It`s been a tough week for USMNT fans. Following a dramatic week in both CONCACAF and UEFA Nations Leagues, let`s delve into the recent events.
USMNT in Crisis?
With just over a year until the World Cup at SoFi Stadium, the USMNT suffered another setback. This “Golden Generation” failed to secure a medal in a four-team competition, finishing fourth in the 2024-25 CONCACAF Nations League after a 2-1 loss to Canada, following a previous 1-0 defeat to Panama. Despite the close scorelines, luck seemed to favor Canada, notably with a deflection leading to Tani Oluwaseyi`s opening goal.
This USMNT, dominant in CONCACAF for the past half-decade, was expected to overcome such unfavorable moments. Their widely praised talent comes with the expectation of blending skill with determination. Landon Donovan expressed frustration on social media, emphasizing the need for pride over talent. Clint Dempsey echoed these sentiments after the game:
- Dempsey: “You`d expect more fight in this game, more pride to get back on track and rally the fans… They need to fight for the fans. Things are currently negative, with internal tensions rising. When I played, I gave everything.”
This aligns with Pochettino`s concerns after the Panama game, highlighting a potential “automatic pilot” mentality among players who might have underestimated their opponents. Christian Pulisic noted Panama`s heightened motivation, treating the game as “their everything.”
Attitude is a factor that can be addressed before the World Cup, and hosting the tournament often provides an inherent motivation. No team wants to be quickly eliminated from their home World Cup.
However, the issue might be deeper. Canada`s victory was partly due to Jonathan David, a top European-level player, a type of player the USMNT has few of. While some Americans play in top European leagues, many are squad players, and some struggle for consistent playtime. This raises questions about whether the perceived growth of this promising group has stagnated since the 2022 World Cup.
This potential stagnation is a significant concern for Pochettino. While attitude can be adjusted, the player pool`s current state is a reality. The Nations League results suggest the World Cup is approaching with considerable challenges.
UEFA Nations League Highlights
The UEFA Nations League quarterfinals were filled with drama. Three of the ties went to extra time, with two decided by penalties, and another saw a team nearly squander a significant aggregate lead.
Portugal against Denmark was a standout tie. Cristiano Ronaldo was central to the narrative, both positively and negatively. Early in the game, his weak penalty attempt set the stage for a chaotic match. Despite scoring later, Portugal needed extra time to secure victory against Denmark. Francisco Trincao emerged as the hero with crucial goals. Portugal will now face Germany in the semifinals.
Germany seemed in control against Italy, building a large aggregate lead. However, Italy mounted a strong comeback, with Moise Kean scoring twice. Despite a late penalty, Italy`s efforts fell short.
Spain and France also reached the semifinals, overcoming the Netherlands and Croatia respectively in penalty shootouts. Lamine Yamal shone for Spain, while France, led by Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise, overturned a first-leg deficit. Croatia, usually resilient in such situations, faltered this time.
The stage is now set for the UEFA Nations League semifinals in Germany in June.
Key USMNT Takeaways
Following a difficult week for the USMNT, there are significant questions and concerns surrounding the team`s direction and World Cup readiness.
Legends like Thierry Henry have expressed worries about the USMNT`s World Cup chances, with some questioning if they would even qualify if not for automatic host qualification.
Player ratings from the recent defeats have been critical, highlighting widespread underperformance.
In contrast, Mexico celebrated victory in the Nations League, led by star Raul Jimenez.
The Nations League Final was unfortunately marred by anti-gay chants, causing a delay in the match.
Juventus has appointed Igor Tudor as their new coach after a disappointing spell under Thiago Motta.
Thomas Tuchel made a satisfactory start with his new team, learning valuable lessons from a win.
Club Leon has been surprisingly banned from the Club World Cup, with a replacement team yet to be announced.
Dominic Ashworth