MARIETTA, Ga. — As he settled into his podium seat for Monday’s packed pre-match press conference inside the sprawling and pristine training facility of MLS side Atlanta United, U.S. men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino cut a businesslike figure.
(Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)
The Argentine answered the first dozen or so questions matter-of-factly, displaying little sign of the charm that endeared him to fans of clubs across Europe — including the all-world squads like Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain — during the 15 years he spent managing on the continent.
Exactly 24 minutes into the back-and-forth with reporters, Pochettino’s demeanor changed. Asked how the American squad can keep its intensity high for all 90 minutes, something it failed to do in Saturday’s 5-2 capitulation against Belgium, in Tuesday’s World Cup preparation match versus No. 6-ranked Portugal, the 54-year-old instantly became animated. He gesticulated as he spoke. That trademark charisma was suddenly on full display.
“If you watched the game [between] France and Colombia, that is depth,” stated Pochettino, referring to Sunday’s exhibition between the 2018 World Cup champions (and 2022 runners-up) and Los Cafeteros in Landover, Maryland. Les Bleus gained 3-1, but the victory was something however snug.
“You’ll be able to win, or you may lose,” Pochettino stated. “However do you suppose the coach of Colombia, [despite] shedding the sport, goes to complain about [the effort of] some gamers? They performed like this was the ultimate of the World Cup. And France, once they noticed the depth and the aggression of Colombia, stated, ‘If we aren’t as intense, they’ll kill us.’ That is depth.”
(Photograph by Johnnie Izquierdo/USSF/Getty Photographs)
In stark distinction, the U.S. all however folded up store when a Belgian penalty put the house aspect down two targets on Saturday with greater than half-hour of the competition nonetheless left to play. The response, goalkeeper Matt Turner and others stated afterward, ought to’ve been the alternative. Because the saying goes: Should you can’t beat them, beat them up.
Pochettino didn’t go that far, after all. And though English is his third language after his native Spanish and the French he realized taking part in as a central defender for Ligue 1 sides PSG and Bordeaux within the early 2000s, he couldn’t have expressed himself extra clearly.
This isn’t the primary time depth has been an issue for the People since Pochettino arrived on these shores 18 months in the past.
Precisely this time final 12 months, a flat and toothless USA dropped house video games to regional foes Panama and Canada within the Concacaf Nations League finals.
Pochettino was so upset that he and his workers “destroy[ed] what we wanted to destroy” and commenced to rebuild the group in his personal picture by bringing in a gaggle of newcomers who’ve since grow to be mainstays. By the top of final 12 months, the shortage of battle was not a problem: The U.S. actually brawled towards the top of a win over Paraguay earlier than beating the brakes off two-time World Cup champ Uruguay — arguably the toughest group, pound for pound, on planet fútbol.
It’s one thing Poch’s lot should rediscover between this month’s two video games.
“It is a acutely aware resolution. It is simply an general effort,” captain Tim Ream stated when requested why the U.S. pale so badly in opposition to Belgium at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. “It isn’t that guys do not need to do it. I feel generally it is like ’I’ve simply made an effort,’ and now it is about making the second, the third, the fourth. And generally, that does not occur.
“That is one thing that’s non-negotiable, actually,” Ream continued. “It is one thing that we have been doing rather well within the fall final 12 months. And it is one thing we’ve got to get again to.”
Pochettino famous on Monday that in contrast to final autumn, his gamers have been inundated with pre-World Cup media obligations this week. That wasn’t the case in November or within the two worldwide home windows that preceded it. But he additionally identified that it’s not a swap that may merely be turned on when the World Cup kicks off in June. That’s the massive lesson from Saturday. It’s the mandate for Tuesday.
(Photograph by Andrew J. Clark/ISI Pictures/USSF/Getty Photographs)
The 2026 World Cup co-hosts nonetheless won’t win the match. Portugal has a legit likelihood of hoisting essentially the most coveted trophy in sports activities subsequent July 19. Even at house, the U.S. would require a miracle even to achieve the ultimate 4. Failure to rediscover their pugilistic spirit may finish in disaster. As Pochettino requested rhetorically of whoever his group comes up in opposition to subsequent summer season: “Do you suppose that they aren’t going to battle?”
“There’s nonetheless time to comprehend that we have to compete,” he reiterated on Monday. “The gamers have to consider in that.”
We’ll discover out on Tuesday how a lot.
