really stand up."

There's another memo where he says Trump's alleged links with Russia could see this presidency crashing and burning and then he says the president does successfully shrug off scandal and controversy. "He could emerge from the flames battered but intact like Schwarzenegger in the final scenes of 'the Terminator.'"

So very colorful stuff, very revealing --

[04:20:00]

STEWART: -- and highly embarrassing for the U.K. This is a man whose job is to create diplomatic ties with the U.S. and strengthen and protect that relationship. It's going to be a horribly embarrassing fallout.

ALLEN: Has London said anything more about how this happened and what they think about it?

This could produce some sort of chasm between these two allies. STEWART: So the fallout so far, the official line from the British foreign office -- and they didn't deny the accuracy of the memos -- they called them "mischievous."

They said, ""The British public would expect our ambassadors to provide ministers with an honest, unvarnished assessment of the politics in their country. Their views are not necessarily the views of ministers or indeed of the government.

"But we pay them to be candid, just as the U.S. ambassador here will send back his reading of Westminster politics and personalities."

So really a support there from the government for the ambassador. And we do have lots of politics and lots of personalities here in the U.K. amidst Brexit and the big leadership contest for the next prime minister. And that is the context where this has happened. This is a time when the U.K. is really trying to strengthen its relationship with the U.S. It needs the United States as a strong ally and a political ally and of course a trading partner after Brexit.

So the timing isn't ideal, particularly since the U.S. president just came here for a state visit just a few weeks ago. That trip went without a hitch, had lots of pomp and ceremony. The president was greeted with a 41-gun salute. He had a state banquet with the queen.

This all went so well and then this lands. Now all eyes will be on Mr. Trump's Twitter page to see what the fallout is from him. I'm sure overnight the U.K. will be working very hard on diplomatic ties. It's going to be a very busy night trying to soften the impact of all of this.

ALLEN: And it's been mum's the word from the White House. Anna Stewart, thanks so much, live for us from London.

Let's talk more about it with Scott Lucas. He teaches international politics at the University of Birmingham in England. He's founder and editor of "EA WorldView."

Good to see you. Thank you for being with us.

SCOTT LUCAS, UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM: Good morning, Natalie.

ALLEN: Well, this is a humdinger, isn't it?

The ambassador certainly didn't hold back.

What do you make of his comments?

LUCAS: Hands up, who is shocked by this?

The administration might be dysfunctional, that Donald Trump might have a large ego. But in the words of the ambassador, radiates insecurity. That at times this administration on foreign policy might appear to be inept.

A diplomat, his or her job is to report back honestly to the home department. Whether that's reporting back to the State Department or in this case the U.K. foreign office, What is the interesting question here is not that the ambassador said this but who made them the most public.

Who leaked them?

Did they do this to embarrass the U.K. foreign office or did they do this to say there's genuine concern in London about this fellow still in the White House?

ALLEN: Is this damning to the White House or the U.K. for it being leaked or a little bit of both perhaps?

LUCAS: Again, if it was the case that we all thought that Donald Trump was a guy who ran very smoothly --

ALLEN: No, if he were a stable genius, as he calls himself.

LUCAS: -- exactly, that if he didn't say things like the Revolutionary War was fought for airports, we'd say, yes, shocking. It's not shocking for the U.K. There will be, as you heard from the foreign office, a little bit of cleanup to say it's very mischievous.

But they in no way refute what the ambassador said. They're not going to back away from this line.

Is it shocking for the White House?

I think Donald Trump will be shocked and I think, as you noted we watch this Twitter feed but the key people to watch are not Trump but the agencies: The State Department, CIA, Department of Defense, Treasury.

Are they shocked that someone called Donald Trump inept and ego-driven or do they share that opinion, including with their British allies?

ALLEN: It also shows the concern about Mr. Trump's close relationships to Russia and other global issues that are of concern to this ambassador. You have to wonder whether this will create a chasm between the U.S. and its important ally in that he was just there, clinking champagne glasses with the queen.

LUCAS: Look to get serious, behind the black comedy of these cables, it says that Donald Trump is involved -- and I'll use the exact phrase here -- with "dodgy Russians."

[04:25:00]

LUCAS: Now even if the Mueller report doesn't conclusively put Donald Trump before a court, it's clear that the British ambassador thought that Trump's relationship with Russians could compromise the special relationship.

Now Donald Trump will say this is a witch hunt, this is a hoax. No doubt the ambassadors in league with you folks in the fake news media. But U.S. agencies have said they're concerned about Russian interference and Robert Mueller has said Trump and his people have had numerous contacts with the Russians.

So again, nothing shocking that the U.K. ambassador would reflect what was going on behind the scenes.

ALLEN: And, of course, Mr. Trump is not a fan of criticism and he uses Twitter to fight back. Yet they're staying mum for now.

What do you make of that?

LUCAS: Well, everybody hasn't woken up yet in Washington. You have to wait until about 6:30 your time when the president flips on the TV and finds out what y'all have been saying.

Now I think the White House, at least at the level of the agencies, if not Trump, are going to try to figure out how to contain this or limit it. At least the agencies will. Trump's own people might go off the handle in their reaction but I think the wider concern is don't just watch what Trump's folks say, watch what the Germans and the French say because behind what the U.K. ambassador's saying is not only concern about Trump's involvement with the Russians but his involvement with the alliance.

The alliance that Europe has had with the U.S., not just the U.K. but European countries since 1945 and I think there's a concern here that Donald Trump is a challenge and threat to the alliance. And if he comes back like Arnold Schwarzenegger as "The Terminator" for a second term, that concern is only going to increase over here.

ALLEN: It will also be interesting to see whether this story has legs with the American people, who are now looking at the 2020 election because they have gotten used to controversy with this president. Maybe this might be seen as a shrug or not. We'll see that, too. Scott Lucas, we always appreciate your insight. Thank you so much.

LUCAS: Thank you, Natalie.

ALLEN: Thousands upon thousands of earthquakes in Southern California. Right after this break, we have the latest from the small town still reeling from the effects of two large quakes and the ground is still shaking.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:30:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

ALLEN: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Natalie Allen coming to you live from Atlanta. Here's our top stories.

(HEADLINES)

ALLEN: Southern California has felt more than 5,000 earthquakes in just three days and they keep coming. That includes two major quakes measuring 7.1 and 6.4. Both were centered in the Mojave Desert north of Los Angeles near the town of Ridgecrest.

The town was once known as the earthquake capital of the world. But residents were still caught off guard by the severity of the shaking. The good news is there were no deaths and no serious injuries but it will still take a while for life to return to normal. CNN's Stephanie Elam has the latest for us from Ridgecrest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Here in Ridgecrest, it's almost shocking that there's not more damage to this town after being nearly the epicenter of the 7.1 earthquake. But if you look behind me you can see one home that caught on fire shortly after the earthquake hit.

That is part of the concern, is what happens to the infrastructure, the pipes, whether that they rupture in an earthquake like this and that could spark a fire or other disasters for people here.

So they're asking people to be very concerned. In fact, some people were so disrupted by it they chose to sleep outside of their homes because they are afraid of things falling or maybe even their own buildings collapsing while they were in there.

The other concern is making sure that the power is restored, most of the power has been restored here. Also very important, considering it's about 100 degrees today, hot out here during the summer so they need to make sure they're keeping people cool.

The hospital, power has been restored but they are not operating on a full level because of these earthquakes, they actually moved people out of that hospital and into other hospitals throughout the region to get them away from here, to make sure they were getting the care they needed, as these aftershocks continue to hit the region.

After a 7.1, we could see some aftershocks that may even have a magnitude of 6 or so and that is enough to add more damage in the region. So people here, while they're cleaning up, most of the businesses we've seen, the restaurants, are not open today, the businesses cleaning up their shelves, cleaning up their aisles, hoping to open back up.

While they're busy doing that today, there is still a concern, still a concern --

[04:35:00]

ELAM: -- that one of these aftershocks could do more damage -- Stephanie Elam, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(WEATHER REPORT)

ALLEN: Coming up here, Joe Biden says he's sorry. We look at the comments that prompted that apology and why the Democratic candidate is getting defensive on the campaign trail. (MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:40:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

ALLEN: Former vice president and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden is apologizing for some of the things that he said about working with segregationist senators in the past and that comment getting kudos from his fellow Democratic presidential hopefuls. Arlette Saenz is on the campaign trail.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Here in South Carolina, Joe Biden offered his most forceful defense yet of his decades-long career in the Senate. He argued that his Democratic opponents in the 2020 race are focusing more on his time in the Senate than they are as vice president.

And he also argued that the fact that President Obama selected him as his running mate -- he went through the vetting process to get there -- that that was a testament to Biden's record and character.

But Biden also offered a rare apology for his recent comments on working with segregationist senators decades ago. Listen to what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, FORMER U.S. VICE PRESIDENT AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Was I wrong a few weeks ago to somehow give the impression to people that I was praising those men who I successfully opposed time and again?

Yes, I was. I regret it. And I'm sorry for any of the pain or misconception that I may have caused anybody.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAENZ: Now Biden's comments a few weeks ago about working with segregationist senators while he was in the Senate decades ago drew a lot of criticism from his 2020 rivals, including Kamala Harris who raised it during an exchange at a debate a week and a half ago.

And Cory Booker said it was personally hurtful comment and called on Biden to apologize. Booker is now reacting, saying he's grateful the apology came, though it came a few weeks after he initially made the comment. Listen to what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CORY BOOKER (D-NJ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I felt just grateful that he is now speaking to his past in a way with more candor and with a sense of regret for some of the things that he supported. None of us are perfect. All of us make mistakes. We need leaders that have the courage to show vulnerability and speak to that. I'm very grateful.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAENZ: Biden also talked about his support for the 1994 crime bill and said that he takes responsibility for what went right and what went wrong with that bill. He has faced a lot of criticism from his rivals and other critics that argue that bill led to an era of mass incarceration.

But Biden's going to continue his two-day tour of South Carolina today. He has events in Charleston as he's trying to court that critical black voter. Black voters make up the majority of the Democratic primary electorate here in the States and for Biden --

[04:45:00]

SAENZ: -- he's really focusing in and trying to maintain that support among the key constituency -- Arlette Saenz, CNN, Orangeburg, South Carolina.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: The women's soccer World Cup final is upon us. The Netherlands takes on the reigning champs, the USA in a few hours.

What will it take for them to win?

We'll discuss that with our guest when we come back.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WORLD SPORTS)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

ALLEN: In the coming hours, a champion will be crowned at the Women's football World Cup. Team USA, the reigning champs, will face the Netherlands in the winner-take-all match. As our Amanda Davies reports, the final will be a clash of polar opposites.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AMANDA DAVIES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Lyon is the city that dubs itself the home of women's football and on Sunday it provides the stage for the game's biggest match, the World Cup final.

The defending champions, the USA, going head-to-head with the reigning European champions, the Netherlands, two sides with vastly different World Cup experience. The U.S. in a record fifth final while the Dutch have made it to the decider for just the first time in only their second World Cup.

[04:50:00]

DAVIES: With a squad that includes superstars like Megan Rapinoe, Carli Lloyd and Alex Morgan, they've lost just one match in the last two years. The U.S. are undoubtedly being talked about as the favorites.

But Morgan, score of six goals in the competition so far, has played down suggestions that there's any danger of complacency, as they search for a record-extending fourth World Cup crown.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALEX MORGAN, TEAM USA: Our route to the final has been the most difficult that this program has ever seen and, so in terms of that, it seems the game is pretty close in the scorelines. I don't know how we can possibly be overly confident. I think we are proud of what we put out on the field.

We feel confident as a team and individually in our roles and I think that's all you can -- I think it's all a coach could possibly ask for.

MEREL VAN DONGEN, NETHERLANDS DEFENDER: I'm looking forward to playing a team that has a really large history in women's football, and to be outsiders and maybe as a young new team to make it very difficult for them and obviously I'm looking forward to playing a World Cup final. I mean, who would've thought?

ANOUK DEKKER, NETHERLANDS DEFENDER: Yes, we're the underdog in this final but I think it suits us and we will give everything. And then we will see at the end what the result is.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DAVIES: Both teams are ensconced in their training camps with the big one getting ever closer. Fans have been arriving here the last couple of days for the sellout crowd expected at Sunday's game. It's a match that promises to be a fitting climax to a tournament that has already been dubbed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino as the best Women's World Cup ever.

We are just 90 minutes of football away to finding out who is crowned the world's best team -- Amanda Davies, CNN, Lyon, France.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: Well, let's talk more about it with Keir Radnedge of "World Soccer" magazine. He joins me via Skype from London.

Thanks so much for talking with us. This is really an exciting day for women's soccer.

What do you think of the matchup, first of all?

Did the Netherlands have a chance against the world's top women's team. KEIR RADNEDGE, "WORLD SOCCER": Well, if you're in the game then you have a chance but they are very much the outsiders. I don't think they've been playing as well as when they won the European championship two years ago. Maybe they slightly surprised themselves by getting to the final. Very clearly Team USA are the odds-on favorite.

ALLEN: Right. USA heralded lineup with superstars and we just heard from Amanda, saying there doesn't seem to be signs of complacency or overconfidence.

But could that be a problem for the United States coming into this?

RADNEDGE: I tend to think not. To be quite honest, they have taken every match extremely seriously. The one criticism you might have of them is that they have remained so totally disciplined in every game, when sometimes they might just have enjoyed and entertained with their football a little bit more.

But they have been really willing and firm and committed and disciplined. And game management has been brilliant and I would expect them to see that task right through to the end of the final today.

ALLEN: Alex Morgan said at some point they think they have the best team and the second best team, referring to the strong bench they have. But it's expected to be the largest crowd to watch women's soccer.

How much has this dominant U.S. team fostered the interest?

They're outspoken, out front on equal pay, talented, brash, fighters.

What's their impact on the overall sport?

RADNEDGE: It's been terrific because they have set standards that other countries have looked at and thought well, OK, maybe we can't be as good as them but we like their organization, they're teaching us how to take this game seriously and they take women's soccer seriously and, yes, we'd like to try that. And I think what is happening is it's pushing the United States of America to higher standards themselves.

ALLEN: Right. Yes, you know, the United States has a law, Title IX, to give women's sports equal rights with men. But the U.S. star says the world body of soccer, FIFA, doesn't respect women's sports.

When will that change and not this year with all the attention for this World Cup when might that change?

[04:55:00]

RADNEDGE: Well, I think it is changing but it's only comparatively in the last few years that FIFA has suddenly realized and understood the huge appetite there is out there for women's soccer. I think it's surprised this sort of rather august, staid, old,

chauvinistic body suddenly find that there's a whole new market there, a whole new population, if you like, who want to get into soccer. And they have had to adjust themselves.

In the past there's been an issue because prize money is far below that in the men's World Cup; investment is far below that and there are a lot of countries who are still extremely reluctant, cultural, societal reasons, to really put significant financial support into developing the women's game.

That's changing slowly. It's going to be a long job. But I think you can definitely say it's on the way.

ALLEN: This game is six hours; just may have an impact to push it along. We really enjoy talking with you, Keir Radnedge. Thank you so much.

Well, not only if World Cup soccer is not your thing, about how tennis at Wimbledon?

So far it's been a remarkable run for teen new star Cory Coco Gauff in singles play. (INAUDIBLE) mixed doubles on Saturday. She and her partner suffered a crushing defeat in the first round, 2-0. But Coco will try to bounce back Monday when she returns to singles action. Tennis legend Serena Williams, who won her mixed doubles opener, had some words of encouragement for this new star.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SERENA WILLIAMS, TENNIS PRO: Gosh, I just couldn't feel more proud, I would be wrong to step in right now and give her advice. I think she's doing great.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: That match will take place on Monday.

That's the first hour of CNN NEWSROOM. We have another hour to go. Our top stories are right after this.

[05:00:00]