Leading up to the Gold Cup final on Sunday, there was a notable surge of optimism surrounding the USMNT, perhaps the most positive sentiment seen in over a year. Coach Mauricio Pochettino`s squad, largely composed of new players, clearly benefited from the intensive five weeks and eight matches of preparation, with several individuals seizing their opportunities and standing out. However, as the team ultimately fell 2-1 to their rivals Mexico in the final, that initial optimism might have, in hindsight, served as a cautionary indicator.
Despite their inexperience, some players in Pochettino`s squad distinguished themselves during the tournament, particularly Malik Tillman and Diego Luna, who capitalized fully on their chances. Chris Richards also continued his strong form for both his club and the national team. Sebastian Berhalter and Matt Freese even put themselves forward as potential candidates for the World Cup roster next year, a key personal goal for all Gold Cup participants. The team began the final promisingly, with Richards scoring early (after just four minutes) from a precise set piece delivered by Berhalter, mirroring a goal from the group stage win against Saudi Arabia.
Nevertheless, the defeat against Mexico served as a sharp reality check. The progress seen over the past month appears to be just the initial phase of the team`s desired rapid improvement leading up to the World Cup. The USMNT`s most convincing victories were against teams they were expected to beat, which is a necessary step, especially given their inconsistent results over the previous year. However, competing at the next level means overcoming stronger opposition like Mexico, particularly with a trophy on the line before the World Cup. Despite the early advantage, they couldn`t deliver the required performance.
In the Gold Cup final, the USMNT were largely outplayed across most metrics. Mexico quickly took control despite conceding early. The U.S. struggled to counter Mexico`s offensive pressure, as evidenced by the shot count (16-6 for Mexico) and expected goals (1.26 vs 0.64). Pochettino`s team appeared overly cautious, which is uncharacteristic for a coach known for leading attacking sides in Europe. They also seemed passive, suggesting the combined skills of this inexperienced group weren`t sufficient for such a challenge. Worryingly, these issues were not isolated to the final.
Defensive fragilities had already posed a risk, almost leading to their exit against surprise semifinalists Guatemala (a 2-1 win). Furthermore, the team`s inconsistent midfield control was evident in their group stage matches. Compounding matters in the final was the fact that established players shared responsibility for the result alongside the new faces. Central defenders Richards and Tim Ream, likely starters next year, and Tyler Adams, whose passing against Mexico was underwhelming, did not escape scrutiny. Meanwhile, Tillman and Luna couldn`t replicate the decisive impact they had shown earlier in the tournament.
Despite the final result, many positive aspects of the summer campaign remain valid. Pochettino`s objective of expanding the player pool was successful. Tillman and Luna have genuinely presented themselves as potential starters, while Berhalter`s set-piece skills and Freese`s penalty saves have put them in contention for the World Cup roster. It`s also not entirely unexpected that a squad primarily composed of less experienced players couldn`t win the tournament, especially considering the pre-tournament pessimism that made reaching the final itself seem uncertain. While winning the trophy was the main goal, Pochettino gaining a clearer understanding of his available players was a vital secondary aim, and in that respect, the summer achieved significant progress.
This tournament provided valuable new insights into the team and individual player capabilities, something not fully realized since the 2022 World Cup exit at the Round of 16. This sets the stage for an intriguing final year of competition for roster spots. Integrating the Gold Cup standout players with established stars like Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie in upcoming matches will offer a more accurate assessment of the USMNT`s World Cup readiness than the Gold Cup alone. The friendly matches in September against South Korea and Japan are a good starting point for what should be a challenging pre-World Cup schedule, giving a better indication of the team`s true potential.
The USMNT arguably achieved a form of redemption this Gold Cup, despite the final setback. While the overwhelming pessimism that preceded the tournament has dissipated, the responsibility now rests with Pochettino and his staff to find the right balance. The coach hasn`t always demonstrated the ability to solve in-game tactical issues or make impactful, game-altering substitutions. However, it`s a valid point that expanding the player pool was a necessary step for him to even identify potential solutions. While the presence of several standout performers from the Gold Cup doesn`t guarantee they will meet expectations next year, it undoubtedly improves this group`s chances of fulfilling its potential – though managing expectations remains advisable.
