<!–>
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The last time the United States men’s national team faced Canada, in a September friendly match in Kansas City, the Reds played the Americans off the field, winning for the first time on U.S. soil since 1957.
Afterward, interim USMNT coach Mikey Varas publicly called out his players’ lack of effort.
“The mentality is on the players. They know it,” Varas said. “We speak the truth to each other. I love those guys. But they know that mentality to fight, to run and to sacrifice, I can’t do that for them. That’s on them.”
Mauricio Pochettino was hired as the full-time U.S. coach a week later; at his introductory press conference, the highly respected former Chelsea, Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain manager vowed to restore the Americans’ fighting spirit above all else.
ADVERTISEMENT
–>
That combative spirit was nowhere to be found in Thursday’s soul-crushing 1-0 loss to Panama in the Concacaf Nations League semifinals. The defeat eliminated the U.S. from title contention in a tournament they’d won the first three editions of, and the manner of it sets up what now feels like a inflection point in Pochettino’s short tenure so far: Sunday’s third place match against the Canadians (kickoff at 6 p.m. ET).
Most third place games mean nothing. Neither team wants to be there. But given the way Pochettino’s squad lost to Los Canaleros, this one sets up as a pivotal gut check for USMNT a little more than a year before this generation’s legacy will be cemented at next summer’s FIFA World Cup on home soil.
“For me, [Sunday] is going to be an important game to see how we react,” Pochettino said on the eve of the rematch. “We need to show character.”
Some of the players who under-performed on Thursday — which was basically all of them — won’t get the chance. Pochettino confirmed on Saturday that there will be changes to his lineup.
“Maybe you can find different ways to motivate people,” he said. “But at the same time, you need to identify the players that have their own motivation.”
The coach explained that he didn’t think the loss to Panama came down to his team not caring. But he also suggested that the U.S. took their opponent for granted.
The hosts were heavily favored to advance to the championship tilt. Panama, despite its success against the Americans in tournament play, was considered the weakest of the four semifinalists. Now they’ll face Mexico for the trophy.
If the U.S. underestimates Canada on Sunday, it could be another long night. There’s no lack of fight in Jesse Marsch’s Canadians, who lost 2-0 to El Tri in Thursday’s nightcap in a game that was closer than the scoreline would indicate. Although he wasn’t asked, it was still notable that Pochettino didn’t mention Sunday’s opponent once in his pre-game press conference.
Marsch, the Racine, Wisconsin native who was a finalist for the U.S. job following the 2022 World Cup and who took over Canada before last year’s Copa América, leading the Reds to the semifinals, said on Saturday that he expects the USMNT to play like their hair is on fire.
“The media here in the U.S. has been very aggressive about how disappointed they are in this team, and now they’ve turned a little bit and put it toward the players,” Marsch said. “So we would be very foolish that if based on those two factors, we don’t expect a hard, real game and a big response from the U.S. national team.”
Marsch knows the USMNT inside out. He managed star midfielders Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie during his time with then-English Premier League club Leeds United, and handed a 16-year-old Adams his professional debut in 2015, when both were with the New York Red Bulls of MLS.
“I would criticize us, too,” Adams said before the U.S. trained later Saturday. “If we want to be praised, we have to give people something to praise us about.”
“The one thing I know for sure is that it’s a team of very good players,” Marsch said. “I’m not underestimating their talent, and I’m certainly not underestimating the response that they’re going to give to this match.”
Competitiveness wasn’t the only thing the Americans lacked against the Panamanians. Pochettino also thought his team played too conservatively. He’ll no doubt implore them to be more daring on Sunday. Playing a wide open game is a gamble, especially with European standouts Jonathan David, Alphonso Davies and Cyle Larin leading the visitors’ attack. Yet the way the Argentine sees it, safe is death.
It certainly was on Thursday.
“They need to trust that they can make a mistake,” Pochettino said. “People that take risks, it’s what we want. It’s what we love. You cannot play football without risk. If you want to play safe, you are not going to affect the game.”
Add it all up, and Sunday should reveal plenty about where the USMNT stands a little more a year away from the biggest test of them all.
Although Pochettino still has the bigger picture in mind, the Americans desperately need both a victory and a much improved showing on Sunday. Pochettino knows it, even if he acknowledged that the results this month or even at the Gold Cup in June and July won’t necessarily foreshadow what happens in front of a global audience next summer.
“But this is not an excuse for not winning,” Pochettino said.
“Things happen, and it’s about how you bounce back,” winger Tim Weah said. “We know what’s at stake.”
Doug McIntyre is a soccer writer for FOX Sports who has covered the United States men’s and women’s national teams at FIFA World Cups on five continents. Follow him at @ByDougMcIntyre.
<!–>
recommended
Get more from CONCACAF Nations League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
–>
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Hüttenberg und Rollo – Die Handball-Sensation des Jahres
Zuerst geht der nächste Glückwunsch an den Bergischen HC. Der BHC hat nach dem Wieder-Aufstieg in die Daikin Handball-Bundesliga mit dem 34:33-Sieg bei der HSG Nordhorn-Lingen auch die Zweitliga-Meisterschaft klargemacht.Wer den BHC als zweiter Aufsteiger in die beste Liga der Welt begleitet, ist allerdings offener denn je. Denn ein Klub schickt sich an, die größte Cinderella-Story der letzten Jahre zu schreiben.Foto: BILD<!-->]-->Die Handball-Sensation des JahresIn der Saison stand der TV Hüttenberg kurz vor dem Finanz-Kollaps. Der Traditions-Klub aus Mittelhessen musste ein 476.000-Euro-Loch stopfen. Enstanden unter anderem durch Beitrags-Nachzahlungen für die Berufsgenossenschaft, Rückzahlung staatlicher Corona-Hilfen müssen und nachgeforderten Gema-Gebühren von 2020 bis 2022. Letzter Ausweg war eine Crowdfunding-Aktion, um doch noch ein Insolvenz-Verfahren zu verhindern. Die Hüttenberger und viele Spender schafften im Herbst 2023 das Wunder. Jetzt arbeitet der TVH am nächsten.Vergangenen Freitag schlug der Tabellendritte aus Mittelhessen den Zweiten GWD […]
Palmeiras hoje tem reforço e desfalque contra o Vasco pelo Brasileirão Série A; saiba mais
Abel Ferreira comanda Palmeiras contra o Vasco, em jogo do Brasileirão Série A (foto: Cesar Greco/SEP) O Palmeiras já desembarcou no Distrito Federal, onde enfrenta o Vasco da Gama. O jogo, válido por mais uma rodada de Brasileirão Série A, está marcado para ocorrer neste domingo (4), a partir das 16h (horário de Brasília), no estádio Mané Garrincha. O Verdão tem um reforço de peso: Raphael Veiga. O meio-campista estava afastado desde abril por causa de uma luxação no ombro. Entretanto, não há certeza de que ele será titular. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE Felipe Anderson se destacou na posição durante a ausência de Veiga. O meio-campista Maurício também é opção. Por outro lado, o Palmeiras está desfalcado. Bruno Rodrigues está em transição física. Ele se lesionou no ano passado. Os laterais Mayke e Marcos Rocha também estão em transição. PUBLICIDADE […]
Polonahý Procházka hvězdou v Japonsku. Byl součástí velkolepé show
Zatímco se fanoušci těšili na další třaskavé souboje v bojišti, kousek od prostoru pro nástup bojovníků se odehrávala velkolepá zahajovací show. Mezi sedmičku lidí v popředí byl zvolen také Procházka, který měl před sebou tradiční japonský velký buben a oděn byl coby bojovník sumó. Spolu s ním vystoupili také Mark Coleman, legenda UFC, či Buakaw Banchamek, jeden z nejlepších světových thaiboxerů.„Právě máme po úvodní show. Bylo to výborné. Teď už těším na zápasy,“ promluvil na sociálních sítích dvaatřicetiletý Procházka, muž, jenž se v minulosti stal v elitní japonské organizaci šampionem. Právě z Asie vedly kroky k současnému chlebodárci UFC, kde se v roce 2022 rovněž prodral na tu nejvyšší příčku.„Celý náš tým dostal od organizátorů pozvání na desetileté výročí Rizinu. Je to takové zadostiučinění a uznání toho, že jsme s nimi byli u vůbec prvního turnaje, pyramidy, kde jsme začali naší kariérou. Bereme to jako perfektní gesto,“ přiblížil pro Sport.cz Jaroslav Hovězák, jeden z Procházkových […]
Felipe Melo se encanta com time do Brasileirão: “Gol de videogame!”
Felipe Melo durante treinamento no Fluminense (Mailson Santana - Divulgação) Ativo nas redes sociais, Felipe Melo acompanhou a partida entre Corinthians x Internacional, sábado, na Neo Química Arena, pela sétima rodada do Brasileirão. Em seus pitacos, o ex-volante fez questão de exaltar a categoria técnica e como é bem treinada a equipe gaúcha. No intervalo, quando o Colorado vencia de virada por 2 a 1, o comentarista do Grupo Globo falou rapidamente das qualidades do Inter e porque é considerado um dos favoritos ao título. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “O time do Inter é muito bom, os caras são resilientes. É bola no pé, os caras criam jogadas, o segundo gol foi coisa de vídeo game”, disse Felipe Melo. Inter sofre virada Entretanto, a noite para o Internacional não foi das melhores. A expulsão de Bruno Henrique facilitou as coisas para o […]
Was wohl in Dortmund losgewesen wäre? – Von wie vielen Fans Quasi-Meister Bayern empfangen wurde …
Nach dem 3:3 in Leipzig steht der 34. Meistertitel des FC Bayern praktisch fest. Doch als der Quasi-Meister nach München zurückkehrte, herrschte alles andere als Partystimmung ...Am Trainingsgelände an der Säbener Straße warteten am Samstagabend nach Einbruch der Dunkelheit nur vier Fans und sieben Autogramm-Jäger auf die Stars von Trainer Vincent Kompany (39).Da hatte keiner Lust aufs Feiern!Man stelle sich vor, was in Dortmund oder Frankfurt los gewesen wäre, obwohl der Meister-Matchball zum rechnerisch sicheren Titel vergeben wurde.Die Bayern-Stars Aleksandar Pavlovic (r.) und Leroy Sané auf dem Weg aus dem Team-Bus in die KabineFoto: Dennis Brosda<!-->]-->FC Bayern: Die triste Rückkehr der Quasi-Meister!Nachdem die Bayern mit zwei Privatjets aus Leipzig nach Oberpfaffenhofen (Flugplatz westlich von München) geflogen waren, fuhr der erste Bus mit den So-gut-wie-sicher-Meistern um 21.22 Uhr an der Säbener Straße vor.Keine laute Musik im Bus mit Thomas Müller (35), […]
Buyout to Stanley Cup: Inside Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s comeback from rock bottom to Maple Leafs
On June 16, 2023, Oliver Ekman-Larsson was fired from his job. Or at least that’s how it felt.Ekman-Larsson had just completed his 13th season in the NHL when the Vancouver Canucks, less than two years after acquiring him, bought out the four remaining of his contract.“Obviously people who have got fired, people who have got laid off, they know the feeling,” Ekman-Larsson recalled in a long-winding conversation recently with The Athletic. “I don’t think anybody wants to go through it. But at the same time, it’s on you a little bit too. You can shut it down. You can come back even better and push even more.Advertisement“And I felt like that’s what I did.”How did Ekman-Larsson climb his way out from rock bottom, to the exclamation point of winning a Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers last spring, to joining […]
Related
Hüttenberg und Rollo – Die Handball-Sensation des Jahres
Zuerst geht der nächste Glückwunsch an den Bergischen HC. Der BHC hat nach dem Wieder-Aufstieg in die Daikin Handball-Bundesliga mit dem 34:33-Sieg bei der HSG Nordhorn-Lingen auch die Zweitliga-Meisterschaft klargemacht.Wer den BHC als zweiter Aufsteiger in die beste Liga der Welt begleitet, ist allerdings offener denn je. Denn ein Klub schickt sich an, die größte Cinderella-Story der letzten Jahre zu schreiben.Foto: BILD<!-->]-->Die Handball-Sensation des JahresIn der Saison stand der TV Hüttenberg kurz vor dem Finanz-Kollaps. Der Traditions-Klub aus Mittelhessen musste ein 476.000-Euro-Loch stopfen. Enstanden unter anderem durch Beitrags-Nachzahlungen für die Berufsgenossenschaft, Rückzahlung staatlicher Corona-Hilfen müssen und nachgeforderten Gema-Gebühren von 2020 bis 2022. Letzter Ausweg war eine Crowdfunding-Aktion, um doch noch ein Insolvenz-Verfahren zu verhindern. Die Hüttenberger und viele Spender schafften im Herbst 2023 das Wunder. Jetzt arbeitet der TVH am nächsten.Vergangenen Freitag schlug der Tabellendritte aus Mittelhessen den Zweiten GWD […]
Palmeiras hoje tem reforço e desfalque contra o Vasco pelo Brasileirão Série A; saiba mais
Abel Ferreira comanda Palmeiras contra o Vasco, em jogo do Brasileirão Série A (foto: Cesar Greco/SEP) O Palmeiras já desembarcou no Distrito Federal, onde enfrenta o Vasco da Gama. O jogo, válido por mais uma rodada de Brasileirão Série A, está marcado para ocorrer neste domingo (4), a partir das 16h (horário de Brasília), no estádio Mané Garrincha. O Verdão tem um reforço de peso: Raphael Veiga. O meio-campista estava afastado desde abril por causa de uma luxação no ombro. Entretanto, não há certeza de que ele será titular. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE Felipe Anderson se destacou na posição durante a ausência de Veiga. O meio-campista Maurício também é opção. Por outro lado, o Palmeiras está desfalcado. Bruno Rodrigues está em transição física. Ele se lesionou no ano passado. Os laterais Mayke e Marcos Rocha também estão em transição. PUBLICIDADE […]
Polonahý Procházka hvězdou v Japonsku. Byl součástí velkolepé show
Zatímco se fanoušci těšili na další třaskavé souboje v bojišti, kousek od prostoru pro nástup bojovníků se odehrávala velkolepá zahajovací show. Mezi sedmičku lidí v popředí byl zvolen také Procházka, který měl před sebou tradiční japonský velký buben a oděn byl coby bojovník sumó. Spolu s ním vystoupili také Mark Coleman, legenda UFC, či Buakaw Banchamek, jeden z nejlepších světových thaiboxerů.„Právě máme po úvodní show. Bylo to výborné. Teď už těším na zápasy,“ promluvil na sociálních sítích dvaatřicetiletý Procházka, muž, jenž se v minulosti stal v elitní japonské organizaci šampionem. Právě z Asie vedly kroky k současnému chlebodárci UFC, kde se v roce 2022 rovněž prodral na tu nejvyšší příčku.„Celý náš tým dostal od organizátorů pozvání na desetileté výročí Rizinu. Je to takové zadostiučinění a uznání toho, že jsme s nimi byli u vůbec prvního turnaje, pyramidy, kde jsme začali naší kariérou. Bereme to jako perfektní gesto,“ přiblížil pro Sport.cz Jaroslav Hovězák, jeden z Procházkových […]
Felipe Melo se encanta com time do Brasileirão: “Gol de videogame!”
Felipe Melo durante treinamento no Fluminense (Mailson Santana - Divulgação) Ativo nas redes sociais, Felipe Melo acompanhou a partida entre Corinthians x Internacional, sábado, na Neo Química Arena, pela sétima rodada do Brasileirão. Em seus pitacos, o ex-volante fez questão de exaltar a categoria técnica e como é bem treinada a equipe gaúcha. No intervalo, quando o Colorado vencia de virada por 2 a 1, o comentarista do Grupo Globo falou rapidamente das qualidades do Inter e porque é considerado um dos favoritos ao título. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “O time do Inter é muito bom, os caras são resilientes. É bola no pé, os caras criam jogadas, o segundo gol foi coisa de vídeo game”, disse Felipe Melo. Inter sofre virada Entretanto, a noite para o Internacional não foi das melhores. A expulsão de Bruno Henrique facilitou as coisas para o […]
Was wohl in Dortmund losgewesen wäre? – Von wie vielen Fans Quasi-Meister Bayern empfangen wurde …
Nach dem 3:3 in Leipzig steht der 34. Meistertitel des FC Bayern praktisch fest. Doch als der Quasi-Meister nach München zurückkehrte, herrschte alles andere als Partystimmung ...Am Trainingsgelände an der Säbener Straße warteten am Samstagabend nach Einbruch der Dunkelheit nur vier Fans und sieben Autogramm-Jäger auf die Stars von Trainer Vincent Kompany (39).Da hatte keiner Lust aufs Feiern!Man stelle sich vor, was in Dortmund oder Frankfurt los gewesen wäre, obwohl der Meister-Matchball zum rechnerisch sicheren Titel vergeben wurde.Die Bayern-Stars Aleksandar Pavlovic (r.) und Leroy Sané auf dem Weg aus dem Team-Bus in die KabineFoto: Dennis Brosda<!-->]-->FC Bayern: Die triste Rückkehr der Quasi-Meister!Nachdem die Bayern mit zwei Privatjets aus Leipzig nach Oberpfaffenhofen (Flugplatz westlich von München) geflogen waren, fuhr der erste Bus mit den So-gut-wie-sicher-Meistern um 21.22 Uhr an der Säbener Straße vor.Keine laute Musik im Bus mit Thomas Müller (35), […]
Buyout to Stanley Cup: Inside Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s comeback from rock bottom to Maple Leafs
On June 16, 2023, Oliver Ekman-Larsson was fired from his job. Or at least that’s how it felt.Ekman-Larsson had just completed his 13th season in the NHL when the Vancouver Canucks, less than two years after acquiring him, bought out the four remaining of his contract.“Obviously people who have got fired, people who have got laid off, they know the feeling,” Ekman-Larsson recalled in a long-winding conversation recently with The Athletic. “I don’t think anybody wants to go through it. But at the same time, it’s on you a little bit too. You can shut it down. You can come back even better and push even more.Advertisement“And I felt like that’s what I did.”How did Ekman-Larsson climb his way out from rock bottom, to the exclamation point of winning a Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers last spring, to joining […]
Be the first to leave a comment