United States Men’s National team head coach Mauricio Pochettino was pleased with his side’s reaction to the setbacks they faced in their Gold Cup quarter-finals tie against a resilient Costa Rica side at the U.S Bank Stadium.
The USMNT went behind early in the game and then had a chance to level matters from the penalty spot in the 37th minute. However, Malik Tillman saw his effort cannon off the post to leave Pochettino’s charges chasing the game.
However, The U.S showed resilience, battling back into the match with goals from Diego Luna and Max Arfsten. Despite a late equalizer from Costa Rica’s Alonso Martinez, the USMNT remained composed and secured a 4–3 victory on penalties to reach the Gold Cup semifinals.
“That means a lot. It means that we are connected, that we care about [our] teammates,” he said.
“And that needs to be natural, in between them and that is why [they] deserve the whole [praise]— the experienced players, but also the young players that listen to the experienced players. That is an important thing.
“We can select 26 players, but then to be a team is a different thing. You can have 26 players that play in an individual way and it’s difficult to have this type of behavior. That is because they care, because they made the effort, not only on the field [but off] the field to try to care.”
Pochettino and his USMNT squad have successfully turned their fortunes around despite entering the Gold Cup off the back of disappointing defeats against Turkey and Switzerland respectively.
Olaoluwa is a dedicated sports writer and passionate football enthusiast with two years of experience. Known for his keen analysis and commitment to the game, his work reflects a deep love for football, blending strategic insight with the emotional moments that make it a global passion. He is focused on honing his skills and consistently aims to inspire and engage readers through every article he writes.
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