US Loses to Turkiye 2-1 – Plays Top 20 Switzerland Tonight 8 pm on TNT
So the US got off to a great start with a Goal by Jack McGlynn just a few minutes in but some horrific play by DM Johnny Cardosa led to 2 straight goals in about 2 minutes as Turkiye took the lead and held on for the 2-1 win. (highlights) I thought the changes by Poch to sub out Johnny with Adams & CB Miles Robinson with Mark McKensie – changed the flow of the game at the half as the US dominated play in the 2nd outshooting Turkiye & out possessing them for the game.
Tonight the US takes on Switzerland – another top 20 world team that should give us a real run. I will be interested to see how seriously Poch takes this? Does he give new guys a chance – or try to build on the good things that players did last game. I would like to see Richards & McKenzie back in the middle tonight to give them a chance to grow together. It sounds like Adams is out – does Johnny get another chance to show he can play like he does in Spain rather than the pathetic display he showed Sat or every other time he puts on the Red, White & Blue? Luca De La Tore was a bright spot as one of the few players who really took us forward – into the attack. I also thought Malik Tillman played better than his average play with our US starters. Unfortunately I think Poch is an clueless – and he’ll continue to experiment with his new found MLS players and get beat again 2-1. Hopefully I am wrong.
Shane’s Starters tonight
White
Aaronson/Tillman//McGlynn
Cardoso //De La Tore
Tolkin/McKensie/Richards/Harriel
Turner
Diving into the controversary regarding our US starters not showing up this summer. Let me start with I am hugely disappointed our starters are not here for these European friendlies. I really thought Poch should have asked everyone to come in for these friendlies – along with the MLS Gold Cup team and we should have tried to put our best 11 on the field for 10 days and these 2 games. I have this feeling if it was set up correctly – negotiated properly with the clubs (something Poch does not do) that a lot of the guys might have showed up for a 10 day stint. Asking them all to stay for the 5 week Gold Cup is ridiculous – even this summer. Sorry Landon Donovan since you NEVER pushed yourself to play at the highest level – EUROPE for an entire season – you have NO leg to stand on calling guys out. Especially since you took off 18 months for mental issues before your last chance at a World Cup. None of those old US players played the # of games or to the level of competition that the current US players are playing. We had more players in Champions League last year than the previous 10 years combined from our old regime. It simply does not compare to the load that our current European players playing at top clubs have. If US soccer had a clue they would have brought them in for the 11 days — like Portugal and Spain did in the Nations League final. Most of our guys were here for Nations League in the Spring. The bottom line is the Gold Cup has in the last 15 years been a warm-up B team roster for us – unless it meant Confed Cup placement. Under Berhalter/BJ we had grown beyond all of Concacaf included Mexico and Canada. Not so under Poch obviously. So what’s the real issue here? Hard to say – but calling Christian Pulisic – who is the Best American Soccer Field Player to have ever lived out for missing 1 Gold Cup is short sighted in my opinion.
CBS/Golazo Discussion on Pulisic State of the Union Discussion on this Tyler Adams is the US Captain
USMNT GOLD CUP DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION (club/country; caps/goals):
GOALKEEPERS (4): Chris Brady (Chicago Fire; 0/0), Matt Freese (New York City FC; 0/0), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace/ENG; 51/0)
DEFENDERS (9): Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew; 3/0), Alex Freeman (Orlando City; 0/0), Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union; 0/0), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse/FRA; 19/0), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC; 68/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 24/1), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; 32/3), John Tolkin (Holstein Kiel/GER; 4/0), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; 43/3)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United/ENG; 47/8); Tyler Adams (Bournemouth/ENG; 44/2), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; 0/0), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis/ESP; 18/0), Luca de la Torre (San Diego FC; 24/1), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake; 4/0), Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo; 4/1), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union; 0/0); Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 17/0)
FORWARDS (5): Paxten Aaronson (FC Utrecht/NED; 1/0), Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC; 4/3), Damion Downs (FC Köln/GER; 0/0), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; 4/1), Haji Wright (Coventry City/ENG; 15/4)
Euro Nations League Final Portugal beats Spain 2-2 (5-3) on PKs
Wow – the Nations League Final between Spain and Portugal was simply spectacular the 2-2 thriller in Bayern Munich was magisterial as 40 YO Christiana Ronaldo scored the tying goal to put Portugal into Extra Time before coming off. (highlights). Ronaldo & Portugal lift Trophy
Indy 11 hosts Pittsburgh Riverhounds and former Carmel High, CDC GK Eric Dick this Sat 7 pm
Indy 11 Summer of Soccer is a cool promo going on with tickets and a chance to win a free trip to the Indy 11 Charleston game. Indy 11 will host the Pittsburgh Riverhounds with former Carmel High, and CDC player Eric Dick in Goal. The 2024 USL GK of the year has Pittsburgh in 6th place overall 3 notches above Indy 11. Zeke invites you to enjoy a tail-wagging good time as we welcome our furry fans to the stadium. Enjoy the match with your pup by your side, the perfect outing for dog lovers and Indy Eleven fans! Pups at the Pitch Tickets are just $29 for you and your dog – Tickets
Carmel FC Supplemental Tryouts
Carmel FC are looking for High School quality Players for its 2010 Gold Boys (mid 1st division team) and 2009 Gold Boys (Great Lakes) reach out to me shanebestsoccer@gmail.com if interested.
USA MEN
What to watch for USMNT June 2025 Friendlies: USA vs. Switzerland – no time to be neutral
USA vs. Turkey player ratings: Score, grades, stats from USMNT pre-Gold Cup
USMNT 1–2 Turkiye: Player Ratings As USMNT Suffers Third Consecutive Defeat Under Mauricio Pochettino
Turkey loss gives Poch, USMNT more questions than answers
Soccer Wire – Player Ratings
Mistakes cost USMNT in 2-1 loss to Türkiye
Source: USMNT’s Turner to join Lyon in $9M move
USMNT depth chart: Top 15 at each position entering Gold Cup
Drama Around The US Camp
Pulisic likes dad’s response to Donovan criticism
The US men’s national team has more of the last thing it needs: sports dad drama
TV GAME SCHEDULE
GC=Gold Cup, WCC = World Club Cup in US
Tues, June 10
2:45 pm Fox Sport2 Netherlands vs Malta
8 pm TNT, Peacock US Men vs Switzerland
Fri, June 13
10:30 pm FS1 Portland Timbers vs San Jose MLS
June 13 – 29 GOLD CUP MEN
June 13
10:30 pm Fox Sports1 Portland Timbers vs San Jose Earthquakes
June 14
4:30 pm Fox St. Louis City vs LA Galaxy
7 pm TV 8 & CBS Golaso Indy 11 vs Pittsburg Riverhounds (Carmel GK Eric Dick returns)
7:30 pm Apple Free Columbus vs Vancouver
8 pm Univision Al Ahly vs Inter Miami Club World Cup
9:30 pm Apple Free Colorado vs Orlando MLS
10:!5 pm FS1 Mexico vs Dominican Republic GC
Sun, June 15
12 noon DANZ Bayern Munich vs Auckland City WCC
3 pm Univision PSG Vs Atletico Madrid WCC
6 pm Fox, Uni US Men vs Trinidad Gold Cup
8:15 pm FS1 Haiti vs Saudi Arabia GC
10 pm Danz Botafogo vs Seattle Sounders WCC
11 pm FS1 Costa Rica vs Suriname GC
Mon, June 16
3 pm unimas, TUDN Chelsea vs LAFC
6 pm Danz Boca Juniors vs Benefica WCC
7 pm FS1 Panama vs Guadeloupe GC
9 pm FS1 Jamaica vs Guatemala
Tues , June 17
12 noon TNT Fluminese vs Dortmund WCC
3 pm Danz River Plate vs Urawa Reds WCC
8:15 pm FS1 Curacao vs El Salvador GC
9 pm Danz Inter Milan vs Monterrey WCC
10:30 pm FS1 Canada vs Honduras GC
Wed, June 18
12 noon DANZ Man City vs Wydad Casablanca WCC
3 pm unimas Real Madrid vs Al Hilal WCC
6 pm Danz Pachuca cs Salzburg WCC
7 pm FS1 Costa Rica vs Dom Republic GC
9 pm dazn Al Ain vs Juventus (Mckinney, Weah) WCC
10 pm FS1 Mexico vs Suriname
Thur, June 19
12 noon Dazn Palmeiras vs Al Ahly WCC
3 pm Dazn Inter Miami vs Porto WCC
6 pm Dazn Seattle Sounders vs Atletico Madrid WCC
6:45 pm FS1 T&T vs Haiti GC
9 pm Dazn PSG Vs Botafogo WCC
9:15 pm FS1 US Men vs Saudi Arabia Gold Cup
Fri, June 20
2 pm TNT Flamengo vs Chelsea WCC
6 pm DANZ LAFC vs ES Tunis WCC
7:45 pm FS1 Jamaica vs Guadeloupe GC
9 pm TBS Bayern Munich vs Boca Juniors WCC
10 pm FS1 Guatemala vs Panama GC
Sat, June 21
7 pm TV8, Golazo Indy 11 vs Las Vegas Lights FC
7 pm FS1 Curacao vs Canada GC
9 pm TBS River Plate vs Monterrey WC
10 pm FS1 Honduras vs El Salvador GC
Sun, June 22
12 noon Danz Juventus vs Wydad Casablanca WCC
3 pm univision Real Madrid vs Pachuca WCC
7 pm Fox US Men vs Haiti Gold Cup
7 pm FS1 Saudi Arabia vs T&T GC
9 pm TNT Man City vs Al Ain WCC
10 pm FS1 Mexico vs Costa Rica GC
Mon, June 23
9 pm TBS Inter Miami (Messi) vs Palmeiras
Thur, June 26
TBS, Peacock US Women vs Ireland
Sun, June 29th
TNT, Peacock US Women vs Ireland in Cincy
World Club Cup
2025 FIFA Club World Cup: Group G Preview
American fans are hoping Weah and McKennie can create some magic in this tournament.
2025 FIFA Club World Cup: Group F Preview
Gio Reyna hopes to rediscover his form during the group stage.
2025 FIFA Club World Cup: Group B Preview
Seattle Sounders take on a monster of a group at the Club World Cup.
2025 FIFA Club World Cup: Group A Preview
Messi and friends take on a tough group.
Mamelodi Sundowns’ Club World Cup goal: ‘We want to inspire people’
Nations League Finals – Portugal Prevails
Portugal’s impressive Nations League win over Spain outshines Ronaldo vs. Yamal
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Is Mauricio Pochettino’s style too slow for the USMNT?
Ryan O’HanlonJun 10, 2025, 08:14 AM ET
If anything will stick from the USMNT’s mostly unmemorable 2-1 loss to Turkey last week, it’ll be either Jack McGlynn‘s first goal with the team, or the unfortunate moment when Johnny Cardoso flicked the ball into Arda Güler‘s shin and into his team’s own goal.
But the most illustrative moment from the exhibition match happened a few seconds before the ball was trickling past goalkeeper Matt Freese and across the goal line.
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Alex Freeman had just won the ball from Juventus‘ Kenan Yildiz right outside the USMNT’s penalty area. He shifted the ball over to Cardoso, who had the opportunity to play a quick, long, forward pass into tons of space on the left side of the field. Turkey had just lost possession, so it hadn’t yet shifted into its defensive shape. Instead, Cardoso hesitated and then played a safe pass to Chris Richards. As this happened, U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino threw his hands into the air, jumped up, spun around and yelled something toward the bench. A couple of seconds later, Freese was scooping the ball out of his net.While the goal itself was a freak play — somewhat bad luck that the ball was deflected in the first place, entirely bad luck that it deflected in such a way to then spin into the side netting — the entire possession was a microcosm of the team’s biggest problem under Pochettino: It plays too slow. While most of the modern USMNT era has been characterized by constant, hectic overactivity, the past couple of months have flipped back too far in the other direction.
Pochettino knows this; he addressed the play postmatch, reacting in the moment, and he made similar comments after the 1-0 loss to Panama in the Nations League semifinals. But if the team is going to make a run at the World Cup next summer, he’s going to have to find a way to get his players to, well, run.
Why Pochettino’s USMNT is the slowest on record
Pochettino has managed only nine U.S. games so far, and the general rule in the club soccer world is that we should wait 10 games before drawing any conclusions. But only three of those games were competitive, while a fourth, the third-place Nations League match, was what we’ll call “partially competitive.” Throw in the fact that the rosters and lineups have been significantly different across almost every international break, and it’s still way too early to say anything remotely definitive.he biggest difference between Pochettino’s tenure and the Gregg Berhalter era that preceded it, though, seems to be the structure in possession. The latter had somewhat rigid positional guidelines for where everyone should be, while the former has given the players license to solve defensive problems on their own.
“The way we press [under Pochettino] is a lot more aggressive, especially from goal kicks,” midfielder Luca de la Torre told ESPN after the Turkey match. “There’s the intention to play in the half of the other team. And there’s probably more freedom with Pochettino in terms of the positioning of the players to find the solutions in open play.”Midfielder Malik Tillman echoed De la Torre’s final point. “He gives us offensive players a lot of freedom to move around the pitch to find the right spaces,” the PSV attacker said. “With Gregg, there was a lot more focus on being in the same spaces.”Again, it’s still way too early to say which approach is more effective, or if one is even more effective than the other. And while strict positional guidelines provide built-in fundamentals that the team can play within right away, the more relational style should theoretically take more time to develop since the players need to understand each other’s inherent tendencies. The free-flowing approach could improve with time — or it could be impossible to establish due to the ever-changing personnel and limited game time on offer in the international game. Perhaps, too, this is why the team has struggled to move the ball at speed so far under Pochettino. It’s hard to make decisions when you’re not sure where your teammates are going to be. Stats Perform has full data for USMNT matches going back to 2010. And among the managers who have been in charge for at least five games, Pochettino’s team ranks last for:
– The speed it moves the ball upfield: 1.03 meters per second
– The number of possessions it has per match: 82.1
The former is pretty straightforward — literally, how quickly do you move the ball toward the opposition goal? The latter represents, roughly, how much chaos you want your matches to have. For example: Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool played high possession games where the ball was constantly changing hands, while Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City rank last in the Premier League for possessions per game almost every season. For comparison: Berhalter’s teams moved at 1.34 meters per second and averaged 87.8 possessions per game. This isn’t to say that the slower approach can’t work; clearly, it can. Pep’s City won everything while playing slower than everyone else, while Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal play very slowly, and they’ve finished second in the Premier League for three consecutive seasons. In general, European soccer has become more methodical and less hectic with each passing season. At the same time, the three best teams in the world right now — PSG, Liverpool and Barcelona — all tend to play faster and embrace more chaos than is popular at the highest levels of the game. And most of the USMNT’s best players are better off playing that way, too.
Why the USMNT player pool wants to run
When it works, the slower approach keeps the ball away from your opponents, prevents the kind of odd-number counterattacks that Hansi Flick’s Barcelona frequently face, and creates a low volume of high-quality chances.Defensively, the team has been totally fine under Pochettino. The loss against Panama had nothing to do with a dysfunctional defense. The USMNT conceded three total shots for 0.1 expected goals — if you could guarantee that the Americans would do that at every game at the World Cup next summer, then I’d tell you to go and bet on them to win the tournament right now.No, the problem against Panama — and more broadly — was that the USMNT created a low volume of low-quality chances. If you’re not going to take more risks and attempt more shots, then you have to be able to generate better shots with the few shots you do take. In Pochettino’s nine matches, though, the U.S. has attempted 10.4 shots per game — fewer than in any managerial tenure other than Dave Sarachan’s lame-duck interim stint between Jurgen Klinsmann and Gregg Berhalter. But they’ve also generated only five total shots worth at least a third of an expected goal. For comparison, Berhalter’s teams averaged 1.6 per game.
These are all of the 94 shots attempted under Pochettino, sized by the expected-goal value of the attempt:
Ultimately, the slower approach just doesn’t really seem to fit many of the USMNT’s best players. In attack, Folarin Balogun had his breakout season while playing in a transition-heavy approach under Will Still at Reims. Both Christian Pulisic and Timothy Weah are at their best when they’re able to run at unsettled defenses. And at PSV, both Ricardo Pepi and Malik Tillman have been successful for Peter Bosz and his wide-open tactics. In midfield, all of Tyler Adams‘ best seasons have come for the embracers of chaos at Bournemouth, Leeds and RB Leipzig. Weston McKennie continues to flourish despite the relatively conservative tactics at Juventus, but I think a lot of that is because his managers all realize they need to find a way to embrace the risks he takes off the ball. And at this point in his career, Yunus Musah‘s most valuable skill is his ability to break through pressure and create transition moments for his team. Even at the back, Antonee Robinson is one of the most athletic fullbacks in the open field … in the entire world. Chris Richards plays for a former Red Bull manager in Oliver Glasner at Crystal Palace. Sergiño Dest is probably the only first-choice player who seems totally comfortable in this possession-dominant, patient approach — and he’s still yet to play a game for Pochettino.
Now, there is a potential cheat code — set pieces — here. Without them, Arsenal would be a top-four challenger and a Champions League also-ran rather than a title challenger and a European semifinalist. If you can methodically create chances from set pieces, then you can afford to play a low-risk, slower style. Plus, if you score the opening goal from a set piece, then the defense has to soften up, and that makes it easier to attack. Although the U.S. hired famed set piece coach Gianni Vio, we still haven’t seen any of this yet. For all the possession the USMNT has had under Pochettino — 60.4%, more than under any other manager — it has attempted just 1.6 set piece shots per game, the fewest under any manager.
So, through the first nine games of the Pochettino era, we seem to have a coach who says he wants his team to play faster and a group of players who thrive at a higher tempo. Yet, somehow, they’ve struggled to ever get out of first gear. Perhaps Poch’s public frustrations don’t match with what he’s telling his team to do. Maybe these players need stricter positional guidelines. Or it could just be some early-tenure growing pains.The broader challenge for this summer, with the limited roster at the Gold Cup, and next summer at the World Cup, is for the USMNT to find a way to start consistently generating higher-quality chances on goal. And barring some development on the set piece front, the way to get there is to find an answer to what seems like a simple question: How do you get all of your runners to start running again?
Turkey loss gives Poch, USMNT more questions than answers
- Jeff Carlisle Cesar Hernandez ESPN Jun 7, 2025, 07:41 PM ET
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — The U.S. men’s national team, with a squad that is far from full strength, kicked off its Gold Cup preparation with a 2-1 loss to Turkey during a friendly at Pratt & Whitney Stadium on Saturday.Initially up 1-0 thanks to a first-minute goal from Jack McGlynn, the U.S. then lost its lead with a rapid set of goals from Arda Güler and Kerem Aktürkoglu in the 24th and 27th minutes, respectively.Next up for the USMNT in its final Gold Cup preparation tuneup is a match against Switzerland in Nashville, Tennessee, on Tuesday. — Cesar Hernandez
More questions than answers for Pochettino
Outside of McGlynn, and perhaps Tyler Adams and Malik Tillman, it’s tough to find many positives from the experimental XI that had an average age of 23.8.Turkey won more duels, aerial duels and had a higher success rate of tackles against the Americans, who seemed to lose the mentality game and intensity as the match progressed — despite the fact that the home side had plenty more possessions that led to substandard half chances.The USMNT never mentally recovered after conceding those first-half goals, and looking ahead to Switzerland, it will be manager Mauricio Pochettino’s responsibility to find other members of this makeshift roster who were expected to “fight for a place” in the 2026 FIFA World Cup squad.At the moment, missing marquee members like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Antonee Robinson, Sergiño Dest and a handful of others have left large cleats that have yet to be filled. If this crop of players doesn’t show any improvements or a stronger mentality against Switzerland, it could be a sign of a long — or perhaps shorter than expected — summer ahead in the Gold Cup with no real alternates stepping up in the depth chart. — Hernandez
Race for No. 9 place remains wide-open
Patrick Agyemang was hoping for a special kind of homecoming, given that he was born and raised in East Hartford, the same city as Saturday’s venue. It wasn’t to be, even as he was given the plumb assignment of the starting striker role.Agyemang used his size to good effect at times, and in terms of physicality, gave as good as he got from Turkey’s backline. But too often his touch was lacking, especially on those occasions when Diego Luna played passes into Agyemang’s feet. Agyemang wasn’t goal dangerous, recording one shot on target in the 52nd minute that didn’t force a difficult save.The performance left Pochettino still looking for a solution at the No. 9 position.Haji Wright got on the field for 25 minutes but was deployed out wide as opposed to a more central role. He rarely was involved save for one late run when he dribbled straight into the feet of his opponent.Agyemang was subbed out in the 75th minute for Brian White, but the Vancouver Whitecaps striker barely got a sniff of the ball, recording just seven touchesWhat Pochettino does against Switzerland in three days remains uncertain, although it seems worth giving FC Cologne forward Damion Downs a shot, or shifting Wright into the middle. — Jeff Carlisle
Cardoso still misfiring for the U.S.
Johnny Cardoso remains a hot commodity in the transfer market following a solid season with Real Betis, with Atlético Madrid expected to secure his signature. The New Jersey-born, Brazilian-raised midfielder has rarely replicated his club form when donning a U.S. shirt, though.
Saturday proved to be more of the same. With the U.S. leading 1-0 and Cardoso in complete control of the ball, he attempted to pass out of his own box, only for the delivery to ricochet off of Güler and into the U.S. net. It’s the kind of play one wouldn’t expect from a Sunday league player, let alone one of LaLiga‘s more highly regarded performers.
The play shook the Americans’ confidence, and they conceded a second three minutes later.
It wasn’t the first time Cardoso has disappointed. In a friendly against Colombia prior to last year’s Copa América, Cardoso was lackadaisical in coming to the ball, allowing the Cafeteros to counter and score their fifth and final goal. Against Turkey, it was another careless play that led directly to a goal.
Cardoso is in the lineup for his composure on the ball, but if he can’t showcase that trait, it’s tough to see him getting on the field. The news surrounding the U.S. midfield wasn’t all bad. Luca de la Torre was sharp in the first half, completing 38 of 39 passes, and was a bright spot throughout. But there isn’t quite enough steel when De la Torre and Cardoso are paired together. Fortunately, Adams was available, and Pochettino duly swapped the AFC Bournemouth midfielder in for Cardoso at halftime. The U.S. looked more solid in the center of the park in the second half, although Turkey didn’t seem to be pushing forward as much. All told, it was a day when Cardoso fell a notch down the U.S. midfield depth chart. — Carlisle
Dest, Robinson replacements need to find chemistry
Some slack should be given considering the inexperience of the fullbacks in the young starting XI, but Pochettino will still likely be unhappy with the ensuing lack of cohesion in defense that rapidly emerged in the first half. At left back, Max Arfsten, who was earning his fourth cap, struggled with winning duels and wasn’t able to connect many of his crosses going forward through his pressing runs. At right back, the debut of Alex Freeman was average at best, occasionally allowing opportunities for Turkey to run into the final third with dangerous and speedy counters. Coupled with Cardoso’s questionable start in front of the backline, the defensive puzzle quickly became scrambled when Turkey had possession, leading to difficult moments for Chris Richards and Miles Robinson in the heart of it all. Recognizing early on that the U.S. defensive experiment was proving to be porous, Turkey pounced on its recoveries in the final third and set the tone for the rest of the match. Pochettino will have little time to fine-tune his approach and might need to continue trying new faces in the fullback spots that would, ideally, be led by absent starters Robinson and Dest who weren’t available for the Gold Cup roster. — Hernandez
USMNT’s Tyler Adams out vs. Switzerland; Pochettino to rotate squad
By Paul Tenorio The Athletic June 9, 2025Updated 5:59 pm EDT
U.S. men’s national team midfielder Tyler Adams will not play Tuesday night in Nashville against Switzerland due to precautions around a foot injury. U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said Monday in a press conference that Adams would be rested in this friendly as the U.S. eyes his involvement in the upcoming Concacaf Gold Cup.“Tyler is out for tomorrow because he suffered a small issue in his foot,” Pochettino said. “But I think it’s not a big issue. Hope it’s not a big issue. I think we can manage it in a good way and rest it for a few days, and then see if he can be ready for the Gold Cup. That is why he’s not going to be involved tomorrow.” Adams played just the second half in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Turkey, and after that appearance Pochettino said it had been a planned substitution due to the foot issue that Adams brought into camp from his Premier League season with Bournemouth.
Tyler Adams played the second half in Saturday’s loss to Turkey. (Photo by Williams Paul/Icon Sportswire/AP Images)
Pochettino also said the U.S. team would be heavily rotated for its second friendly in four days. The U.S. is entering the match at GEODIS Park on the heels of its first three-game losing streak under a single manager in 10 years.“Preparing for the Gold Cup, I think it’s good to make some changes now and to give the possibility to other players to play,” Pochettino said. “What I want to see tomorrow is to continue evolving the way that we started to play against Turkey. It’s a continuation of this feeling. If we will get tomorrow after 90 minutes, the same feeling, I think the progression is there and I’m going to be happy. The result also is important. But I think now, with a lot of new players, for the first time and building a team for the Gold Cup, I think the focus is more in the process to improve than maybe the result. And of course, I think the Gold Cup is going to be both progression and results.” Unused subs that could feature in this game include goalkeeper Matt Turner; center backs Walker Zimmerman and Tim Ream; fullback John Tolkin; midfielders Sebastian Berhalter, Brenden Aaronson and Paxten Aaronson; and forward Damion Downs.The U.S. lost to Turkey on Saturday in Connecticut, but Pochettino was pleased with the effort and mindset his team played with against the world’s 27th-ranked team, according to FIFA’s table. Switzerland, No. 20, will provide another tough test for the U.S., coming off a 4-2 win over Mexico in Utah on Saturday.Following the friendly, the U.S. will turn its attention to the Gold Cup, where it will open group play against Trinidad & Tobago in San Jose, Calif., on Sunday. Matches against guest nation Saudi Arabia and Haiti will follow, as the U.S. seeks to wrest back the continental title from Mexico. The two nations have alternated winning the competition for the last seven editions. (Top photo: David Butler II/Imagn Images)
USMNT’s upbeat reaction to Turkey loss a telling sign of need to restore basics
By Paul Tenorio June 8, 2025 THe Athletic
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. – U.S. men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino had just finished delivering a long answer about Jack McGlynn’s performance in the U.S.’s 2-1 loss to Turkey on Saturday when he paused and looked around at the room in front of him.“It’s a good thing we are talking about soccer, eh?” he asked. “That is a good thing. Fútbol.”The implication, of course, was that much of Pochettino’s ire after March’s Concacaf Nations League failure — and really, the frustration of the fanbase — centered less around the actual soccer in losses to Panama and Canada. Yes, that team also failed to impress with what it did on the field, but more concerning was the lack of effort. The absence of fight. The appearance of indifference.The inclusion of several MLS players for this camp was meant to add a bit more hunger to a team that seemed to lack some of that internal motivation. The challenge changed a bit when 10 U.S. regulars weren’t available via Club World Cup commitments, injuries, personal reasons or a desire for rest, in the case of Christian Pulisic. Almost the entire group has been filled with hopefuls now.
However, in a way, it allowed Pochettino to lean further toward the goal of the Gold Cup tournament, which starts for the U.S. against Trinidad and Tobago on June 15. He clearly wants to try to inject competition and desire into the group.So while it was odd, and certainly spoke to the negative state in which this program currently finds itself, that Pochettino and the players were mostly upbeat after a third consecutive loss, it was just as telling that they found satisfaction in hitting what had long been considered a bare minimum for the USMNT.“I think we need to be positive, because today I think only we can talk about fútbol action, soccer action,” Pochettino said. “The team showed great energy, great mentality, great attitude. And then it’s this type of game that maybe, if you make a mistake, you can lose. But you made a mistake because it’s soccer, it’s fútbol. That is why I think I am so, so happy about the way that I think we delivered the show and in the way that we tried to play.”
Malik Tillman missed a golden opportunity to score vs. Turkey. (David Butler II/Imagn Images)
It wasn’t completely unfair of Pochettino to feel as if there were positives to hold onto in the loss to a talented Turkey side. The U.S. was the better team for the first 20 minutes. Pochettino correctly pointed out that, until Johnny Cardoso made an egregious mistake in his own box and gifted Turkey a goal, the U.S. seemed in control.The inexperienced American side struggled to regain composure after Cardoso’s extra touch and attempted pass caromed off Turkey’s Arda Güler, the 20-year-old Real Madrid winger, and into the net. Only about two minutes later, a poor clearance was easily put home by Kerem Aktürkoğlu, who plays his club soccer at Benfica, to give Turkey the lead.The U.S. held on through the rest of the first half, but came out after halftime with renewed energy and much more purpose. It created chances — a weakness for this team over the past two cycles — and they probably should have had an equalizer. Malik Tillman’s point-blank header was the best opportunity, but there were a few other decent looks, as well, including two at the back post from Max Arfsten.“So many positives to take away from that game,” U.S. midfielder Tyler Adams said. “I was saying before, as we were walking off the field, I think it’s one of the first times that we’ve gone down, and we’ve created so many clear chances afterwards. So I think that’s a huge positive for us. Now, it’s just about putting the ball in the back of the net.”After five days together, Pochettino felt the soccer could be fine-tuned and fixed. There were many more details that the group would continue to add and build into how they played on Saturday. And Pochettino felt the game provided important experience for many of the players. For one, he pointed to Patrick Agyemang, 24, battling with two center backs, Çağlar Söyüncü and Merih Demiral, who have played at “the highest levels.”
Agyemang, who grew up miles from the Connecticut stadium, takes on Demiral. (Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
But Pochettino’s focus was on the type of effort the team showed on the field. It has been clear in the head coach’s comments the past few weeks that he was frustrated with the pool — or at least with how things played out in March — and that he was also tuned in to what people were saying about the team.This summer and the forthcoming Gold Cup seem to be about sending a message. On Saturday, Pochettino put up the first smoke signals of his intent.But there is now an odd sort of dynamic where this group, filled with debutantes and unproven national team players, can set a standard that is meant to carry through to next summer’s World Cup — and to the “golden generation” of players that carry so much expectation into that tournament.That’s not an assumption. Pochettino said as much.“If I decide in September (to call a) different roster, what I want is the same level of commitment, attitude,” the veteran coach said. “Today, who is going to tell me: ‘Oh, we have showed a lack of…’? ‘We showed lack of…’ Lack of what?“Today, I think we can all agree the team showed what it needed to show. And then if the opponent is better or had more luck or you made a mistake, it’s not a problem. But for sure, playing in this way, we are going to win most of the games.”Saturday’s “first step” in the rebuilding process was a loss. If the message is going to truly take hold, the U.S., and Pochettino, will need the results to follow, too.
Club World Cup Group A: Stylish Palmeiras should dominate but will Inter Miami make it through?
Ahmed Walid June 10, 2025 6:06 am EDT
The first edition of the expanded Club World Cup will want to offer unpredictability as 32 teams from six different continents face each other.Palmeiras of Brazil, Portugal’s Porto, Al Ahly from Egypt and Major League Soccer side Inter Miami make up Group A of this year’s tournament, and beyond the Brazilian side, there is a case for any of the other teams to qualify for the straight-knockout round of 16.Miami’s defensive struggles might hinder them, despite the presence of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in attack. Porto are looking at the tournament as an opportunity for redemption after one of their worst seasons of recent years at domestic and European levels. Meanwhile, Al Ahly have consistently done well in the previous annual format of this tournament, finishing third on four occasions this decade.Here, The Athletic picks out the group favorites, the fun facts, and the storylines to watch.
Fixtures:
(All kick-offs ET/BST)
June 14: Al Ahly vs Inter Miami (Miami — 8pm/1am June 15)
June 15: Palmeiras vs Porto (New York/New Jersey — 6pm/11pm)
June 19: Palmeiras vs Al Ahly (New York/New Jersey — 12pm/5pm)
June 19: Inter Miami vs Porto (Atlanta — 3pm/8pm)
June 23: Inter Miami vs Palmeiras (Miami — 9pm/2am June 24)
June 23: Porto vs Al Ahly (New York/New Jersey — 9pm/2am June 24)
The favorite is…
Palmeiras.
Under coach Abel Ferreira, the Sao Paulo side have won Brazil’s Serie A in 2022 and 2023, the Copa do Brasil in 2020 and two successive Copa Libertadores in 2020 and 2021.
They are currently fourth in Serie A, Brazilian football’s top division, early in its March-to-December 2025 season and will play Universitario of Peru in the round of 16 of this year’s Copa Libertadores when that competition resumes in August, with talents such as Estevao Willian and Richard Rios key to the team’s success. The signings of Facundo Torres, Paulinho and Vitor Roque have bolstered their attacking options this season, too.
Ferreira’s side are tactically flexible and able to attack and defend in different shapes, depending on the situation.
“We are not exceptional at one very specific thing, but we are good at everything,” the Portuguese head coach recently told FIFA. “We’re good and balanced when it comes to positional, attacking football. We’re good and balanced at playing counter-attacking football, we’re good at set pieces, we’re good at boxing in our opponents and making life hard for them with our defensive structure.”
Considering their consistent success in recent years, the talent in the squad and the tactical maturity they bring to the table, it’s hard to look beyond Palmeiras as Group A winners.
Estevao Willian is a rising star and will be joining Chelsea later this summer (Daniel Duarte/AFP via Getty Images)
The standout match is likely to be…
The opening match of the whole competition between Al Ahly and Miami in the latter’s hometown.
Cairo’s recently-crowned Egyptian champions, who also held the African Champions League title until earlier this month, have stepped up their game before at international level, beating Palmeiras in the Club World Cup four years ago to secure the bronze medal, and in this new format they are eager to reach the knockout rounds.
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Miami will be hoping the same, and considering that their other two group games will be against Porto and Palmeiras, both sides are in a must-win situation in this opener. The footballing quality might not be of the highest calibre compared to other matches in the competition, but there is a case for this being an entertaining match.Al Ahly, the record 12-time African Champions League winners, know how to rise to the occasion regardless of their form. They are led by all-rounder midfielder Emam Ashour and Palestinian striker Wessam Abou Ali, who scored a combined 35 goals this season, with the recent arrivals of Egypt international forwards Ahmed Sayed Zizo and Trezeguet strengthening the squad.
On the other hand, Miami’s big names speak for themselves: Messi, Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. However, the start of their 2025 season hasn’t been smooth.
New coach Javier Mascherano’s side have dropped 19 points in MLS already after 16 games and were knocked out of the Concacaf Champions Cup in the semi-finals by Vancouver Whitecaps.
Miami’s defensive fragility might make this more of an even contest than people expect.
Will Inter Miami’s underwhelming form carry over into the Club World Cup? (Rich Lam/Getty Images)
The group’s galactico
Even if they are well into their thirties, Messi, Suarez, Busquets and Alba make Miami as a team the galactico of Group A. However, if we have learnt something in football, it’s that simply having galacticos doesn’t make you a strong side.
After winning the 2024 Supporters’ Shield, the award for having the best regular-season record in MLS, the departures of less-famous players have affected Miami, especially defensively. Diego Gomez, Julian Gressel, Robert Taylor, Matias Rojas and Leo Campana had important roles to play last season, and their departures have resulted in a less functional unit.
In addition, Drake Callender’s ongoing absence because of a groin injury has kept 38-year-old Oscar Ustari in goal. Ustari hasn’t been the most solid this season, conceding 1.8 goals more than expected in the league.
Defensive set pieces are another area where Miami have been exploited, but the individual quality they have up front is still creating numerous chances and racking up the goals.
In 2025, Miami are a team whose individuals are shaping the core of the attack, but the lack of selfless players to complement that is hindering the side overall.
The player who could make a name for themselves…
Estevao.
The dazzling 18-year-old winger will join Chelsea after this tournament, with Palmeiras having reached an agreement with the Premier League club last summer. Chelsea will pay €34million (£28.6m/$38.8m) up front, with another €23m tied to performance-based incentives.
Estevao’s incredible performances at youth levels fast-tracked his career, making his debut for Palmeiras aged 16. In the 2024 season, he scored 13 goals and provided nine assists in Serie A as Palmeiras finished second behind Botafogo.
The teenager excels in one-versus-one situations, can dribble in both directions and has the pace to drive past defenders. He has a left foot that knows its way to goal regardless of the shooting angle, while also creating chances for his team-mates in open play and on set pieces.
(Christian Alvarenga/Getty Images)
So far in the 2025 season, Estevao has been featuring more as an attacking midfielder, which is where he sees himself in the long term. “I started playing as a winger towards the end of my academy days, to avoid as much physical contact and give me more one-v-ones,” he told FIFA.
“That’s how I earned my spot in the Palmeiras side, where there’s a lot of competition for places in the middle of the park, but really, I’m more of a midfielder. That’s where I’m in my element. In a few years’ time, I’d like to get back to playing in my original position.”
Whether down the wing or in central areas, keep an eye out for Estevao’s tricks.
A story to look out for is…
Porto’s attempt to save their season.
The 30-times Portuguese champions finished the 2024-25 Primeira Liga in third place for the second year in a row, and weren’t competing with Benfica and eventual winners, Sporting CP, come the run-in, finishing nine and 11 points adrift respectively.
Add in taking just 11 points from their eight league-phase matches in the revamped Europa League and then being eliminated by Roma in its first knockout round, a last-32 exit from the Taca de Portugal (Portugal’s FA Cup) against fellow top-flight side Moreirense and losing to Sporting in the semi-finals of the Taca da Liga (League Cup) and it was a season to forget for Porto fans.
A positive performance in the Club World Cup could help them save face and prove to be the reset the club need.
Martin Anselmi was only able to guide Porto to a third-place finish this season (Miguel Riopa/AFP via Getty Images)Another story is how Al Ahly will fare under manager Jose Riveiro, whose first official game in charge will be that opener against Miami. Predecessor Marcel Koller was sacked in late April following their 1-1 draw at home against Mamelodi Sundowns in the second leg of a Champions League semi-final, which led to the holders’ elimination on the away-goals rule.Despite guiding Al Ahly to two league titles (and most of a third), two Egypt Cups (the country’s domestic knockout competition) and back-to-back Champions League triumphs, Koller was under pressure during the 2024-25 season due to a reactive style of play that didn’t suit the profiles of the squad.The manager’s seat at Al Ahly is always a hot one, and Riveiro, a 49-year-old Spaniard who was previously a manager in Finland and South Africa, needs a strong start to gain the fans’ approval.
You might not know this but…
Miami’s squad includes a midfielder with almost-perfect genes.
Federico Redondo is the son of former Argentina international and Real Madrid legend Fernando Redondo, who won two Champions League titles with the Spanish club in 1998 and 2000 and another as a Milan player in 2003. The 22-year-old is also the nephew of Santiago Solari, another former Madrid player, through his mother and is currently playing alongside Busquets.
Can Federico step up and emulate his family’s achievements?
(Top photos: Getty Images; design: Kelsea Petersen)
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