ASN’s Brian Sciaretta writes up his ideas on the USMNT following its 2-1 loss to Mexico within the Gold Cup ultimate. What’s the standing of the group? The place does it go shifting ahead?
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
July 07, 2025
2:05 PM
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THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL group misplaced 2-1 to archrival Mexico within the ultimate of the 2025 Gold Cup in Houston in entrance of a sell-out crowd of 70,925 that was unsurprisingly closely pro-Mexico. In the end the outcome was a good reflection of the sport the place Mexico managed possession and had higher probabilities all through.
Mauricio Pochettino began the identical lineup in all three knockout video games, 3 times in eight days. Additionally, he was sluggish to make substitutions, and it may need seen the group fatigued in direction of the top.
However the U.S. nationwide group began off the sport robust, and scored the opening objective within the 4th minute when Chris Richards acquired on the top of a well-delivered free kick from Sebastian Berhalter and headed it simply throughout the objective line.
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However from there, Mexico continued to out possesses the U.S. group and equalized within the twenty seventh minute when Marcel Ruiz initially gave the impression to be lining up for a shot from simply outdoors the field however then handed the ball into the field for Raul Jíménez who beat his former Fulham teammate, Tim Ream, earlier than firing a tough shot previous Matt Freese.
Whereas the U.S. group stabilized early within the second half, Mexico once more started to regulate the sport earlier than discovering a winner within the 77th minute when Edson Alvarez acquired on the top of a free kick that was flicked on by Johan Vazquez. Alvarez was then capable of ship a header previous Freese from shut vary.
In the end, it was good to see the USMNT in a Gold Cup ultimate after a semifinal elimination in 2023, however the loss in opposition to an arch rival will add extra bitterness to a fanbase that has seen the group fail to impress over the past 12 months.
Listed here are some ideas on all of it.
Pochettino stays upbeat
After the sport, Pochettino mentioned the match was a fantastic studying lesson.
“It’s a massive lesson for us,” Pochettino mentioned. “What I’ve seen is priceless. It was an amazing tournament to realize the way that we want to grow… I think we’re going to find the way to compete better and better and better, to be very competitive and be in the place we wanted to be.”
We all know Pochettino has discovered one thing, however we don’t know precisely what. Mexico must be a group that the U.S. group has crushed loads of occasions previously. Mexico can be of the standard the place they’ll beat the USMNT too.
It’s a group that the USMNT has been proper there with for many years – it’s at all times a pleasant win however it’s by no means an upset for both group. A group of that stage isn’t a benchmark for fulfillment.
The massive query for Pochettino is what he discovered about his gamers, and what he discovered about how he wants to teach it?
Positive, there is likely to be positives to remove from this match and it’s attainable to have essential studying classes on the sphere in video games the place outcomes are disappointing. Particularly when the match additionally got here on the heels of two disappointing pleasant outcomes with the identical roster.
Nevertheless it phrases of studying classes, will probably be attention-grabbing to see in September which gamers from this group Pochettino will take him.
An unlucky sort of studying lesson that it might be attention-grabbing to see Pochettino tackle is his substitution patterns, which regularly got here late within the video games and compelled his identical beginning lineup to shoulder the load nearly all the knockouts. It’s unlucky as a result of the USMNT will solely be taking part in friendlies till the World Cup and substitutions will be free in video games the place outcomes don’t matter. At halftime in opposition to Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Mexico there have been shortcomings on the sphere however Pochettino didn’t tackle them with varied substitutions or really feel the necessity to get contemporary legs into video games.
The place it went incorrect vs. Mexico?
First, Mexico performed nicely. This was their greatest sport of the match and the group performed impressed soccer. Traditionally, when issues go poorly for Mexico, usually it’s as a result of the group beat itself. I can’t depend what number of occasions I’ve mentioned Mexico will be its personal worst enemy.
On this sport, Mexico conceded early however wasn’t thrown off its sport. It was just like how Guatemala responded nicely in opposition to the USMNT after Luna’s first two objectives. Mexico raised its stage as soon as it fell behind. They had been relentless.
However the USMNT additionally exhibited a few of the identical issues that it confronted in the course of the match.
The most important downside is that the USMNT struggled to win the ball again as soon as it misplaced possession. This led to the group chasing the sport for lengthy stretches. The midfielders and wingers had been most liable for this.
Tyler Adams must be among the finest gamers in CONCACAF given the success he has had within the Bundesliga and Premier League, however he didn’t have an excellent match. With out him on the highest of his sport, the USMNT is in a troublesome place.
Sebastian Berhalter confirmed some first rate ability on the ball and along with his passing (particularly his set piece deliveries), however his protection, ball-winning, and bodily play are a little bit of a priority within the worldwide area.
The identical may very well be mentioned of Luca de la Torre who had been away from the group for a very long time however nonetheless seems like the identical participant – for each higher and worse. He has by no means been a bodily participant (it’s particularly why Fulham in the end let him go at no cost) however first rate along with his passing.
De la Torre and Berhalter are good gamers, however are redundant – related strengths (passing and ball management) and related weaknesses (physicality). It looks as if there may be room for one within the beginning lineup, however having each enhances the weaknesses.
The playmakers of Diego Luna and Malik Tillman had been fully shut down by Mexico. With Patrick Agyemang being the participant unlikely to create himself, Mexico put numerous precedence on Tillman and Luna – and it labored. Particularly because the fullbacks in Max Arfsten and Alex Freeman weren’t pushing ahead successfully. If the fullbacks had been capable of get ahead higher, it might have opened up the sport for Luna and Tillman.
Transferring ahead
We all know in regards to the gamers who weren’t right here. They go from well-established names like Christian Pulisic, Antonee Robinson, Sergino Dest, Ricardo Pepi, Folarin Balogun, Yunus Musah, and Weston McKennie to gamers who’re younger however have been a part of the group lots lately. This would come with gamers like Tanner Tessmann, Joe Scally, Aidan Morris, Josh Sargent, and Cameron Carter-Vickers. This doesn’t even embody Gio Reyna, who’s in a messy scenario along with his membership after his previous 4 seasons the place he hasn’t repeatedly performed.
However listed below are some ideas and greatest guesses that I’ve.
The ending Beginning XI will probably be within the combine
This wasn’t the most effective USMNT that would have been assembled as a consequence of accidents, the membership World Cup, and private commitments however it wasn’t a “B team” both.
Any speak of this Gold Cup must be with the understanding that whereas the Gold Cup in the end got here up quick, it was nonetheless a greater group effort than the Nations League in March, the place the group performed worse regardless of Pulisic, McKennie, and others.
Heading into September, Pochettino will probably convey again many key gamers who weren’t on the Gold Cup, however there’ll nonetheless be some continuity with this Gold Cup group.
As talked about, Pochettino saved his beginning XI constant for the final three video games. It’s arduous to see these gamers proceed to begin in these video games after which immediately get dropped from September. Pochettino wished to construct one thing at this Gold Cup and it might be a misplaced trigger if the gamers who performed probably the most don’t proceed.
Many won’t begin in September, however on a roster of 26 gamers – there are 15 non-starters. It’s a huge group. Lots of the Gold Cup starters will proceed to be within the combine and can probably be there in September.
Depth constructing and competitors
Pochettino probably needs to construct up sufficient depth the place he’s snug with a number of choices and gamers know what he needs from them. He additionally needs to create a aggressive atmosphere for call-ups. There have been probably numerous gamers who had been stunned to not be known as as much as this match – Sargent, Tessmann, Scally, and so on. However not making this group ought to mild a fireplace beneath them. It must also encourage those that earned Gold Cup call-ups to maintain progressing.
However listed below are a couple of gamers who ought to depart the Gold Cup feeling impressed.
Matt Freese: Regardless of the unhealthy mistake within the sport in opposition to Haiti, Freese performed nicely general and he made some good saves. His greatest outing got here within the shootout in opposition to Costa Rica the place he made three stops to assist the group prevail. It’s in all probability too early to say he’s the No. 1, particularly if Matt Turner makes a transfer this summer season and begins to play once more. Nevertheless it’s arduous to check a scenario the place Freese doesn’t make the upcoming rosters altogether. Proper now, it looks as if he is an effective wager to make the World Cup group subsequent summer season.
Malik Tillman: His membership resume has at all times been good however this previous yr he took his sport to new heights with PSV. Nonetheless, his performances for the USMNT have at all times been missing. However on this match, Tillman lastly began to play like the extent he reveals within the Eredivisie and Champions League. Primarily based on what Pochettino has mentioned of Tillman, it’s simple to see Tillman having an enormous position within the group shifting ahead versus being an possibility off the bench, which had been typical.
Chris Richards: like Tillman, Richards is somebody who has by no means seen robust membership play translate over to the USMNT till lately. Richards was excellent on this match and appears like a lock starter within the backline. It has been a very long time since a central defender 25 or beneath has strongly impressed for the USMNT. It was crucial for him to take action.
Diego Luna: Like Tillman, Luna had an excellent match regardless of a nasty ultimate. He reveals up, performs arduous, and he’s able to making the massive play. Extra importantly, his enthusiasm is contagious amongst his teammates. He was a bubble participant initially of the yr (after being reduce from the Olympic group final summer season), and now he’d be in anybody’s 26-man USMNT roster.
Max Arfsten: Defensively, he has holes, though he was higher within the ultimate two video games. However he had 4 objective contributions on this match and did sufficient to stay within the staring lineup over John Tolkin. The issue for Arfsten is that he’s not a standard left again. He’s a winger who has, solely comparatively lately, been transformed to a left wingback by Wilfried Nancy in Columbus. However now with the USMNT, he’s not a winger or a wingback, he’s requested to play a standard left again. He has his ups and downs however leaves this match as a possible backup to Antonee Robinson and might be forward of extra anticipated candidates equivalent to Tolkin or Caleb Wiley.
Sebastian Berhalter: The Vancouver midfielder is nice is a few points however struggles in others. As talked about, his weaknesses had been magnified by taking part in with Luca de la Torre who had the identical strengths and weaknesses. However there may be in all probability a job for him on this group if the opposite midfielders on the group are extra bodily. He can move and he additionally was constantly good along with his set piece deliveries – which is one thing the USMNT has struggled with for years.
Alex Freeman: The Orlando Metropolis proper again handles the bodily aspect of the sport very nicely and may cowl the endlines nicely. Expectations had been in all probability muted on condition that that is solely his first season as a starter for his membership and his call-up is likely to be a future play. Sure, he was inexperienced at occasions on this match and he made the errors you’d count on from somebody so inexperienced. Ultimately, nonetheless, he did present his upside and the truth that he may very well be bettering shortly to the purpose the place subsequent yr he is an effective backup for Dest.
Notes on different gamers
Some gamers are in all probability leaving his camp feeling extra involved about their position shifting forwards. However a few of the disillusioned gamers are price mentioning.
Patrick Agyemang confirmed himself to be a bodily power and was auditioning to be a backup to Pepi or Balogun. However the variety of missed probabilities and the lack to create for himself may need harm his case.
Mark McKenzie got here into this match as a participant who was trying to strengthen his case as a starter subsequent to Richards. However by the top, Pochettino continued to stay with Ream leaving McKenzie’s standing as questionable.
Brenden Aaronson might be among the many most disillusioned gamers on the Gold Cup roster. He performed numerous minutes within the Championship, helped his group earn promotion, and he incessantly is complemented for his depth and his enthusiasm – one thing Pochettino needs. However that didn’t yield to him taking part in a lot on this match.
Paxten Aaronson is probably going disillusioned like his brother. Aaronson was competing with for minutes with Luna and Tillman, and each of them performed nicely. However the youthful Aaronson may need been price seeing in sub minutes, however Pochettino didn’t give him an opportunity in that position both.
Brian White in all probability needs he might have had the probabilities that Agyemang had. It’s simple to see why as a result of White has been a significantly better ahead in the identical league as Agyemang. However Pochettino probably wished extra of a hold-up participant who’s extra cell than White.
John Tolkin noticed minutes off the bench when Arfsten was subbed out, however Arfsten continued to get begins. Tolkin is extra of a pure left again than Arfsten (a winger turned wingback) and will probably be attention-grabbing to see if Tolkin can proceed to construct his case. Future call-ups will probably be more durable on condition that Tolkin will now shift to the two.Bundesliga after Holstein Kiel’s relegation and with Antonee Robinson anticipated again for the beginning of the Premier League season.
