EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — U.S. Men`s National Team head coach Mauricio Pochettino faced the press after another loss, this time a 2-1 defeat to Turkey in the first of two friendlies before the Gold Cup. However, he expressed relief about one aspect.
“We need to be positive because today, I think only we can talk about football action, soccer action,” he stated.
This comment, among others, highlighted a shift from the uninspiring defeats in the Concacaf Nations League finals in March, where discussions centered more on competitive edge than the tactical identity Pochettino was hired to instill. That identity, crucial for a team many believe has potential for the 2026 World Cup on home soil, was clearly visible on Saturday. The aggressive press and high defensive line, hallmarks of Pochettino`s teams, were apparent and contributed to the team dominating possession and outshooting the opposition 13-11.
The USMNT`s ability to implement this plan was notable given the inexperience of the squad. Only six players had over 30 international caps entering Saturday`s match. Building chemistry with players at different fitness and experience levels, and introducing new tactical ideas, was always going to be challenging, especially early in what they hope is a month-long camp culminating in the Gold Cup. Pochettino acknowledged these varying levels but praised the group`s willingness to adapt, pointing out how Jack McGlynn`s early goal fit within the designed game plan.
Pochettino detailed the tactical setup: “The gameplan was [for] Diego [Luna] to go inside, being very close with Malik [Tillman] to control with Luca de la Torre and Johnny [Cardoso] and then with Jack staying a little bit on the side but [he] can go inside, in the way that he scored the goal or the possibility, after, to have the freedom to associate. The idea was to use one side, Max Arfsten and Alex, stay a little bit more and often doing some overlap with Jack… For the first time, we tried it [after] a few days and then you need to go and compete [against] a team like Turkiye. I think what we got, playing this way, is to control the possession, control the game.”
Veteran player Tyler Adams, who came on as a second-half substitute, mentioned that focusing on the specifics of the backline`s movements was a priority during their initial week together.
“We`ve been working a lot on our backline and the spacing of the backline and when they`re stepping, when they`re dropping, when we`re in a deep block, how we defend the area as well, and you can see we didn`t concede goals through that today,” Adams said. “Obviously, the second one was a little bit of a missed clearance, and it just happened to fall to the right person at the right time but that backline, he`s been really focusing on tightening that ship a little bit. You could see that we`re making improvements. It`s still a little bit loose at times but we`re working on the right things.”
The goals conceded did highlight areas needing refinement, both stemming from errors. Johnny Cardoso was notably involved in the equalizer scored by Arda Guler in the 24th minute. While Pochettino dismissed it as something that can happen in any game, it speaks to a need for greater precision across the pitch. Turkey`s head coach, Vincenzo Montella, admitted they adjusted their press early on to exploit the USMNT defense, transitioning from zero shots in the opening 19 minutes to nine by the 35th. This raises a question about whether this inexperienced USMNT squad is equipped for Pochettino`s preferred high line, though he maintained it was premature for such judgment.
“In this type of competition, experience is important,” he added. “That is why these two weeks are important to the preparation for the Gold Cup.”
The USMNT`s attack, led on Saturday by forward Patrick Agyemang, also requires refinement. Despite taking more shots than Turkey, only three of their 13 were on target, and they lost the expected goals battle 1.19 to 1.42. The main challenge now is whether they can address these issues over the coming month, irrespective of their performance in the Gold Cup ending July 6.
“We set the standard high,” Adams concluded. “Today, in a friendly game, we`re able to test more things and take more risks but we need to be comfortable taking those risks that when it`s in actual competition, we`re able to execute.”
