Mauricio Pochettino post-match comments after the United States’ 3-2 loss to Turkey made his benchmark plain. Winning three group-stage matches does not define the job, he said; winning a World Cup does.
“To make history is to win a World Cup, it’s not to win three games in a World Cup,” Pochettino said in his native Spanish. He added, “It’s a little bit petty, no, or thinking in too small terms.”
Turkey Ends It Late
Turkey got the last word on Thursday when Kaan Ayhan scored the winner at the end. The United States had already won its group, but the final before the knockout rounds still left Pochettino talking about the larger target instead of the short-term record.
The coach said, “You have the chance to make history.” He also asked, “What’s the point of winning three matches only to lose the next one and miss out on (winning) the World Cup?” That frame is the sharp break from a safe group-stage view: success there only matters if it carries into the round of 32.
Auston Trusty’s Ankle
The rotation against Turkey was heavy. The United States made nine changes to the starting lineup, and Auston Trusty suffered an ankle injury in the match.
Tim Ream was blunt about the team’s position. “There’s no different feeling for us (being favored),” he said. “We expected to be top of the group, we wanted to be top of the group.” Then he added, “We’ve done that.”
Six Days To Bosnia and Herzegovina
The next step comes fast. In six days, the United States will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32, and Bosnia and Herzegovina will be the lowest-rated team the United States has ever played in a knockout tie according to the ELO ratings.
That leaves the roster question around Trusty hanging over the only part of the tournament that can erase everything before it. The United States saw in Qatar four years ago that knockout games can turn quickly, and Pochettino’s words leave no doubt about the standard he is using now.
