The U.S. staff couldn’t have requested for a greater begin to its World Cup marketing campaign after controlling the sport from the opening whistle and by no means wanting again. ASN’s Paul Stephens gives up his ideas
BY
Paul Stephens
Posted
June 13, 2026
12:50 AM
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THE UNITED STATES MEN’S NATIONAL staff turned in probably the greatest and most memorable performances in staff historical past when it defeated Paraguay 4-1 in Los Angeles on Friday night time. From the opening whistle, the Individuals have been on the entrance foot and doing all the things proper. Regardless of letting up within the second half, the consequence was by no means doubtful.
Mauricio Pochettino went with a really related lineup to the one which he used in opposition to Germany in its ultimate pre-World Cup pleasant. The one change was the return of Chris Richards, who returned to coaching earlier within the week, three weeks after injuring his ankle taking part in for Crystal Palace.
The U.S. acquired on board early when deadly dribble from Christian Pulisic compelled Paraguay into emergency defending. Pulisic acquired the ball to Weston McKennie who then tried to arrange Folarin Balogun however as a substitute noticed his go deflected by Paraguay’s Damián Bobadilla into his personal internet.
However Balogun wouldn’t be denied his first World Cup aim when within the thirty first minute Pulisic once more made a deadly transfer down the left wing and arrange the Monaco ahead for a transparent shot 12 yards straight out from aim.
What a end from Flo after breaking down Paraguay’s protection #USMNt pic.twitter.com/WwV6OesvVZ
— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) June 13, 2026
Then simply earlier than the halftime whistle, it was Balogun once more with one other first-rate end when he took a through-ball from Malik Tillman, moved to the middle and fired an unstoppable left footed shot into the highest nook.
The second half was much more even because the U.S. staff let up. Mauricio, an attacking midfielder from Palmeiras who entered the sport initially of the second half, pulled Paraguay again to inside two with a low shot which Matt Freese may do nothing to cease.
Ultimately, nevertheless, the U.S. staff regained management of the sport and started creating harmful possibilities.
¡GOLEADA DE ESTADOS UNIDOS!
¡Tremendo golazo de Folarin Balogun! Increíble jugada dentro del área y marca su DOBLETE… ¡3-0!
Baile whole de los estadounidenses ante Paraguay. pic.twitter.com/0waPWq126A
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 13, 2026
Then with the ultimate kick of the sport, substitute Gio Reyna hit an beautiful shot with the skin of his foot that beat Paraguayan keeper Orlando Gill.
The U.S. has superior at each World Cup the place it has gained or drawn the primary recreation. It might take a loopy sequence of outcomes for the U.S. staff to complete fourth or one of many 4 worst third-place groups.
Listed below are a number of ideas on all of it.
The primary half numbers have been unbelievable
The U.S. staff was probably the most tough groups to foretell getting into into this event however the first 10-Quarter-hour have been all the time going to be revealing. Was the U.S. staff going to be misplaced within the second and timid, or was the U.S. staff going to grab the second.
The reply is the latter. The U.S. staff got here out seeking to make a right away assertion. Paraguay was overwhelmed. The sport was whole one-way site visitors and Paraguay struggled to the touch the ball within the U.S. half.
The stats for the #USMNT in that half have been ridiculous- 15-3 edge in accomplished dribbles- 26-2 edge in touches within the opposing box- 293-91 edge in accomplished passes- these numbers are outstanding, and that is in opposition to a staff that beat Argentina, Brazil, & Uruguay in WC qualifying
— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) June 13, 2026
The numbers within the first half have been staggering by way of dribbles, passing, and touches within the opposing staff’s field.
The sport was gained with the U.S. staff’s relentless and instant aggression from the opening whistle by the whole first half.
Passing Out of the Again
One of the best gamers on this recreation have been clearly Balogun, Pulisic, and Tillman who have been all wonderful and on one other degree.
Gustavo Alfaro, the Paraguay coach, says #USMNT was superior in all facets. He mentions tactical first (apparent nod to Pochettino) then technical and bodily plan.
— Paul Kennedy (@pkedit) June 13, 2026
However no participant performed poorly on this recreation and everybody was sturdy.
One of many staff’s finest strengths was its passing out of the again. Tim Ream was 85/91 in passing and was 8/10 with its lengthy balls. Many promising assaults began along with his passing out of the again. Then there was Chris Richards who was an ideal 83/83 though he was extra conservative along with his go choice opting for only one lengthy ball, which he accomplished.
83 – Chris Richards accomplished all 83 passes he tried for the #USMNT in opposition to Paraguay, essentially the most passes with a one hundred pc accuracy fee by any participant in a FIFA World Cup match since 1966.
Perfection. pic.twitter.com/kTD2kmrrPa
— OptaJack?? (@OptaJack) June 13, 2026
Alex Freeman was responsible of a foul turnover early within the second half which gifted Paraguay a uncommon harmful likelihood. However he was one other participant who introduced lots to this recreation.
For Ream, Freeman, and Antonee Robinson, all three made passes that reduce by Paraguay’s midfield and created possibilities.
Adams Yellow Card
The worst factor that occurred to the U.S. staff was not Paraguay’s aim. It was the yellow card to Tyler Adams that may require Pochettino to think about resting defensive midfielder. At this World Cup, yellow playing cards are reset after the group stage however suspensions which can be picked up should be served. Because of this if Adams will get a second yellow in opposition to Türkiye within the third teams stage recreation, he could be suspended for the spherical of 32.
Pochettino will now have robust selections to make. Ought to he begin Adams within the second recreation in opposition to Australia? If Adams doesn’t choose up a yellow in opposition to Australia, does Pochettino begin him in opposition to Türkiye?
Both means, we’re taking a look at a scenario the place Tyler Adams most likely gained’t play in opposition to Türkiye.
Pochettino merely can not afford to have Adams miss the spherical of 32 recreation.
Pulisic’s knock
Pulisic was pulled at halftime, and it was not because of the recreation being out of attain. He picked up a little bit knock in taking a kick from a Paraguayan participant.
Christian Pulisic after being pulled at halftime of the #USMNT’s 4-1 win: “I just got a bit of a kick in the first half, so I’m really hoping that it’s nothing. Taking a little bit of precaution today, but I’m hoping I’ll be fine the next few days.”
— Doug McIntyre (@ByDougMcIntyre) June 13, 2026
