The first game of the summer is over, but with Gold Cup kickoff just days away, the coach's challenges are only beginning
During Mauricio Pochettino's news conference, the U.S. men's national team head coach turned the tables on reporters. He had a question for the room: What is the most important action in soccer?
"The first touch," was one reply.
"The final one, the finish," was another.
Pochettino smiled and waved them all off.
"The next action," he said. "Of course, everything you all said was very important. But the most important action is the next one. You cannot think about how you missed the control, or missed the touch or the finish. Because you have to be ready for the next one. The next one comes quickly."
That's true, micro and macro. In terms of little things, yes, the players that make up the USMNT must put themselves in position to execute – but must also put mistakes, losses and disappointments behind them. Pochettino's question was in response to one about two quick goals, just three minutes apart, yielded to Turkey in a 2-1 loss last Saturday. There's a lesson to be learned, and Pochettino's words apply. They also apply to the big picture.
The U.S. is on to the next action, namely a friendly against Switzerland on Tuesday a 8 p.m. ET in Nashville – the last match before the Gold Cup kicks off this weekend. Turkey is over. So, too, is the Nations League from March.
Prior achievements or mistakes are in the past, and Pochettino is now looking for responses, not reflections. The next action arrives on Tuesday, and then another and another, and Pochettino's big message is to make the most of each one.
GOAL looks at five keys for the U.S. against Switzerland.
Getty ImagesAdams out against Switzerland
Seconds into his pre-game press conference Monday, Pochettino gave the bad news: Tyler Adams is out. Foot injury. Not serious. But not available.
"I think it's not a big issue," Pochettino said. "We hope it's not a big issue. I think we can manage in a good way. He'll rest a few days and then we'll see if he's ready for the start of the Gold Cup."
Without Adams, though, the situation changes ahead of this Switzerland game. For years, we've seen that there are two versions of the USMNT: one with, and one without Adams. There's no like-for-like replacement for the USMNT's midfield bulldog, and there certainly isn't anyone with his skillset in this particular camp.
How, then, do you assemble a midfield against a top-20 world-ranked Switzerland team that put a smackdown on Mexico, 4-2, just a few days ago?
That is the biggest question Pochettino will have to answer. While it's more important to have Adams healthy in the Gold Cup then in a friendly, every repetition matters for this team in the big-picture build-up to the 2026 World Cup.
That said, it's an opportunity, in a sense, for some guys to make their mark. But it's also a challenge considering the fact that Switzerland could play a midfield with more than 250 caps between them. Is this a game for Seb Berhalter to make his debut? How important is Luca de la Torre's experience now without Adams? Can Jack McGlynn do enough defensively?
The spotlight, though, will likely fall on another midfielder, the one who suddently has biggest point to prove.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesRebuilding Cardoso
More than anyone else in the stadium on Saturday, Johnny Cardoso knew he messed up. There was no debate or discussion needed. It was a mistake, a very bad one, one that is impossible to explain away at any level. His giveaway led directly to Turkey's first goal, canceling the energy of the USMNT's quick 1-0 start.
Pochettino said it best on Monday. It's all about that next action.
Those words will particularly apply to Cardoso, who will certainly feel the weight of the world. He's long been criticized for not bringing his club form to the international level, and his mistake on Saturday only turned the spotlight brighter. Now, every touch will feel more important.
Cardoso has his critics, yes, but Tuesday is another chance to prove them wrong. He spent all season playing incredible soccer with Real Betis, going toe-to-toe with the world's best. Those performances, like his mistake, are in the past. How will he respond?
Getty Images SportThe presence of Pochettino
After fielding a series of questions about the USMNT's performance against Turkey, the USMNT manager had to field one about himself. Those Spurs rumors had popped up, as they so often have since his departure. Was there any truth to the fact he was interested in succeeding Ange Postecoglou?
"Since I left in 2019, for the position of the manager or the head coach, my name has been appearing on every list!" he said on Saturday. "If you are seeing the rumors I’ve seen, there are 100 coaches on their list! Don't be worried about that. If something happened, you will see, but we cannot talk about this type of thing.
"Today it's not realistic. Look at where I am, where we are, and I think the answer is so clear."
Pochettino remains committed to the USMNT, and he remains committed to this all-important summer of succer in the U.S. It's a vital one for him as he looks to set a tone. This isn't about tactics or even really about results; it's about correcting all of the wrongs that were very apparent during the Nations League.
"This attitude is what I want to continue to have in the future until we arrive to the World Cup," Pochettino said after the Turkey game, having repeatedly praised his side's mentality despite the defeat. "That is the only way that we can improve. If I decide in September to have a different roster, what I want is the same level of commitment, of attitude, between this and that squad, outside and inside."
Tuesday is another chance to showcase that. He'll rotate, no doubt, but the expectation will remain the same. He'll hope that this will be another building block, regardless of the result, heading into a big summer.
Getty Images SportA pair of Aaronsons
There's been a phenomenon at USMNT training this week: everyone's seeing double. There are two Aaronsons running around – brothers Brenden and Paxten – and it's impossible not to notice, particularly in the moments where they crash into one another.
"Their movements, their mannerisms, the way they talk – they're two of the same," Walker Zimmerman said. "There's no question they're brothers. It's fun to watch them, even in training, as they're squaring up against each other. Sometimes, you can see that there's a little extra brotherly pride on the line when they go into duels."
Neither Brenden nor Paxten Aaronson featured in the loss to Turkey, which leaves them very available for this Switzerland game. Common sense would suggest that, if healthy, both get a look in this match – and perhaps there's a chance they get a look together. They're only the 10th set of brothers to have earned USMNT caps and, if they do feature together, they'd be the first to appear in an official game together since 1957.
For all of their similarities, they are different players. Brenden can play either as an attacking midfielder or winger, and after his season with Leeds, he remains eager to prove he can impact the game on the attacking end. Paxten, meanwhile, can play those spots, too, but, during this breakout season with Utrecht, featured a lot as a central midfielder, too.
"For me, my best position is box-to-box," Paxten said. "That's where I feel most comfortable, especially after the season I had in that deeper position. If you asked me two years ago, I probably would have said a little higher up. I think in the last year, I've played every position. In the Olympics, I played striker and left wing, then six with Utrecht, then eight and also 10. It's good to have versatility, but I've spoken with the coaching staff and let them know that my favorite position, the one I think I'm best at, is the eight."
There is a scenario, then, where the younger brother plays just behind the older brother – and it could happen this week.
