USMNT’s Ongoing Struggles as World Cup Approaches

The USMNT recently faced South Korea in a friendly match, losing 2-0. As the World Cup draws near, head coach Mauricio Pochettino has only one victory against a top 30 team since taking the helm last year.

In the match against South Korea, the USMNT exhibited a concerning lack of organization and cohesion, struggling to convey the ‘organized chaos’ that Pochettino aims for. Despite outshooting their opponents (17-5) and achieving higher expected goals (2.27 to 0.74), they failed to find the back of the net while conceding two goals in the first half. Pochettino remarked:

“I think we should learn a lot… Overall, I think we were better than South Korea but in the end, if you are not clinical in your own area… it’s difficult.”

This friendly highlighted ongoing issues as the team expands its roster with various players. While Tim Ream, Tristan Blackmon, and Chris Richards made contributions in defense, the inconsistency continues to plague the team as they navigate towards the World Cup. Pochettino’s experimentation with lineups has led to notable moments but has also raised concerns about defensive stability.

Midfielder Tyler Adams noted:

“It’s up to the leaders in the group… they might feel pressure, they might feel nerves. That’s the difference of playing with the national team compared to playing in your club in Europe.”

As the USMNT altered their strategy, including a move to a back three, their defensive line still appeared vulnerable without key figures like Chris Richards. The lack of clinical finishing exemplified the team’s issues in the buildup to the World Cup. As Pochettino stated:

“We are testing too many things… We wanted to see [Tristan]… but also he needs to live the experience to be at this level.”

The upcoming friendly against Japan provides another critical opportunity for refining their squad before the World Cup. The USMNT stands at a crossroads, needing to leverage every match to improve before the tournament.