Mauricio Pochettino’s first large take a look at away from dwelling as the US males’s nationwide group didn’t finish effectively. The Argentine supervisor started his USMNT teaching stint with a 2-0 victory over Panama in Texas on Saturday. The Stars and Stripes then traveled right down to Guadalajara on Tuesday to face bitter rivals Mexico.
It occurred to be the primary time since 2012 that the USMNT performed a pleasant on Mexican soil. The hosts ended up beating their opponents 2-0 within the feisty affair. After the defeat, a annoyed Pochettino urged persistence from the American followers. In any case, the coach solely only in the near past entered the fray, and his squad on the night time was with out a number of key gamers. Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Ricardo Pepi have been among the many stars to overlook the match.
USMNT has not too long ago prevented scheduling abroad friendlies
Whereas the loss to Mexico is definitely disappointing, it must also be a studying expertise for U.S. Soccer. The USMNT normally performs effectively at dwelling, significantly in opposition to fellow CONCACAF groups. The group is kind of conscious of this, which is why they usually schedule fixtures within the States.
Tuesday’s loss in Mexico was solely the USMNT’s third match exterior of America because the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The Stars and Stripes additionally traveled to Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago in 2023. Each of those fixtures have been CONCACAF Nations League matches.
Enjoying prime opponents, particularly overseas, can be the easiest way for People to arrange for main tournaments. Outdoors of Mexico, the USMNT is usually favored to win in opposition to each different CONCACAF group within the area. These are the one two groups from the confederation at the moment inside the highest 35 of FIFA’s rankings.
Earlier than preparations for the final World Cup, U.S. Soccer sparingly scheduled robust matches abroad. For example, the USMNT performed in Switzerland in Could of 2021 and confronted off in opposition to England and Italy throughout the pond in late 2018. The People couldn’t handle to win any of those important checks.
The final time that the People received an away sport in opposition to a fellow FIFA prime 20-ranked group got here again in 2015. Germany hosted the USMNT in June of that 12 months at RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne. The People triumphed on the night time due to targets by Combine Diskerud and Bobby Wooden. The goalscorers haven’t featured for the nationwide group since 2016 and 2018, respectively.
Pochettino’s group must face prime groups to enhance
U.S. Soccer might defend the choice to keep away from prime abroad friendlies by pointing to the position of Copa America 2024 and the 2026 World Cup. The everyday South American competitors was hosted by the US earlier this summer season. The celebrated worldwide competitors in two years can also be coming to America as effectively.
Nevertheless, the USMNT may higher put together for prime matchups in large competitions by placing themselves in more durable environments. This was evident within the group’s dismal show at Copa America 2024. If the Stars and Stripes are to enhance underneath Pochettino, they’re going to must schedule video games in opposition to extra aggressive groups. That is significantly the case with fixtures away from dwelling.
PHOTOS: IMAGO.
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