Pochettino says USMNT are World Cup ready despite 2-1 Germany defeat

CHICAGO — Head coach Mauricio Pochettino insisted his United States side is ready for the World Cup despite a 2-1 defeat in their final game before the tournament begins.

The USMNT got off to the worst possible start at Soldier Field as Kai Havertz put Germany ahead within two minutes with a close-range header, before the visitors went on to inflict a fifth loss in five games for the USMNT against European opposition.

Yet Pochettino believes the moment turned into a blessing in disguise, as it gave his side an opportunity to show the resolve and character that will be needed to succeed in the tournament, with their Group D campaign starting against Paraguay in Los Angeles on June 12.

The goal was basically Germany’s first attacking moment of the match and put the USMNT under immense pressure but rather than lamenting the easy goal conceded, Pochettino felt lucky his side were lucky to experience that adversity. And he was proud of how they fought back.

“I was thinking we were lucky… it was an amazing challenge for us,” Pochettino said. “To see how we react, to see how we show character, show togetherness and play under pressure. In that moment I was upset (to concede), of course, but it was good for us to see the reaction of the team. The reaction was amazing.”

The USMNT equalized through a stunning full volley from wingback Antonee Robinson in the first half, who laced his strike from outside the 18-yard box past German goalkeeper Oliver Baumann.

He ran away in jubilation, completed a backflip as the PA system at Soldier Field blasted “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd. That song became the anthem for the United States men’s and women’s hockey teams at the winter Olympics as both won gold.

Robinson was forced to leave the game in the 62nd minute with what Pochettino has said was just cramps.

Germany retook the lead in the 57th minute when Leroy Sane squeaked a shot past Matt Freese and it proved to be the winner.

Freese, the expected starting goalkeeper, played all 90 minutes. Pochettino let all 11 starters play longer on Saturday, going 62 minutes before any subs, when they made four changes. The next six changes came in the 72nd minute, marking all 10 outfield starters out of the game.

The USMNT wrap up their friendly schedule with an encouraging 3-2 win over Senegal and now the 2-1 loss to Germany, which came with some positives.

The struggles to get results against European teams persist, however, having begun long before Pochettino arrived.

The program has not beaten a European team in 12 matches (two draws, 10 losses) on an official FIFA fixture date since beating Northern Ireland 2-1 in Belfast on March 28, 2021. The U.S. did beat Bosnia & Herzegovina in December 2021, but it was in a match that fell outside of the FIFA calendar, thus players weren’t required to be released for it.

Now, finally, next up for the USMNT? The World Cup.

“We are so excited,” Pochettino said succinctly, as friendlies are over and the matches he was appointed to preside over are finally here.

“Maybe my expectation — or my mistake — was expecting the excitement around the U.S. men’s national team a year and a half ago to be what it is today.

“That was probably my mistake. We had to build that excitement again.

“When we started this journey towards the World Cup a year and a half ago, maybe we expected too much too soon. But now you can really feel it.

“We saw it against Senegal and again today against Germany. The atmosphere was amazing. The fans were incredible.

“I don’t need the fans to make me excited because I already am, but it’s really important for the team. It’s really important for the spirit of the team.”

Tyler Adams was at the heart of the game in midfield and also believes this latest experience will hold the U.S. in good stead.

The game became physical in the second half and Adams insists there is no chance of this team shirking such battles.

“The result didn’t go our way and to concede that early makes it difficult,” Adams said. “But we showed character and energy and resilience.

“The guys were going at it like a World Cup final and that’s what we wanted to see.

“We want to show our skill and quality, but we will also be combative and fighting and winning duels. If I see one of my guys kicked, I’ll be going straight after them.”