July 2 – Having looked like a team that were struggling to find any cohesion or common purpose after four straight losses, including a miserable performance in March at the Concacaf Nations League final, suddenly the USA look as though, if not the real deal, they are certainly worth a reappraisal.
Tonight the USA, fresh from their emotionally charged quarter final penalty shot-out win over Costa Rica, meet tournament surprise package Guatemala at the aptly name Energiser Park in St Louis, Missouri, in what you can expect to be a super-charged encounter.
From having looked like a team that wasn’t too bothered in March, the USA suddenly look like a unit that is prepared to fight for each other.
It is a characteristic that coach Mauricio Pochettino admitted was missing from the Nations League but which now – with a team shorn of some of its superstars including Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Antonee Robinson and Gio Reyna – has suddenly become a core identity of this group.
“We have confidence in our selection… (we have a) culture of guys who want to fight for each other. I think we are seeing this in the whole group. We are motivated to win and to go out and fight,” said Pochettino.
“We are a team. We are very connected. You cannot force this. You cannot push. You can only create the platform… We want to represent our country and fight for our shirt. We want a run to the final.”
This is a very different vibe from the Argentine who post Nations League was downbeat and clearly frustrated with what looked like a lack of commitment to the US mission from key individuals.
Now that new found ‘fight’ will hopefully excite a seemingly ambivalent attitude of US soccer fans towards their national team, and Energiser Park could well be the place that gives it the boost that needs.
Pochettino knows that while Guatemala may be ranked 83rd in the World rankings (the USA are 16th), ranking positions at this stage of the Gold Cup are meaningless. Guatemala didn’t get there by luck, beating the hard pressing Canadians on penalties in their quarter finals.
Backed by a hard core of magnificent stadium filling support throughout the Gold Cup, the Guatemalans have a growing expectation and desire.
“This is a difficult match, tough, they are an organised team and they have a great coach. They are growing their quality. There are a lot of teams in central America that are increasing their level,” said Pochettino.
On the pitchside Guatemala coach Luis Fernando Tena has proved he is equal to whatever is put in front of his team. Having absorbed Jesse Marsch’s high and hard pressing Canadians, he then picked them apart with a change of style and substitutions that Marsch was clueless to match with the depth talent at his disposal.
Pochettino is aware of Tena’s tactical astuteness, and is wary that aggression alone isn’t the full solution.
“We have to play with desire, energy, aggression… But we don’t just want a team to fight, we want to develop the team as well. We install the desire, motive, drive and the fighting for teammates and then we start with all kinds of tactics… Now we play every single game to be the best and to perform,” said Pochettino.
The Gold Cup has been an important watershed in Pochettino’s management and he is quick to recognise the importance of the competition and the opportunity it has provided.
“The Gold Cup has been really helpful in preparing for the World Cup,” said Pochettino.
“It is important to have this time together, nearly five weeks. We can get to know them and they can get to know us, and the demands we have… We are happy with the whole team.”
Having been at the sharp end of some stinging criticism going into the Gold Cup, Pochettino will be even happier with his team if the dispense with Guatemala tomorrow to set up a date with either Mexico or Honduras at the NRG Stadium in Houston on Sunday.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1751877170labto1751877170ofdlr1751877170owedi1751877170sni@n1751877170osloh1751877170cin.l1751877170uap1751877170