Three Critical Factors for USMNT's Upcoming Match Against Japan
Mauricio Pochettino's squad must improve following a recent loss. The USMNT faces Japan soon, with key adjustments needed to secure a better outcome.
U.S. men’s national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino may have been right to say the performances will be more important than the results in this month’s friendlies, but Saturday’s 2-0 loss to South Korea demonstrated genuine room for improvement in both categories – especially the former.
Pochettino’s experimental lineup, featuring a mix of veteran players and newcomers, struggled for cohesion, leading to a poor performance. Costly defensive errors resulted in early goals for South Korea. Despite outshooting their opponents 17 to 5 and having higher expected goals (2.27 to 0.74), the USMNT’s efforts were in vain. Pochettino now has only one win in seven matches against top 30 FIFA teams, with a combined score of 11 to 2 in first halves against top 25 opponents.
How to watch USMNT vs. Japan
- Date: Tuesday, Sept. 9
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Location: Lower.com Field – Columbus, Ohio
- TV: TNT and Universo
- Stream: Fubo (Try for free)
- Odds: USMNT +210; Draw +240; Japan +120
The battle to be No. 9
The USMNT’s lineup is full of uncertainties, particularly the position of the leading forward, a longstanding issue exacerbated under Pochettino. As Ricardo Pepi and Patrick Agyemang tackle fitness issues, Josh Sargent and Folarin Balogun vie for the position. Sargent, who started against South Korea, had a disappointing performance, with only 17 touches and no shots. Conversely, Balogun had a more productive outing, suggesting he may fit better tactically.
Back four or three?
Pochettino’s strategy shifted in the second half as he switched to a back three with Chris Richards, which enhanced the team’s defensive capability, leading to better organization and fewer shots allowed against South Korea. The coach is open to using this tactic in future matches.
Final opportunities for newcomers
Pochettino has designated the September matches as crucial for expanding the player pool before the World Cup. After a lackluster showing against South Korea, the USMNT must work on building chemistry, especially with only about 10 matches remaining. The coach is considering rotations in the upcoming match against Japan, aiming to leverage less experienced players against their more established counterparts.
