Pochettino: USMNT complacency was a 'big punch'
Key takeaways
- LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif. - United States men's national team manager Mauricio Pochettino said he and his staff were "naïve" when he first signed his contract with the U.S.
- Pochettino and the USMNT are flying high at the World Cup, having already clinched the top spot in Group D with one game to spare, that being Thursday's group stage finale against Turkiye.
- But when Pochettino first arrived following the team's group stage elimination at the 2024 Copa America, he was surprised at the lack of energy around the program.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif. - United States men's national team manager Mauricio Pochettino said he and his staff were "naïve" when he first signed his contract with the U.S. Soccer Federation in 2024, and that the complacency around the program felt like a "big punch."
Pochettino and the USMNT are flying high at the World Cup, having already clinched the top spot in Group D with one game to spare, that being Thursday's group stage finale against Turkiye. The team has looked strong in its first two matches, a 4-1 hammering of Paraguay and a more difficult 2-0 triumph over Australia.
But when Pochettino first arrived following the team's group stage elimination at the 2024 Copa America, he was surprised at the lack of energy around the program.