Whereas the efficiency was a constructive step ahead for the beleaguered USMNT, Pochettino rapidly acknowledged that it was removed from excellent.
“After all, we have to enhance in all of the areas,” he said. “That’s logic, as a result of it is solely been one month we have been working [together]. That is solely our second camp.”
Fortunately, Pochettino and the USMNT have the chance to enhance rapidly: They’re going to face Jamaica within the second leg of this quarterfinal on Monday, Nov. 18, in St. Louis. However what ought to they concentrate on as Spherical 2 looms?
Mark McKenzie is rising, whereas Tim Ream is falling
McKenzie, the 25-year-old center-back who performs his membership soccer with Toulouse, has been one of many standouts of the Pochettino period. He regarded glorious towards Jamaica and made a number of key saves to guard the USMNT’s lead. McKenzie excels at positioning and pace; he is aware of precisely the place he must be to cowl off opposition attackers earlier than they will current a risk. His ascent is among the USMNT’s most promising developments this yr.
When one defender rises, although, one other usually sinks, and McKenzie’s sturdy type has highlighted the weaknesses of his veteran associate Ream. The 37-year-old Charlotte FC defender has been a stalwart for the USMNT for the reason that first Gregg Berhalter period, however he merely could not match Jamaica’s tempo in final evening’s match. McKenzie was capable of cowl for him on the evening, however he will not be capable to cowl without end.
We’ll probably see Ream once more within the second leg; he is a St. Louis native and can relish the chance to play in entrance of his dwelling crowd. However because the crew builds for 2026, it should make investments closely in gamers like Celtic’s dynamic defensive duo of Auston Trusty and Cameron Carter-Vickers. They lack expertise, however they’re Ream’s clear successors.
Depth issues
The USMNT stood up for Christian Pulisic in an enormous approach final evening. He was fouled closely and infrequently by the Jamaican protection, however every time they tried to harm him, the USMNT pushed again. Antonee Robinson, Weston McKennie and Joe Scally weren’t shy about getting in Jamaica’s face to allow them to know that their violent strategy wasn’t going to fly.
That depth — focused towards defending the crew as a substitute of destroying the opposition — is wholesome, and it has been missing in current USMNT camps. Spine issues in a bodily confederation like CONCACAF. The USMNT is studying underneath Pochettino that it might probably arise for itself with out resorting to card-worthy violence, and it is a fantastic factor to see.
Ricardo Pepi simply could be the person
Former USMNT coach Berhalter reduce Pepi from the crew simply earlier than the 2022 World Cup, and that have appears to have modified the PSV ahead. He is performed lights-out ever since and has made fairly the case for himself because the USMNT’s beginning striker. His aim towards Jamaica was clear, easy and efficient, and it illustrated simply how a lot belief he and Pulisic have developed whereas taking part in with the nationwide crew.
