Mauricio Pochettino and his team are trying to bounce back after a 2-0 loss to Portugal on Tuesday. To be honest, if Christian Pulisic—who’s generally been in good form—had performed a bit better, the U.S. men’s national team might have achieved a favorable result in their recent match in Atlanta.
Pochettino feels some of these issues may resolve themselves when the USMNT gathers again in New York on May 26, just ahead of the World Cup squad announcement. This marks the beginning of a journey leading to SoFi Stadium, where they’ll face Paraguay in their Group D opener on June 12. He trusts that Pulisic, being the talented player he is, will find his rhythm.
However, what’s concerning is that the U.S. seems less certain about their playing style or player selection now than they did a week ago. These ought to have been clarified during a star-studded camp, barring a few injuries like those of Tyler Adams and Sergiño Dest.
Pochettino appeared to favor a 3-4-3 formation earlier but unexpectedly switched to a more attacking 4-2-3-1 setup for both matches. This decision didn’t yield the desired results.
I get the logic behind it. Utilizing a back three could bolster the light center-back position, but it may compromise offensive capabilities. The U.S. will need a solid defensive strategy at the World Cup, particularly against stronger teams than those they faced in Atlanta.
This dilemma raises a crucial question: when should the most talented player be the best choice, and when should he not be? It’s a constant puzzle for Pochettino, whether it involves starting players or finalizing the 26-man roster.
A lineup excluding Pulisic, Weston McKennie, or Malik Tillman would undoubtedly remove top talent from the mix. But finding a composition that maximizes their abilities remains elusive, as evidenced in the recent matches.
Then there’s the defensive midfield spot. Even with Johnny Cardoso’s notable performances at Atlético Madrid ensuring him a roster spot, it’s muddled since Adams has been sidelined with injury. Tanner Tessmann is likely to make the roster, but Cristian Roldan and Sebastian Berhalter currently seem to hold the upper hand on the national team. With Adams missing three games, it’s anyone’s guess who would be the best fit alongside him.
Cardoso didn’t do much to change perceptions in his half against Belgium, so where does he fit in? Berhalter shone against Portugal, but his fellow newcomer Aidan Morris didn’t make much impact.
During the recent game, Pochettino aimed to provide Tim Weah with defensive support by positioning him as a right-winger, while Alex Freeman played right-back. It was a sound idea, working decently, but Freeman’s adventurousness left gaps that Portugal exploited. With Dest available, can both be incorporated in a way that doesn’t compromise defense too much?
There are more issues at play, including the question of adding center back Gio Reyna, how the team lost momentum post-rehydration breaks, and the choice to deploy Pulisic as a striker.
I can’t shake the feeling that the U.S. being granted automatic qualification as the World Cup host may have hindered them. They haven’t had a truly competitive matchup since the 2024 Copa America, which could have exacerbated their challenges. A rigorous qualifying process might have toughened them up, pushing them to engage with the tough questions about their readiness.
Instead, the team needs to make the most of these matches and two more high-level friendlies against Senegal and Germany leading up to the World Cup. If they do, everyone might soon forget this latest camp.
Pulisic reflected on this: “I remember people doubting us after that September camp in 2022. Maybe it wasn’t a great camp, but ultimately, we enjoyed the World Cup. I’m better now than I was then. We’re going to address this when it truly matters.”
