USMNT “cannot win with their shirt” only

The growing number of American players featuring for major European clubs won’t immediately guarantee you success on the international stage. That is the message that U.S. men’s national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino reaffirmed Thursday night in Los Angeles.

Pochettino was frustrated with the USMNT’s overall performance in Thursday’s 1-0 CONCACAF Nations League semifinal loss to Panama, ending the Americans’ hopes of repeating as tournament winners.

Despite holding a 66%-to-34% advantage in possession, the USMNT offered minimal clear-cut chances to find a breakthrough goal against Panama. A slow start eventually improved, but still was not good enough to break down the stubborn Panamanian backline.

After conceding a 95th minute to Panama’s Cecelio Waterman, the USMNT lacked the needed time to find an equalizing goal. Despite having many of their international stars available for the semifinal, the USMNT did not step up again in a must-win match.

“We are USA,” Pochettino said in his postmatch press conference. “You cannot win with your shirt, or you cannot win if you play here, there or I don’t know. You need to show, and you need to come here and be better and suffer and win the duels and work hard. If not, it’s not going to be enough.”

The USMNT endured multiple periods of sloppiness in the match, lacking the ability to play a final ball, or struggling to clear their lines defensively. 

Striker Josh Sargent had a goal waived off due to offsides while also striking the post in the first half. Substitute forward Patrick Agyemang was denied an opening goal twice in the second half, finishing as one of the more impactful performers on the night. 

Midfielder Tyler Adams covered plenty of ground, but even had his quiet moments while playmaker Christian Pulisic struggled to make an impact in his 90+ minute showing.

Adams didn’t make any excuses for the USMNT’s performance and admitted the sharpness needs to improve for growth to happen.

“Sharpness for sure can be better,” said Adams. “I’m not sitting here to make excuses about anything. We’re not jet-lagged. We’re not anything: guys play three-game weeks all the time in tough environments in the Premier League, whatever leagues they’re playing in respectively and it’s tough.

“So yeah, I think we have new ideas in our head, and you can tell we’re trying to work through them for sure,” he added. “But yeah, it needs to be better.”

Two players that potentially could’ve helped the USMNT score were unused substitutes Diego Luna and Gio Reyna. Reyna has excelled in previous Nations League action while Luna has enjoyed a positive start to the current MLS campaign.

Although neither Reyna nor Luna featured on Thursday night, Pochettino expects both to play in Sunday’s third-place match vs. Canada. 

“We never expect to concede in this moment,” Pochettino said about the late Panama goal. “That is the truth, but [I] agree. We were thinking to give option to play Gio and Diego, but for sure they’re going to have the opportunity [next match].”

The USMNT will not repeat as Nations League winners but desperately need a result against Canada to boost the overall confidence in the squad. A loss though could add to the frustration, especially with the USMNT’s next competitive involvement not until the summer’s Gold Cup.